60 | ARCHITECTURE Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre New life for historic Opera House T Karen Phelps The upper and lower foyers, have been transformed with specially designed carpets and lavishly finished, gold-painted plaster cornices. Architect Dave Pearson of DPA Architects admits he felt a huge sense of responsibility working on The Hawke’s Bay Opera House (recently rebranded to Toitoi: Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre) due to the significance of the building to the community, its age and cultural importance. “I’ve previously worked on other significant buildings and there is always that pressure to do the building justice,” he says. “I always try to imagine what the original architects would have done if they were in my shoes. In this case the aim was to respect what he did and ensure that nothing was out of character.” The Hawkes Bay Opera House was originally designed by Henry Eli White (1876–1952) who was also architect of the St James theatres in Wellington and Auckland. The opera house was designed in the Spanish Mission style and originally opened in 1915 as the Hastings Municipal Theatre. Over the years it had undergone several modifications, the most significant following the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake when parts of the building were severely damaged and needed to be rebuilt. After the Christchurch earthquakes, a seismic assessment of the building revealed that it didn’t meet the National Building Standard threshold and specialists in heritage architecture DPA Architects was engaged to lead the process to upgrade the building. The practice worked closely with structural engineers Holmes Consulting to ensure the structural upgrade wouldn’t negatively impact the building’s heritage values. Gemco Construction was the head contractor and Dave says the company exceeded expectations. “It’s always very tricky working on an existing building and this is a complex building with multiple levels. To have to thread new structural components through this building was not easy and Gemco did a great job.” The works included pouring 12-metre high concrete shear walls throughout the building and installing new steelwork within the roof spaces to support the original walls. New foundations were required beneath the ground floor foyer and new tiles had to be obtained and then laid to replicate the original floor. The other big change was a new roof formed over the top of the original roof. Which significant changes to conceal and which to reveal formed part of the design process: “Sometimes it is acceptable to express changes to a building while in another locations in the building it might be more appropriate to conceal them. “For example, in one of the toilet areas we have deliberately left the new steel structure exposed at ceiling level as evidence of the strengthening works that were carried out and which are, in most instances, completely concealed. Seeing evidence of structural upgrading work can give peace of mind.” Throughout the building the concrete shear walls were treated in different ways as a way of respecting the heritage building. “A plaster finish was applied to the walls in the foyer where a higher standard of finish was required, while in ancillary spaces, such as stairwells; concrete has been left with the imprint of the rough sawn boards that were used as formwork to demonstrate the process. Dave and his team used historical photographs to inform the new colour scheme. “We wanted a rich interior to create a sense of occasion befitting the building’s use as an opera house while still tying this in with the existing mural on the ceiling. In other parts of the building, formerly dark and seemingly confined spaces, such as the upper and lower foyers, have been transformed by a palette of neutrals, contrasting with specially designed carpets with rich red tones and lavishly finished, gold-painted plaster cornices.” The project has since won a host of awards: NZ Institute of Architects Heritage award in 2020 as well as a New Zealand Master Builders’ Commercial Projects Award and two Resene Colour Awards. “There is nothing about the project I would change. In every case I believe we made the right decision and I’ve only heard positive comments about the building. That’s the best feeling.” Supplier of high quality Architectural Metal Work Proud to be a supplier of metal work for Hawkes Bay Opera House Ben Harding | Director Mob: 021 373 963 Web: www.metalworks.net.nz TOOP ALUMINIUM LTD. 2 0 2 0 WINDOWS AND DOORS www.amc.nz Ph: 06 873 4428 for free measure & quote Visit our showroom Monday-Friday 8am-3pm or by Appointment 402 Victoria Street, Hastings 8 Gloucester St, Greenmeadows NAPIER 06 844 6464 HASTINGS 06 878 3976 911 Karamu Rd North, Hastings www.flooringdesign.co.nz Carpets Vinyls Wood Poud to support Hawkes Bay Opera House
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