A giant gin distillery, a circus venue and what might be the world’s weirdest dive centre are among the eccentric ideas canvassed in a new exhibition reimagining the heritage-listed Wangi Power Station site in the Lake Macquarie region, confabulated by students at University of Newcastle’s School of Architecture and Built Environment.
“This is a great example of how design projects can fire the public imagination and hopefully mobilise saving such an important site from dereliction,” says Sam Spurr, University of Newcastle Head of Architecture Associate Professor.
Swimming baths presented by Students of University of Newcastle’s School of Architecture and Built Environment. Courtesy Lake Macquarie City Council Libraries, New South Wales
One design showcased in the exhibition uses the power station’s main building to house an amphitheatre-style circus. Another would see it sealed and filled with water for unique scuba-diving experiences. One student whose work is included envisaged a multi-level indoor baths, while another suggested converting the whole thing into a banging nightclub.
Wangi Library Creative Hub
9 December 2021 to 31 March 2022
New South Wales
