HYDER THEATRE
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill NSW
Completed in 2024
The vision for the interior of the JCSC, conceived of a Theatrette, a space for groups to assemble for the exchange of ideas, presentations, lively discussion and debate. It’s a double-sided chamber with rows of terraced seating facing each other across the ‘floor’ [think House of Commons] to encourage spirited exchange. There are plenty of precedents for this arrangement [political & religious].
The Client brief was for an intimate chamber richly detailed & evocative of these historical precedents. The practice undertook an architectural tour to Edinburgh, visiting examples of Scots Baronial buildings to ensure the design remained true to general principles underlying the style.
Timber has been used to underscore the association with Scottish history, values & traditions which are at the core of the Scots Culture. A collaboration with Mario Savva, managing director of SAVCON to resolve the detailed joinery package: posts, panelling & pughs. Workshopping details such as the post below was part of a very productive dialogue, a very rare pleasure.
Fibrous plaster mouldings for the Waratah, ceiling mouldings, cornice and column claddings were developed in collaboration with Roger Bailey / BAILEY INTERIORS. Rubber moulds for the plaster were taken from 3D printed profiles. We designed components and prepared 3D files, Roger and his team resolved fabrication interface. We first collaborated on fibrous plaster detailing for the 2021 Harry Triguboff Auditorium reconstruction project.
The pattern & detailing of the entry floor mosaic is quite spectacular and was developed in close collaboration with Steven Adams at the College. The Rampant Lion is a central feature of a grand entry statement.
Four beautiful lamps, two at either end have been put in place within the chamber. The lamps are a gift to the College by a donor family: Jim Frecklington managed the production of 4 large brass and Wedgewood crystal lamps which were originally intended for a royal carriage. The lamps were delivered to the College by him on 18 September 2019. The crystal was engraved by the late Thomas Hayes between 1992 to 1994. He accompanied Jim to the Vatican where the Lamps were blessed by His Holiness Pope John Paul. After being on display at the Vatican, the Lamps were taken to London where they were blessed by The Archbishop of Canterbury prior to them being air freighted to Sydney.
There is only one set of these Lamps in existence. Each lamp is 109cm high and 30cm in diameter. The lamps display four Biblical scenes: Madonna and Child, Good Shepherd , Crucifixion and Michelangelo's Pieta"
Photos by Melina Bilotta, Alex Donnini Photography and TonyPottsPhotography
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