August 2004 - nearly finished! What we're doing to ensure that our culture and attitudes are actively anti-racist. Receive the latest news, practical advice, videos and competitions in a monthly email put together by the magazines editorial team. Co-funded by Welsh Government, National Lottery, Millennium Commission and the Arts Council of Wales the building cost 106m to create using material that would withstand the test of time as well as the Welsh weather, The Centre's famous inscription by poet, Gwyneth Lewis, Slate cladding on the exterior represents local rock strata found along the local sea cliffs of South Wales, The copper-coloured roof known locally as the 'armadillo' is actually made from treated stainless steel, The interior of the building contains five different types of sustainable hardwoods, all sourced from Welsh woodlands, Our door handles are designed to look like open arms, bidding people a warm Welsh welcome/ croeso as they arrive, The stainless steel panels used on the roof also feature inside the building but are untreated and feature screws resembling the rivets found on a ship's hull. SA8 3JQ The Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) is a 37,000m world-class opera house and performing arts centre in Cardiff, UK. The building exterior is dominated by walls built of waste slate, collected from the many quarries throughout Wales, laid in coloured strata depicting the different stone layers seen in sea cliffs; naturally-occurring purple slate came from a quarry in Penryn, the blue from Cwt-y-Bugail, green from Nantlle, grey from Llechwedd, and the black slate from the Corris Quarry in mid-west Wales. Leave the M4 at junction 33 (Signed Cardiff (West), Barry, Penarth, Cardiff Airport & A4232). A major venue for the performing arts, the centre houses the 1,900-seat Donald Gordon Theatre, the Weston Studio, rehearsals studios and several spaces to eat, drink, relax and watch free entertainment. Review: Afternoon tea at 100 Queens Gate Hotel. Under construction, Feb, 2004. The National Lottery Millennium Fund contributed 31.7m to the project., Until the Welsh Assembly building opened, the WMC was the only building in Cardiff Bay with slate in its design., Arup Acoustics adopted a flexible solution that catered for a range of performing genres., The leading site for news and procurement in the design-build industry, Receive our newsletter - data, insights and analysis delivered to you. Charity number 1060458. The west and south main entrances lead in to the concourse (ground floor level 0) and ticket counter, which provides access to the foyers and bars, the auditorium and function rooms, the gallery, the Ty Cerdd and Touch Trust spaces as well as the retail units and restaurants that surround it. roath She continued: The windows out of which the words are made suggest an ideal of poetry: clear enough to let light in and out, offering enough a distinctively local view of the world; it should speak a truth which is transparent, beautifully crafted but also fragile and, therefore, doubly precious.. The WMC is one of the first new generation theatres that has its long longitudinal walls articulated with audience boxes, providing a sense of proximity between performers and the audience. The WMC also incorporates residential accommodation for 150 members of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru, one of Europes leading youth organisations, as well as being the new home for six leading Welsh cultural organisations Welsh National Opera, Diversions Dance Company of Wales, Touch Trust, Academi, T-Cerdd Music Centre and Hijinx Theatre Company. centre millennium wales wmc The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every month. After years in the planning, it took just two-and-a-half years to complete and was opened by the Queen in 2004 using an ornate steel key that travelled across five continents on a journey of goodwill before unlocking the front door. back to Wales photo homepage Senedd/ Welsh Assembly building . Above the main entrance is a monumental inscription by Welsh writer Gwyneth Lewis, written in both Welsh and English. Access for audiences to levels 1-5 can be found from the foyer. Wales Millennium Centre Inspiration for the building came from the environment, as well as the cultural and social traditions of Wales. Email Us. Further contractors / suppliers include: Stent (deep piled foundations), Swansea Institute (architectural glass), GH James Cyf (stone mason), Rimex (textured stainless steel), Alfred McAlpine (slate), Coed Cymru (wood), Ann Catrin Evans (designed bronze door handles and door push plates), Amber Hiscott (etchings on glass walls). "No West End theatre boasts what we have here. Part of the architects brief at the outset of the project was to design a building that expresses Welshness with a profile as instantly recognisable as that of its Australian counterpart, the Sydney Opera House. The foyer contains a reception counter, which is approximately 30m in length. Phase one of the WMC was designed by architect Jonathan Adams of Capita Architecture (formerly called CapitaPercy Thomas). The construction began in February 2002 and the building was officially inaugurated with opening ceremonies on 26-28 November 2004. We are home to eight cultural organisations including Welsh National Opera and BBC NOW. The Wales Millennium Centre, with its copper-tiled roof reflecting the sun is the centrepiece and architectural landmark of the