Adriano Pupilli Architects and landscape architects Tyrrell Studio have completed the design of a new surf life saving club in Long Reef on behalf of the Northern Beaches Council.
The brief was to design a space with increased amenity for local residents, beach goers and the club members, while maintaining a similar footprint to the existing facility. The new club needed to accommodate the extensive functional requirements of the public, while maintaining a low profile that appeared inconspicuous in the natural landscape. Community consultation called for a building that was “robust and honest”, hardworking, flexible and deferential in palette to its surrounds.
Adriano Pupilli used a quiet architectural response, incorporating a gently raked, kite-shaped roof with a sloping form that nestles the building into the landscape.
The new club replaces the former facility after it was deemed unsuitable to cater for the needs of the club and the community. The club was originally founded in 1950 with just 29 members, where today, membership has reached more than 1,000.
Landscaping by Tyrrell Studio is designed to be drought tolerant, using native species.
Image:
Martin Mischkulnig
The $9.5-million fit-for-purpose building, which was approved for construction in 2020, is designed to be more sustainable than its predecessor, with a more modern and flexible offering that is sympathetic to the local environment.
The redevelopment included the construction of three buildings conceived as pavilion structures, including a two-storey surf club, a club storage facility, and a cafe and locker space.
The series of pavilions is clad in timber rain screens, designed to weather over time with the impact of the elements. Bookended by dunes, these pavilions are arranged around a central courtyard filled with outdoor amenity, including barbecues, furniture, and native landscaping.
Hit-and-miss breeze blocks on the west of the building and timber rain screens allow for passive ventilation and airflow. Skylights in the changing and locker rooms provide natural lighting and ventilation, made from a glass sheet suspended above a concrete collar, allowing breeze and sunlight to filter in to the space.
The main pavilion hosts a function room on the second storey, providing views out over the immediate banksia grove and over North Head beyond.
Officially opened on 11 February, Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan said the facility will provide a “welcoming centre for activity” for the community, and a “long-term base for future generations of volunteers surf life savers”.
Made from locally-sourced timber, the buildings are sustainable by design, featuring water-saving fittings, solar panels for power generation, drought-resistant native plantings, green roofs and permeable paving for natural ventilation.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
