Published On:Tuesday, 7 October 2014
Posted by Unknown
Australia’s First Buddhist-run Institution Blooms
Designed by global architecture firm Woods Bagot for the Fo Guang Shan International
Buddhist Association, the new Nan Tien Institute’s aesthetic references some of
the Buddhist ideals including a strong connection to the environment and a
focus on reflective spaces.
At the heart of the design is the Buddhist symbol – the lotus flower – which Woods
Bagot calls “a pristine, beautiful bloom that arises from the mud.”
Along with aligning with the Buddhist
teachings, the lotus flower also reflects the the origins of the site, a former
garbage tip adjacent to the temple which the firm says was bought from the
local council for one Australian dollar.
Building on a former waste site came about
following four years of design and construction work and a multi-million dollar
remediation, financed and conducted by Nan Tien Temple.
Spanning 6,000 square metres,
the building was formed by grouping spaces into four distinct ‘pods’ which
are linked by active bridges. These bridges allow fluid movement through
the building – a reflection of the learning journey comprised of “moments,
destinations and thresholds,” Woods Bagot says.
The four pods and
active bridges
The institute also houses an art gallery, a library,
a common area with a cafe and academic facilities.
“The building combines the functions of a contemporary
learning environment with a destination for visitors to Nan Tien Temple,
bringing the community together to reflect and celebrate Buddhist philosophy,”
said Woods Bagot director and global sector leader in education, science and
health Georgia Singleton.
The building, made primarily of precast concrete,
features distinctive curved walls and window openings.
“In keeping with the Humanistic Buddhist teachings of Fo
Guang Shan, the architecture avoids hierarchy, is modern, values the ‘spaces in
between’ as well as providing a neutral environment devoid of excess and
materialism,” said Woods Bagot senior associate John Prentice.
This building is the first stage of a larger construction
plan which will see a $20 million bridge straddle the F6 (M1 Princes Motorway),
linking the temple with the institute.
The project subtly references Buddhist ideals, it follows
a growing trend of architects marrying form and function when designing
religious and spiritual buildings.
The proposed $370 million Shaolin Buddhist Temple
development area for NSW by Conybeare Morrison architects was designed to
reflect the original Shaolin temple in China.
Architect Fairborz Sahba replicated spiritual
iconography more directly with his design of The Lotus Building in Wujin,
China. The building was created to establish “a symbolic commitment of the
local government’s ambitions and future aspirations.”
The Lotus
Building directly reflects its symbol