new Cardiff Bay development. Leave the A4232 just before the Butetown Tunnel and follow the signs for Techniquest. The Wales Millennium Centre is in front of you. Night view of WMC showing lighting of inscription. Everywhere you look, you'll find examples of fine Welsh craftsmanship and artistic expression and it's well worth booking onto our behind-the-scenes tour to discover more about this building. [December 2004] The striking bilingual inscription on the front of the building: In These Stones, Horizons Singwas composed by the former National Poet of Wales, Gwyneth Lewis. Carr and Angier was the theatre consultant and Arup Acoustics was the acoustician. The latest news, views and stories. The champagne-coloured textured stainless steel dome roof. Free performances take place on a small stage to the left. The walls were built by stone and walling specialists, GH James Cyf, whose usual work consists of building and repairing the dry stone slate walls bordering the roads in North Wales. signs signage architectural architecture designs typography times building main graphics branding weburbanist This 15cm-thick glass was cut and installed by the Architectural Glass Department at Swansea Institute. Our youth council provides space and an opportunity for young people to have their voices heard. Get an instant quote for one of our industry-leading volume pricing deals. With probably the worlds largest poem etched into its face, and the slate walls man-made versions of the Glamorganshire Heritage coast, the building is representative of its home country inspired by Wales and built by Welsh materials at a cost of 106m. Swansea Theres also a nod to the maritime history of Tiger Bay, reflected by the hull-shaped copper-coloured roof that gave rise to the building being known locally as the armadillo. Our board of trustees and senior management team steer our strategic vision. Hardwoods from sustainable Welsh woodlands were used throughout the interior while the tall, black pillars with fern-like fossil patterns represent the enchanting edges of a forest where magic meets reality. (Words/photos: Mike Slocombe, Sept 2006) Night view. Under construction, Feb, 2004. The architect decided against using copper and aluminium because they would both change colour with weathering. Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. This was achieved through moveable surfaces that can be sound reflecting, sound absorbing or acoustically transparent, to enable the desired orchestral balance and playing conditions. 33,000ft², 4,000ft² outside main building, November 2004 (phase one), January 2009 (phase two), National Assembly of Wales, National Lottery Millennium Fund, Arts Council of Wales, Principality Building Society, Donald Gordon (private investor), Capita Architecture (architect); Sir Robert McAlpine (main contractor); Arup (structural and service engineer); Carr and Angier (theatre consultant); Arup Acoustics (acoustician); Bucknall and Austin. Finally, the inscription on the outside of the building was written by Gwyneth Lewis, a popular Welsh poet. The Centre houses additional theatres and is home to the Welsh National Opera, Hijinx Theatre and Diversions Dance company, among others. Each letter will be filled with clear glass, to allow those within to see out, and to allow light from the theatre to flood into the forecourt." September 2006 views For the exterior of the building, 4,500 tonnes of structural steel was clad in 2,000 tonnes of recycled Welsh slate, reclaimed from waste spoils. Stent (deep piled foundations); Swansea Institute (architectural glass); GH James Cyf (stone mason); Rimex (textured stainless steel); Alfred McAlpine (slate); Coed Cymru (wood); Ann Catrin Evans (designed bronze door handles and door 'push plates'); Amber Hiscott (etchings on glass walls); Gwyneth Lewis (inscriptions). She wanted the words to reflect the architecture, the copper dome reminding her of the furnaces of Waless industrial past and Ceridwens cauldron, from which the early poet Taliesin received his inspiration. Wales The project cost manager was Bucknall and Austin. It is a large open space, very contemporary in form. Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Learn more about how you can collaborate with us. Wales Millennium Centre views Find the right content for your market. Join the A4232 and continue for about 9.3 miles. The inscription over the entrance of the Wales Millennium Centre is a revival of this classical tradition, and also a recognition of the formative influence of Roman culture upon our nation." Stepping inside the building, the connection between the natural and industrial landscape continues with a sustainable, eco-friendly message throughout. They draw both on Waless industrial past and the institutions location in Cardiff Bay, once the greatest coal port in the world.. The architect had this to say: Entering the building, the visitor steps out of the real world. The classical tradition of carved inscriptions over entrances of important civic buildings continues in a contemporary manner with the poem. If you go down to the Bay today you might see a giant golden armadillo! These floors are connected by wide, suspended flights of stairs that join with oriel balconies faced with bands of variegated hardwood lining the outer walls, which were provided by Coed Cymru, an organisation that promotes sustainable husbandry of native hardwoods. Wales Millennium Centre was created as a stage for