Myer Music Bowl on the List

peter_j

The Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne's Kings Domain has been added to the National Heritage List. The bowl was designed by Barry Patten at Yuncken Freeman and was recently reworked by Greg Burgess. The RAIA nominated the building, along with Bate Smart McCutcheon''s Orica House and Griffen & Mahoney's Newman College.

Slightly fuller story at The Age 22.09.05 [tip: SD]:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/a-national-treasure/2005/09/21/1126982123436.html

From BUTTERPAPER 2001:

bowled by myer 11.10.01
MELBOURNE FESTIVAL
The Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne's Domain was opened this evening by Xanana Gusmao, leader of East Timor. Hundreds turned out despite the chill to see the Australian Chorale and Boys Choir test the venue. Greg Burgess et al have done well. The slick refurbishment brings the bowl into the present with great respect. The aluminium panels glowed with kaleidoscopic projections, mesmerising surtitles to the music. The steel cables and posts are gleaming. Concrete balconies have been installed to the sides of the stage injecting a Hadid-ish counterpoint to the mid-century roof.

The acoustics were lousy, but that's not what the bowl is about. Yuncken Freeman's 1950s design has been used for events as diverse as iceskating, AC/DC concerts and raves.

Slightly disturbing for what was presumed to be a public free venue, the landscape has been shifted around so that it's difficult to see performances from the newish perimeter fence. The grass viewing slope seems steeper and closer to the stage. A smart cafe and toilets have been strapped around the back of this viewing mound bringing another dose of coffee commerce into the gardens.