Perth Voice Interactive

A NEW design has been approved for the old Playhouse Theatre site near the St Georges Cathedral in Perth.

It’s second-time lucky for the project, after Perth city council approved an initial design in February 2011.

While the Playhouse was demolished the replacement project never saw the light of day.

Now a nine-level office building called “St Georges Chambers” will go up to house the offices of the archbishop and Perth diocesan trustees.

A cafe will round out the ground floor along with a large landscaped public plaza between the buildings on the church site.

“This’ll be the premier prestige heritage precinct in the city.”

Kerry Hill Architects won a design competition with their wavy design for the site. It’s been a good week for the Freo-based company, which also won the design contest for Fremantle’s King’s Square, and which is already working on the new city library.

Perth councillor Rob Butler says the quality design was evidence that competitions work.

Cr Reece Harley adds, “I was encouraged to see something that wasn’t overbuilt… that really respects the site.

“This’ll be the premier prestige heritage precinct in the city.”

The WA heritage office agrees, saying it “considers the development a positive outcome for the cultural significance of St George’s Cathedral”.

by DAVID BELL