Pavilion with a purpose

Blak Box is a temporary sound pavilion designed to share First Peoples stories and will be operating on the Barangaroo Reserve from 2 to 24 June.

Blak Box was commissioned by Urban Theatre Projects to house newly commissioned sound works curated by Daniel Browning. The works bring together a range of contemporary Aboriginal voices that respond to the past, present and future of the Barangaroo site.

The pavilion was designed by Kevin O’Brien, who has recently joined BVN as a Principal. He is renowned for his designs which draw on Aboriginal concepts of space.

Designed to be transportable, the pavilion will tour nationally after its three weeks at Barangaroo.

Constructed primarily of two materials aluminium and polycarbonate, the pavilion is designed to be both easily constructed and deconstructed by a small team and will produce a water like effect when diffusing and reacting with light as well as being 100% recyclable.

The ideas inspiring the concept according to Kevin O’Brien can be traced back to a 1917 asymmetrical egg-shaped lounge room in a Swedish villa by architect Eric Gunnar Asplund. “This lounge was rumoured to be the perfect room for conversation,” said Kevin, who added “while directly referencing this internal form from the last century I have made it my own in this century.”

For Kevin, Blak Box is about producing an experience through light and sound to share a deeper and broader understanding of contemporary Aboriginality in 2018.

For more information, head to Urban Theatre Projects.