Jury citation
At the Queensland Ballet’s Thomas Dixon Centre, Conrad Gargett has demonstrated commendable skill to fuse an existing heritage entity to its contemporary division. These two masses act as a caliper to a heritage bunker, serving to funnel visitors into the reclaimed space between the buildings. This procession through seemingly liminal territory is activated by a series of framed windows that reveal the inner workings of the ballet tradition, generating a bustling atmosphere upon arrival. A playful yet highly considered assimilation of materiality speaks to the Queensland Ballet and its ideals, while the programmatic efficiency of the spaces sets the stage for an ever-evolving conversation with the centre’s inhabitants and users, visitors and volunteers.
Thomas Dixon Centre is located in West End, Queensland on Turrbal and Jagera Country.
Project credits
Architect, landscape consultant: Conrad Gargett ; Project team: David Gole, Tamarind Taylor, Phoebe Thomas, Simon Boundy, Craig Sargeant; Builder: Hansen Yuncken (main contract), Hutchinsons (early works) ; Structural and civil engineer: Bligh Tanner; Building services engineer: Xburo; Signage and wayfinding: Dot Dash; Certifier: Knisco; Town planner: Saunders Havill; Fire engineer: Warringtonfire; Acoustic consultant: Trinity Consultants; WELL certification: ADP; Quantity surveyor: DCWC; Traffic engineer: MRCagney; Access consultant: Architecture and Access.
Christopher Frederick Jones (photo)
