Buddhist teachings inform architecture of new higher education institute

Nan Tien Temple will celebrate its 20th anniversary in the Illawarra later this month with a handing over the keys ceremony for the first stage of its new venture, the $40 million university Nan Tien Institute, located at Unanderra, south of Wollongong.

The institute is situated opposite the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere, on the site of a former garbage tip bought by the Nan Tien Institute from Wollongong City Council in 2001 for one Australian dollar.

 

Architects Woods Bagot have worked with the client, Fo Guang Shan International Buddhist Association, to reflect these humble beginnings in their design, using the Buddhist symbol of the lotus flower, a bloom that arises from the mud, as the starting point for the building.

The structure of the building has been formed by grouping spaces into four distinct ‘pods’, creating a public space in between. The ‘pods’ are linked by active bridges, allowing for the movement through the building to be a journey comprised of moments, destinations and thresholds.

Stage one plans includes a 200m pedestrian bridge over the F6 to link the campus and the temple, as well as a museum, gallery, library, cafe, gift shop, teaching areas and administration buildings.

The Nan Tien Temple’s tertiary education master plan will eventually cater for 3000 students, although this first stage will begin its operation next March, catering for 300 students, some who have already been learning from the institution’s postgraduate offerings.

The 20th anniversary celebrations will be hosted on 28 September with a tour of the Richard Crookes’ university building, a ceremonial handover of the keys, the burial of a time capsule and a community fair.

To view a link to a time lapse video of the project click here and to view an interview with Richard Crooks Project Manager John Sullivan click here.

Details of the tour and anniversary celebrations are available here.