Albert Hall Renewal

Albert Hall is a much-loved venue within Launceston – originally built for the Tasmanian Industrial Exhibition in the late 19th century, the Hall has become the site of many concerts, graduations, and events central to the social and cultural life of the city. The Hall is located at the edge of City Park, an equally important hub in the city, the establishment of which dates back to and is intertwined with the establishment of the city itself. However, despite the significance of both Hall and Park and their proximity, they have never been properly integrated.

Albert Hall has suffered from constrained access and capacity issues for many years, requiring some major repairs and reconfiguration. A central part of the renewal project was the opportunity for a new foyer to address both the pragmatic shortcomings of the Hall and the untapped potential of better integrating the building with the park in which it sits. Within stringent heritage constraints borne from the intactness of the Hall’s facades, the project realises a completely new connection between Hall and Park – a new foyer that is neither an extension to Albert Hall nor is a building in City Park. Rather, the project is a shadow between the two, reinforcing the primacy of Hall and Park as significant elements in memory and experience of the city.