Perth Arena is a radical, abstract, graphic alien that has landed on the edge of the CBD. The arcane visual references to the shapes of the Eternity puzzle mask a building finely tuned to its environment and an excellent performance venue. The scale, colours and contrasts of the bold graphic language allow the low building to stand out against the mixed-scale urban fabric behind it, and give it a presence when seen from the freeway and the railway line. Up close, the graphic shapes split apart and are revealed to be three-dimensional. This game of two and three dimensions is made explicit in the anamorphic canopy elements, which create a human scale where the public spaces join the large building. The public space will join a link across the railway line, making a gateway to the CBD from the Northbridge district. A kinetic sculpture engages with passers-by, helping activate the space outside the building, which by its type has periods of quiet.
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