President’s Award

This is an article from the Architecture Australia archives and may use outdated formatting

for Recycled Buildings/Access Citation – Tonkin Zulaikha

cas_1.gif 31.2 K

Level 3, a future studio, with Robyn Backen’s art installation ‘Christ Knows’.

Northern facade of the powerhouse and entry into the turbine hall.

On the banks of the Georges River near Liverpool in south-west Sydney, the Casula Powerhouse is a 1950s power station which is being developed as a regional arts centre. The interior consists of two large spaces: the former turbine hall—a clear open area which has become a multi-use gallery and informal performance space and will house a future theatre—and the boilerhouse, which now contains smaller studios, a gallery, performance spaces and offices for community and arts organisations such as Reverse Garbage.

Repairs to the dilapidated building and construction of new interior elements were tailored to a tight budget in comparison with the size of the building—and are being completed in several stages as government funding becomes available. So the fitout is basic—including robust, plain materials and bold colours to complement the raw surfaces of the existing shell.

cas_2.gif 25.8 K

Jury Verdict

The Casula Powerhouse is a great example of a dead building being brought to life for the spiritual and artistic development of the community.

The existing rugged and somewhat raw building has been sensitively and lightly touched in the recycling process. Maximum use of space has been achieved with minimum intervention. New material is well finished, often in vibrant colours, while the old is allowed to retain its original finish and patina.

The key feature in the turbine hall, immediately in front of the main entrance, is the magnificent use of the concrete floor as a work of art—’Koori Floor Piece’ by Judy Watson.

The building’s solution to disabled access to the Level 2 Gallery has been treated as a sculptural element, at the same time being utilitarian and has earned the jury’s Access Citation.

Externally, the original finishes have remained intact and the proposed retention of the chimney stack and the former fuel tanks add immeasurably to the interpretation of the site. Throughout, there is a sense of understanding and sympathy for the original fabric.

Images: Bart Maiorana, Chris Fortescue

cas_3.gif 33.0 KTurbine hall at the time of an exhibition, with concrete floor embellished by artist Judy Watson.

Credits

Project
Casula Powerhouse Regional Arts Centre
Architect
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Project Team
Peter Tonkin, Julie Mackenzie, Karen Horne, Trudy Rickard, Anne Taylor
Consultants
Artists Robyn Backen, Tom Strachan, Judy Watson
Builder Supreme Constructions (in receivership)
Civil and structural engineer Paterson Wholohan Grill
Developer Liverpool City Council
Fire consultant Trevor Howse & Associates
Landscape design Anton James
Lighting Bluebottle
Mechanical, electrical and hydraulic consultant Engineering Consultant
Quantity surveyor Blank Role :: Casula Powerhouse Regional Arts Centre
Site Details
Location Casula,  Sydney,  NSW,  Australia
Project Details
Status Built

Source

Archive

Published online: 1 Nov 1996

Issue

Architecture Australia, November 1996

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