Casting A Red Glow Across Tasmanian Waters
- Name
- Room 11
- Project
- GASP!
- Images
- Ben Hosking
- Words
- Rosie Flanagan
On the edge of the Derwent River, a gestural structure rises from the Tasmanian earth, casting a red glow across its water. GASP! (Glenorchy Art and Sculpture Park) is a public space whose creation was part of the re-imagination of an area of shoreline by Room 11.
The blunt form of GASP! sits low to the land, built from concrete, colored glass, timber, and steel, the architectural site marks the final point of a project aimed to reform the coastal expanse of Elwick Bay. Leading to this concrete pavilion of light is a colorful calibrated walkway. This path takes the walker along a gentle trail beside the water, linking previously disparate areas — a school, a playground, a rowing club and an entertainment center — on the coastline with one another. Lead architect Thomas Bailey explains; “We move on from nostalgic visions of placemaking and embrace interstitial ‘spaces’ with relish.” Along this walkway are mindfully placed pavilions that offer moments of pause and reflection, the walkway culminates at GASP!; perhaps one of the most beautiful places to watch the sun rise or set in Hobart.
All images © Ben Hosking
