Located in the heart of Hobart, The Hedberg vision presents a culturally significant performing and creative arts destination that fuels Tasmania’s cultural offering in a global and contemporary context. The design strategy balances the theatrics of the building’s purpose and sensitivity to its urban context and heritage precinct. Physical and virtual portals are conceptually employed to explore the interconnectivity of place, people and new technologies.

The Hedberg integrates performance and music hubs, world-class performance venues, the Conservatorium of Music, creative workshop laboratories, integration of the two-storey heritage-listed Hedberg Garage, universal accessibility to all levels of the Theatre Royal for the first time and cutting-edge technologies facilitating local and global exchange.

In the site’s evolution, The Hedberg adds a contemporary layer, ensuring the heritage buildings that abut and exist on-site experience longevity through adaptive reuse and integration of new venues. The heritage strategy interweaves interpretive layers into the built fabric as salvaged materials and archaeological fragments are reused or collaged into panels to reflect stories within stories. This conservation, reuse, interpretation and revelation achieve sustainability and deepens understanding of place.

The external skin evokes a theatrical curtain being pulled open to reveal activity within while also referencing the reflectivity of the indigenously significant Tasmanian abalone shell.

Social, environmental and economic sustainability include, multiple stake-holder, community and industry and achieving the highest Green Star design standard for a performing arts development in Australia at the time of design. As well as inviting First Nations Tasmanians to collaborate on the carpet design, offering mentorship and embedded authenticity

The Hedberg is an outcome that has translated state-of-the-art contemporary design through being informed by the stories of the past, that are overlaid with the aspirations of the future.

Furniture: LIMINAL Objects, Derlot, Interstudio, Cult, Simon Ancher. Finishes: LIMINAL Spaces.

Photography: Natasha Mulhall