New South Wales
In 2018 CreateNSW engaged lahznimmo architects to design a new 9,000 m2 facility for Powerhouse Castle Hill. The facilities in the 130 metre long building serve the needs of a variety of groups including staff, volunteers, education groups, researchers, artists, scientists, industry partners and the general public. In addition to increasing storage space, it expands the site’s ability to hold public exhibitions, providing a much needed museum facility for the people of Sydney’s northwest.
The storage facility must maintain a constant temperature and relative humidity to protect the collection and is essentially designed like a large esky.
The material palette throughout is minimal and elemental, with the raw expression of materials on display to showcase their natural properties including mill finish aluminium, off-form concrete walls and polished concrete floors. The colour palette continues the cool tonal range from white, through greys to black.
Powerhouse Castle Hill is an exemplar of architecture as an interface between the public and research, preservation and curation. It forms part of the Museums Discovery Centre, operated in partnership with the Australian Museum and the Museums of History New South Wales. Previous storage was at capacity, given that 95% of the Powerhouse Collection is maintained in storage at any one time. The brief called for a 9000-square-metre facility catering for storage, exhibition, research, events conservation, photography and archives. Powerhouse Castle Hill has looked beyond these pragmatics to elevate its purpose to one of enshrinement.
A shimmering skin is glimpsed through eucalypts from the bordering Showground Road, as one approaches an installation that emanates both mystery and welcome. A precise hybrid of precious receptacle and public centre, punctuated by deft edits to an envelope, the building invites curiosity – placing architecture as a vehicle for experience, both fascinating and cerebral. Veracity of detailing is evident from entry to interior, with spatial and light control conveying a sense of privacy and intrigue. Scale transitions from appropriately monumental at entry, to progressively diminishing in volume and illumination as one proceeds deeper within.
Exhibition and event spaces align logically alongside public circulation, with a sheer frameless glazed wall allowing full view of the 3000-square-metre “very large object” storage area. Specific secure catalogue storage areas require escorted access through sibylline circulation zones, softly lit by seductive contemporary artwork. A vessel of history, record and education, the architecture resides as an artefact in itself, a signal to its purpose.
The building avoids becoming highly technical or overtly prosaic; instead, through a glimmering uniform envelope, it becomes an intriguing vault, reading as a contemporary chamber for articles of reverence. The architecture lends these items significance through its simplicity and subtly enigmatic quality. A spare, robust interior palette lends a functional character to the spatial experience of the larger public areas, while upper-level circulation areas become an avant-garde transition to deeper zones of the facility.
Powerhouse Castle Hill has realised its purpose as an asset to society. It fulfils the critical demands of conservation and preservation while providing public experience of the collection, through a profound architecture of rigour and beauty.
Award for Public Architecture
Powerhouse Castle Hill by lahznimmo architects is a beautifully realised storage facility for the Powerhouse collection which also incorporates space to support research, conservation, public exhibitions, and engagement programs. The sculptural and well-proportioned massing emerges confidently from the ground yet pays reverence to its surroundings. This is achieved through the quietness of the softly mirrored facade which also expresses the institution’s respect for history and the stories contained in the facility’s stored objects.
The corrugated aluminium facade acts as an ephemeral veil that opens and closes to deftly announce points of entry and interaction, to offer glimpses into the interior and to provide solidity and privacy where needed. The jury commends the design team for achieving a building of exceptional refinement which extends well beyond its base function to deliver a sublime space for all to appreciate.
Aspect Studios, Landscape Consultant
Consult Code Solutions, BCA Consultant
Donald Cant Watts Corke (NSW), Quantity Surveyor
MacKay Tree Management, Arborist
Milestone Town Planning, Town Planner
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Civil Consultant
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Electrical Consultant
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Hydraulic Consultant
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineer
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
