The Melbourne Recital Centre is an acclaimed music destination combining architectural innovation and acoustic perfection within its two performance spaces to showcase the best music, artists and ensembles from around the world. Source: Timberbiz and Responsible Wood
The centre’s interior is lined with striking plywood panels of hoop pine sourced from Responsible Wood-certified plantations in southeast Queensland.
The building won the Property Council’s National Award for Public Buildings – the country’s highest award for a public buildings. It also won the Victorian Architecture Medal, the William Wardell Award for Public Architecture and the Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design at the Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Architecture Awards.
Developed by Lend Lease and designed by Aston Raggatt McDougal, the $75 million building is considered “acoustically perfect”, drawing fundamental influence from the traditional box shape of European concert halls.
The auditorium is lined with striking hoop pine panels, designed to resemble the back of a beautiful instrument, and provides greater acoustic intimacy across the 1000-seat auditorium.
The symmetrical routed plywood panelling has a 3D textured surface which optimises the acoustics in the same way as the lumpy gilded caryatides, friezes, dentils and coffers in halls of earlier eras.
Specifically chosen for its acoustic and aesthetic properties, the ‘A’ grade plywood used for the wall panels were supplied by Brisbane-based Austral Plywoods, manufacturer of premium grade plywood.
The raw material that went into the plywood supplied for the Melbourne Recital Centre was 100% sourced from Responsible Wood-certified plantations run by HQ Plantations, and has a Super E0 rating.