Wales, to reflect the spirit of a nation, and become a home for the performing arts. There are nine function rooms located on levels 2 and 3, for corporate hospitality, seminars and meetings. Thank you for subscribing to Design Build Network. The postcode for you satnav is CF10 5AL. Plas Farm, Cilybebyll Pontardawe, We're here to create joyful, life-enhancing experiences for young people in Wales to tell their stories and to be creative. Take a look atour spacesinside the building. Entrance of the iconic Wales Millennium Centre with bilingual inscription reading Creu Gwir Fel Gwydr O Ffwrnais Arwen, In These Stones Horizons Sing, Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales. She also felt that the stones would literally be singing once the building opened. On the front of the WMC, cut directly into the steel faade in large Celtic lettering, is the inscription CREU GWIR GWYDR O FFWRNAIS AWEN, which translated into English means Truth is as clear as glass forged in the flames of inspiration. The inspiration for this came from the forging of the metal roof and the glass from which each letter is made. Use in a presentation/talk (eg,Powerpoint and Keynote) or in an editorial newsletter. The Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) is a 37,000m world-class opera house and performing arts centre in Cardiff, UK. The main theatre, named after a South African businessman benefactor has a capacity of 1,900 and its deceptively huge stage could fit not only the stage of Cardiffs smaller New Theatre, but also its auditorium! We believe in the transformative power of the arts to bring about positive change. A concert hall was supposed to be included as part of the second phrase, however this was scrapped. Mori Trust, Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) and Hilton have entered into an agreement to build a new mixed-use development on Sesokojima Island, Okinawa, Japan. Our Creative Associates, are a group of artists and creatives who help inform our vision and lead the conversation. The WMC cost 106.2m. cardiff notonthehighstreet The majority of space within the WMC is back-of-house with access denied to the general public, e.g. Tel: +1-+44 (0) 1792 864611 Cerdd music information centre for amateur and professional musicians, including the Welsh Music Information Centre, Welsh Amateur Music Federation, National Youth Arts Wales and Cyfansoddwyr Cymru (Composers of Wales), Urdd Gobaith Cymru (The Welsh League of Youth) the Welsh language youth movement, Welsh National Opera an international touring opera company, BBC National Orchestra of Wales The only professional national symphony orchestra for Wales, Arts Council of Wales The body responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales. Phase one of the project was completed in November 2008 while phase two was completed in January 2009. Get in touch for any commercial. Copyright 29/07/2022 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. Our lights were designed to look like Welsh miner's lamps. Audiences and communities are at the heart of everything we do. And what is the bilingual poem? In some places, the bands of slate are separated by glass, letting daylight into the building. The architect, Jonathan Adam, explains: Arup Acoustics, tasked with creating acoustic excellence for the WMC, adopted a flexible solution that catered for a range of performing genres. There's nowhere in London that comes close to this facility.". Captions are provided by our contributors. Our cottages are an easy 45 minute drive from the Wales Millenium Centre along the M4 motorway. Phase one of WMC involved the construction of a 1,900-seat Donald Gordon theatre, 250-seat Western Studio theatre, six function rooms, a hostel, performance and teaching space, restaurants and coffee shops. US-based Summit Hotel Properties has entered into definitive agreements to acquire four hotels totaling 652 guestrooms for an aggregate purchase price of $164m. In total, 2,500t of slate was laid by the company at the WMC; although mortar had to be used, it was black in colour to disguise it, in order for the final walls to resemble the look of stone laid dry. Not just a translation, the Welsh part says: Creu Gwir fel Gwydr o Ffwrnais Awen which means: Creating truth like glass from inspirations furnace., Ms Lewis said: I wrote the words to reflect the cultural ambition of the Centre. A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Our current job offers, employee benefits, apprenticeships and more. There is also an English inscription: IN THESE STONES HORIZONS SING. The strata of the slate walls reminded Gwyneth Lewis, the author of the inscriptions, of the horizons seen just beyond Penarth Head in South Wales. We create our own productions, festivals and events with a strong voice at its heart. Another internal view. Take a look at some of our organisational highlights over the past 12 months. An important industry within Wales for centuries, Welsh slate has changed the landscape of North Wales forever, and is important to Welsh heritage. welshholidaycottages.com In these stones horizons sing is the English part. A further 10.4m was donated by the Arts Council of Wales (a lottery-funded organisation) and a private investor, London-based South African businessman Donald Gordon, boosted the funds by donating 20m to be shared equally between the Royal Opera House in London and the WMC. Company number 3221924.
wales millennium centre inscription