South Head Performance House

A performance house perched on the sandstone cliffs of the Sydney Heads, which outlooks to three landscapes. The South Head Performance House honors the site’s layered history, from invasion to military use and now public space. Integrating the harsh landscape and forts, the design reimagines South Head’s solemn past with beauty. Inspired by historical theatre precedents like Vitruvius and Palladio, it offers unobstructed views of significant landmarks, using Sydney’s natural surroundings as a dramatic backdrop. The theatre’s form, influenced by naval infrastructure emphasises the water’s power, evoking the sublime and reconnecting the land to its harbour and rich historical context.

1:1000 location plan of South Head

1:100 sectional perspective

view of the South Head Performance House at dusk

dancer in the central vista during the afternoon

1:200 model