The Perth Arena
Replacing the Perth Entertainment Centre as a venue for spectacles in this city, the new Perth Arena is finally nearing completion.
After five years of delays and a cost blowout from $150 million to over half a billion dollars each of the 15,500 seats will have cost the taxpayers of Western Australia in the range of $40,000!
So, with around a month before it opens, what do we get for our massive bucks?
We get a slow explosion of expensive bad taste!
It has been a five years for the explosion to come to fruition but here it is, in all its ghastly glory. With its eyehurtingly blue entrance.
One of the workmen on the site told me my horror was uncalled for. “If we had built a rectangular block there would have been criticism for that as well.” I suggested that there is some distance between “Adventurous” and “Awful”.
Even the strange selection of letters and symbols only serve to increase my concerns. Is that a nuclear warning sign on that right hand image?
The nuclear sign should be yellow? Well, that yellow has been misplaced.
A piece of yellow public – umm - art has been installed beside the angular explosion.
In keeping with the bad taste of the construction itself, on 10th November, there will be an opening concert.
What is it about the deplorable artistic abilities of Right Wing Governments?
The headline act will, appropriately, be George Michael!
Filed under: Perth, photography
I think it is actually the only way a Right Wing government, especially one led by such a nonentity as Colin (Buffoon) Barnett with his red, sweaty round face, can pretend they are up-to-date .. it doesn’t really work.
Looking at it in isolation reveals it as simply pretentious.
Looked at in context (city landmark) it is a failed attempt to give Perth its own Sydney Opera House.
LOL! Perth’s lack of imagination and appreciation of architecture in previous years is typified by viewpoints such as your own, and looks to somewhat still be around! The CBD is finally getting public buildings of high quality that it so desperately deserves, yet people still complain. I’m absolutely gobsmacked that the tradesman onsite replied the way he did, and he is right on the money. I can acknowledge people have a right to an opinion, but what I don’t understand is when you and others publicly criticize the building and 1. it’s not even finished yet & 2. you have most probably not even stepped foot in it.
Firstly, the budget blew out due to an 11th hour change by the government at the time whereby the car park (previously to be located over the rail) was moved and relocated into a basement configuration. You are seeing the effects of this now which we get constantly remind of in any “write-up” relating to Perth Arena, OVERTIME & OVER BUDGET! But hey if you feel the need, jump on the bandwagon!! FYI, the newly completed State Theatre Centre had a cost of over $100 million, which works out to be over $80,000 per seat, yet you don’t hear much about that do you…I wonder why? Maybe because it’s not as “awful” as you put it!
In terms of the architecture, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, fair is fair. To be honest, I think the facade is intentionally dramatic and more importantly something Perth has never been exposed to before. Responding to the comments above, I sincerely believe the Perth Arena never set out to be the “Sydney Opera House” you say it was aiming to be. I’d leave that aspiration for the planned Indigenous Cultural Centre on the Waterfront if you ask me. It terms of getting the broader community talking about architecture and the built environment, I believe this is one of its most successful outcomes. Secondly, the government at the time was Alan Carpenter and his Labour constituents. Colin Barnett nor the Liberal Party had any involvement with the planning/initial contracts of the Perth Arena??
BTW, I was looking for some pics of the arena and google came across your “page”. Nice pics I have to say!! I won’t be visiting again however if the above is a sign of future opinion pieces.
I’m so sorry for disagreeing with your prejudices before knowing them.
Your comment reveals you to be a politically motivated pretentious twat! However, you are quite welcome to continue to visit and comment. Just be warned.
I BITE!
Yes @Jarrad is a politicaly motivated pretentious twat, Jarrad your comments of who is responsible / to blame are so off topic im forced to say –> WTF Jarrad, please pull your thinker out of your stinker!!
Hi Archie,
My passionate love modern architecture comes from the view it allows a direct comparision between common sense practicality and god awful displays of ridiculous created during LSD flashbacks.
THIS is a horrid monstrosity that not only ensures the ongoing removal of Perths old world friendly charm, but in coming years will also be tremendously expensive to maintain and repair much like the opera house has proven to be. Short sighted mastubatory designs that only serve to allow bragging rights to the designer while lowering the elegance of a once lovely City and offering the people little in the form of venue advantage at massive costs.
Comparisons can be made with Melbournes Southbank buldings and artworks, modern artistic and basically nobody can figure out what the hell they are looking at.
Cheers..(-: