Biennale of Sydney opens at White Bay Power Station
Located on the White Bay foreshore, known for millennia as Gari Gurad/Nura (Saltwater Country) and Nattai Gurad/Nura (Freshwater Country), Bays West holds a significant place in Sydney's history. This area is celebrated for its vast expanses of garaban (rock and sandstone), providing gibbaragunya (stone/cave shelters) and yiningmah (steep cliffs). At the heart of this landscape sits the White Bay Power Station, one of Sydney's few remaining power station structures. Initially constructed in 1920s to power the tram and rail networks and later expanded in the 1950s, the power station was decommissioned in 1983 and has laid dormant for over 40 years.
Public Domain and Activation
As part of the Bays West Masterplan, the Turf team was tasked with the design of an interim public domain surrounding the power station to provide public access for the first time, capable of hosting a variety of cultural, artistic and community events — a new public asset for Sydney located in dramatically scaled industrial heritage. The new public domain supporting the reopening of the power station as a venue for this year’s 24th Biennale of Sydney ‘Ten Thousand Suns’ (running 9 March — 10 June 2024).
Design Challenges
Despite facing numerous challenges, including a tight timeframe and unexpected heritage items including railway tracks, our team worked with Placemaking NSW to open up the site for this first wave of activation. Turf created a new northern plaza providing safe pedestrian access, integrating public transport with bus stop, bike parking and ride share drop off areas, and incorporating a range of seating, planting, and other amenities to enhance the visitor experience. To meet the tight project timeframe we used 3D modelling and visualisations to test a number of design propositions, new levels and activation layouts for the future use of the site, mitigating risks with the project team and providing fast turnaround for pricing and services coordination.
Future Plans for the Bays West Precinct
As we look to the future, this is just the beginning of a much larger transformation to the Bays West Precinct. With the The Bays Metro Station set to open in 2032, future plans include the development of a new foreshore park, creation of a new vibrant street network and public spaces, and integration of commercial and public amenities that will further enhance the visitor experience and support the surrounding local communities of Rozelle, Balmain, Lilyfield and Annandale.
Acknowledgements
The White Bay Power Station revitalisation project has been a ‘high voltage’ creative collaboration. We extend our thanks to all those who have been key in bringing this project to fruition. From our valued client, Placemaking NSW, to the dedicated builders at FDC and project managers at CBRE, every individual and organisation involved has played a crucial role in the success of the first wave of renewal.
Special recognition to Design 5 Architects for their expertise in heritage preservation in and out of the power station, Scale Architecture for their innovative temporary amenities, Garbett Design for branding and wayfinding (with a new typeface by Vincent Chan from Matter of Sorts) and Electrolight for lighting design.
Join us on this journey as we continue to shape the future of the public spaces of the Bays West Precinct.
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Image Credits: @jordankmunns, NSW State Archives, Sydney Biennale, Placemaking NSW.
