A New Normal will launch this week, bringing together more than fifty of Sydney’s most ambitious designers, architects, developers, technologists, brands and architects to actualise new solutions to solve some of the city’s most persistent challenges. Presented at the Powerhouse in partnership with Vivid Ideas Sydney, Zen Energy and Landcom, A New Normal Sydney provides an opportunity to experience solutions that collectively represent a $120BN investment opportunity - into profitable initiatives that will pay for themselves within 7 years.
Artist's impression of urban agriculture in housing development
The 3-week long exhibition is part-gallery, part pavilion and part community meeting place, housing under one roof future prototypes that give visitors the opportunity to experience ‘new normal’ solutions for a self-sufficient Sydney.
In addition to four prototypes and light displays, more than 20 concepts form part of an exhibition that provide a near-term solution that if implemented would transform Sydney from a consumer of water, energy and other commodities within 10-years to be a self-sufficient producer of clean energy, limitless water and zero waste within 10 years.
Highlight concepts that will be exhibited include a beer made from recycled waste-water in partnership with Heaps Normal called ‘The Last Beer on Earth’’, the rehabilitation of the Cooks River, a new take on an old community gardening model, zero-waste retail fitouts, a coat hanger-eating robot, a 1000 megawatt pumped hydro power project that will keep the lights on in 500,000 homes for 8-continuous hours and a ‘forever car’ - a classic 1973 VW squareback converted into an EV.
Led in Sydney by Jess Miller (former Councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney), the hub and activation is the result of a mass collaboration between some of Australia’s most ambitious and pragmatic thinkers. It provides a blueprint for a more sustainable decade, assembling real-world solutions to problems that can seem unmanageable and answers lofty.
A New Normal Sydney follows on from the success of its beginnings at Melbourne Design Week at NGV in 2021. Led by Ross Harding, 15 prototypes were presented, 8 of which were adopted and three have been completed.
“We’re thrilled to be adapting and presenting this ‘do tank’ to Sydney-siders and the nation and expanding the reach of A New Normal. It is our hope that the private-sector and government will see that these practical, popular and cost-effective solutions are at their fingertips and available now,” says Jess Miller.
“This project provides a blueprint for cities on how to save water, lower emissions and minimise climate impact in a way that will create jobs and support our local economy. It will also show how these solutions can be available to all and not just the privileged few - it is massively in keeping with Vivid’s ‘Humanity’ theme for this year ,” says Miller.
“Sydney faces significant social, economic and environmental challenges, but we are also one of the most liveable cities in the world. Landcom is proud to partner on the implementation of this program which provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs and great minds to resolve these issues.
Showcasing urban agriculture and organic waste-to-energy exhibitions, inspired by Landcom’s Bomaderry and Glenfield projects demonstrates how we are driving toward a sustainable future,” says Alex Wendler, CEO of Landcom.
Lisa Havilah, Powerhouse Chief Executive says “This exhibition is a significant addition to Vivid Sydney this year. It gives some of our city’s creative luminaries the opportunity to think differently about future solves to usher our city into a new era of renewables and strong economic futures. The Powerhouse offers the ideal playground for these groundbreaking ideas, driving essential and transformative real-world impacts on where we live.”
“This is the critical decade for climate action and Sydney can and should be able to keep its own lights on. Big challenges need bold solutions. We can harness our world-beating know-how and the power of water to deliver a clean energy revolution,” ZEN Energy CEO Anthony Garnaut said.
Visitors to the meeting spot at the heart of Vivid Sydney’s action, adjacent to the Fire Kitchen at the Goods Line, will be able to experience how concepts like circularity, zero waste, renewable energy, low emission transport, net zero and unlimited water are being translated into practical projects that might just find a home in their neighbourhood, home, garage or even local shopping centre.
The exhibition will draw on empirical evidence of Sydney’s consumption of resources, backed by case studies and scientific research.
A New Normal Sydney is presented as part of Vivid Ideas as part of Vivid Sydney, an annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology, transforming Sydney for 23 days and nights. In 2024, for its 14th year, Vivid Sydney will fuse art, innovation and technology in collaboration with some of the most boundary-pushing artists, musicians, thinkers and culinary experts of our time.
A New Normal is part of this year’s Vivid theme of Humanity, exploring what makes us human and how we can make a better world together.
