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For thousands of years arenas have been a key element in a city’s landscape and urban life (think Rome’s Colosseum) and it’s no different now – only some modern arenas are more striking than others. In functional terms little has changed over millennia, only in the contemporary era such places are still designed to satisfy society’s sporting and entertainment needs, but thankfully gladiatorial fights to the death are no longer deemed suitable public spectacles. Perth Arena, inspired in part by the 209 irregular-shaped pieces of Christopher Monckton’s Eternity Puzzle, is beyond simply being prominent and arresting. It is – as its architects ARM architecture, are now famous for delivering – a surprising, idiosyncratic and highly distinctive structure. According to design director Howard Raggart, this “landmark building has been designed to provoke symbolic interpretation.” It was also designed to “create direct visual responses from all approaches, and become an integral
Perth Arena Words: Guy Allenby Photography: John Gollings, Greg Hocking, David Morcombe Architect: ARM Architecture
part of the city’s overall urban design and architectural strategy,” he adds. In other words this is a building calculated to stimulate thought. It was also designed to look different from every angle and to be an important public amenity that will inject a key architectural and visual element in Perth’s urban landscape. It is designed to seat 15,000 spectators, with 36 VIP boxes, five multipurpose event rooms, enough food and beverage outlets to satisfy the hungry and thirsty hordes, a 700-space basement car park and a roof that can be opened and closed in seven minutes flat. And if need be the space can be reconfigured for a more intimate event seating around 3000 people. The inside is as equally eye-catching as the outside, and the luminous Yves Klein blue façade continues through an interior which is characterised by vast, light spaces and warm timber panelling. (continued.)