The proposed site is situated within a satellite township which is currently an emerging commercial and cultural hub. The Auditorium or ‘Balai Budaya’ will be built on a 7 acre site with flat terrain at Kampung Kiulap, Bandar Seri Begawan which is approximately 1.5 km from the nation’s capital.

Within the vicinity of the Jubli Perak Park and fronted by Sungai Kedayan, the impending Balai Budaya development has the potential to transform the site and its surrounding areas into a cultural belt.

The form shall be a symbolic representation of traditional elements in the Brunei culture and shall be an iconic design that befits its grandeur and vision as a centre of cultural excellence.

The overall internal building is dictated by the technical requirements of the theater, particularly the stage set-up and the seating arrangement. A major expectation in attending the theater is to see and be seen gracing such an event. The entrance foyer, grand stairways and galleries create a sense of arrival and participation in achieving a total theatrical experience. Formal entry level for the Royal is deliberately raised one storey above the ground in order to enhance the grand effect.

The main concept of the overall form is to create a modern building, which captures a strong essence of traditional and monumental indigenous design. The use of ‘Dastar’ imagery for the Balai Budaya is symbolic of the strong essence of Brunei’s rich cultural heritage, capturing the spirit of the Royal and traditional ceremonial presentations. The seven ethnic groups in Brunei Darussalam derive the exploration of seven layers of the outer ‘skin’. The rather asymmetrical in overall appearance is designed to capture casual traditional form, thus creating a more ‘less formal’ approach towards Brunei’s theater fans.