Power House

Trawsfynydd is a former nuclear power station that was decommissioned in 1991. It is a big, imposing, 1960s’ monolith in the heart of Snowdonia National Park.

Trawsfynydd was designed by Sir Basil Spence, an influential British Modernist who designed some celebrated post-war buildings, including the Grade I listed Coventry Cathedral.

Spence died in 1976 and only now is his contribution to British architecture being properly recognised. “Sir Basil Spence retains a place in history as one of 20th Century Britain’s most influential, yet overlooked architects,” remarked Mark Jones, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, at a recent exhibition of his work.

When designing Trawsfynydd, Sir Basil knew that the building would have a limited life as a working power station. He therefore set himself a guiding question for the design: “Will it make a beautiful ruin?”

It is this building, and local landmarks that has inspired and affected the work of Sonja Benskin Mesher. A local artist with an international reputation.

 Artworks not show before as a complete exhibition, come together @ Theatre Harlech this winter.

“Such an unexpected shape in the natural landscape”