FRD undertook as specialist consultants to transform part of the Lower Concourse of the Sydney Opera House, creating an innovative Welcome Precinct. This space cohesively blends retail spaces with interpretive installations exploring the design and construction of the Sydney Opera House. The Welcome Precinct was awarded the National Trust Heritage Award for Interpretation in 2016.
Given the extraordinary significance of this site to the Australian public, the design and installation process involved a number of surmountable challenges. FRD was compelled to meet the expectations of multiple stakeholder groups, ensuring deliverables were completed to schedule while balancing a complex approval hierarchy. Installation required working within an extremely restricted timeframe, in order to circumvent restrictions resulting from large-scale events and continual tourist activity.
The graphic and interior design of the Welcome Precinct draws on the original design principles of Jørn Utzon, architect of the Sydney Opera House. By adhering to these principles, the space maintains a continuity between elements of past and present while demonstrating a simultaneous commitment to architectural heritage and the demands of public space. This connection between past and present is further expounded within the exhibition elements. The story of the Opera House is brought to life via a plethora of historical imagery and footage, supported by interpretive graphic and textual installations which ensure these stories are clearly communicated to the visitor.
