Town Hall Judges Want Citadel To Go

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31093, 23 June 1966, Page 1

Town Hall Judges Want Citadel To Go

The site chosen for the Town Hall and Civic Centre is unparalleled, and no stone should be left unturned to ensure that the whole concept of the winning scheme is brought to fruition, says the fin al report of the judges of the architectural competition.

They find one aspect of the site disturbing—the location of the Salvation Army Citadel—and say that in the interests of the civic centre the Citadel should be removed ultimately.

Dealing with the Citadel building, the report says that while the civic administration block has been designed to work in spite of the “cheek-by-jowl” association with the Citadel, the design of the Salvation Anny building, in addition to its location, detracts from the value of the centre as a whole aesthetically and from the administration building's lower storeys functionally. The buildings called for in the final stage of the civic development—a town hall, concert chamber, theatre, banquet room, restaurant, and meeting rooms—should be built within the budget limits. the report says. The whole concept, beautifully conceived, is an eminently practical solution of fine aesthetic quality.

“The town hall auditorium, which is amply served by spacious foyers and good amenities, seats 2326 patrons, is of excellent proportions with splendid sight lines, and has a fine acoustic assurance.” the report continues. “A choir of 400 and an orchestra of 106 can be accommodated in comfort on and off stage. “The concert chambertheatre seating 855 persons likewise is well served by foyers and public amenities. It is of first-rate quality with ample stage and back-stage facilities. Acoustically it should be excellent. “The general location and treatment of the meeting rooms, banquet room, and restaurant are both efficient and of considerable charm. “The treatment of the various elements as one indivisible entity set back from the Avon with most pleasant terraces and from Kilmore street by paved forecourts, while

preserving the charm and elegance of the belt of trees and the river setting, is a most delightful and worthy concept.

“The relation of the final stage with the projected administration. council chamber, and library blocks, together with the raised paved court over the future 260-car park, completes a remarkably

fine civic centre which undoubtedly will be the finest in the country and a magnet for visitors to the city. “The quality of the design throughout, with its simplicity of form and repetition of well-proportioned elements, should evoke the highest praise from discerning critics from both the functional and aesthetic aspects.”