Building an icon
Celebrating 40 years under the Spire
Trailer
Trailer
The Theatres Building and Spire is a bold and beautiful declaration of the importance of the arts, and a Melbourne icon. This is the story of the visionary architects, designers and artists who created this cultural landmark that so successfully brings together people and performance.
Episodes
Episode 1
From concept to concrete beauty
Step back in time to when Arts Centre Melbourne and the Spire was a visionary idea in the mind of modernist architectural pioneer Sir Roy Grounds. Through conversations with Grounds' daughter Victoria Grounds and Arts Centre Melbourne Curator Bella Chwasta, Tim Ross takes us through the early days of design and construction, exploring how Grounds' bold vision came to life.
Episode 2
The art of interiors
Join the party to learn how charismatic Oscar-winning designer John Truscott transformed Arts Centre Melbourne into a luxurious and theatrical wonderland. With insights from historian Denise Whitehouse, Arts Centre Melbourne’s Curator Steven Tonkin and Truscott colleague Mike Hipkins, this episode is a visual feast celebrating the magic blend of interior design and Australian mid-century art.
Episode 3
An evolving legacy
How does a 40-year-old cultural icon stay relevant in a rapidly changing world? In the final episode, Tim Ross explores the upgrades to the Theatres Building as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation and talks with Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan, NH Architecture Director Hamish Lyon, and Victorian Government Architect Jill Garner about achieving the fine balance between preserving heritage while transforming to meet contemporary needs.