RMIT Capitol Theatre: Banquette Seating Design

Blending Art Deco Heritage with Modern Functionality

After winning the tender for the project, the design team faced the challenge of manufacturing and installing seating against the existing concrete steps, while incorporating new glasswork and metal balustrades. Several prototypes were produced to achieve a functional outcome that honored the building's history.

The banquette seating design draws inspiration from the building's original Art Deco and Chicago Gothic styles, paying homage to the renowned architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. The "Chunky Club" style leather seating, created by the design team using images from the past, perfectly complements the client's vision and the building's aesthetic.

The realization of the design involved utilizing a hard foam insert with a softer outer core covered in Dacron. This was then wrapped with an Aniline pull-up leather that will develop an antique look over time. To ensure additional strength and support, a custom metal frame was used instead of the traditional timber carcass.

The banquette seating was manufactured over several months and installed on-site in the Melbourne CBD within a six-week timeframe. The design team overcame challenges such as ensuring that all seat cushions matched on the 90-degree corners and curved tops and bottoms, using hand-made templates and multiple prototypes.

The oversized banquettes, along with the antique green leather, seamlessly blend into the large floor space, tall ceilings, and columns of the Capitol Theatre, preserving the Art Deco format. The specialized seating and componentry now ensure that the Capitol remains a heritage masterpiece for the next generation of patrons.

This exceptional design was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2020. Recognized for its creativity, resourcefulness, and incorporation of best practices in art, science, design, and technology, the banquette seating design contributes to improving the quality of life and making the world a better place.