Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club on the iconic Gold Coast presents one of the newest surf clubs built in Australia.
The Club holds a privileged position within an important public space.
With sweeping 180 degree views of Main Beach on one side, and the buzz of Broadbeach’s restaurant and holiday precinct on the other, the building capitalises on its location on one of Australia’s best beaches – where the city meets the beach.
After multiple renovations, the Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club wanted to enhance its reputation as Australia’s premier Surf Club.
So they commissioned Arkhefield to design a new facility.
Arkhefield’s design approach explored the marriage of the dual typologies of a gaming/dining club and surf lifesaving facility.
The key to their design was balancing the building’s civic and recreational functions.
They wanted the building to should feel non-exclusive and inviting for everyone, with the public drawn to the building with shade, shelter, and activity even when the Club is closed.
The building contains both Surf Club facilities and a Supporters Club comprising a 600 seat restaurant, café, bar, and gaming lounge.
The design team conceptualized these dual civic and recreational functions as ‘city to beach’, broadening the prevailing approach to each typology.
This approach delivered a stronger community focus on, and public engagement with, the lifesaving functions, whilst broadening the Club atmosphere to be more accessible, transparent, and civic-minded.
This dual-track objective was achieved via a generous, publicly accessible, and civic scaled, outdoor room as the main focus for the building, a space with a sheltering roof and filtered edges, activated by a café.
The building’s eastern terrace creates a sheltered protective edge that’s available for beach users at all times.
The sculpted roof, with a dynamic uplit sunscreen, defines the spatial experience whilst metaphorically alluding to beach umbrellas, sand dunes, or waves.
In addition to the outdoor room and café, the public front door, lounge bar deck, and dining room are located to generate activity and interest within the public domain including a connection back to the Broadbeach Mall beyond.
Project Details
Project Budget – $12,000,000
Completion Date – 2017
Building Levels – 2
Project Details
Architecture and Interior Design
Arkhefield
Arkhefield is a multidisciplinary design practice delivering 28+ years of design excellence in Australia and the Asia Pacific.
Landscape Architecture
Dunn and Moran Landscape Architects
Dunn + Moran is an experienced, energetic group of talented Landscape Architects delivering high-quality design projects.
Civil Engineering
Motus Consulting
Motus Consulting is a small boutique consulting practice based on the Gold Coast in Queensland offering Civil and Structural Engineering services.
Electrical Engineering
Medland Engineering
Founded in 1987, Medland Engineering is an international engineering consultancy with a network of offices located in Australia, the UK, and Europe.
Fire Engineering
Sotera Fire Risk Engineering
Sotera boasts a team of creative fire engineers who apply strong fundamental knowledge of fire science to overcome the challenging and costly requirements imposed by local fire safety standards, codes, and regulations.
Acoustic Engineering
ASK Consulting Engineers
ASK is a team of acoustic and air quality engineers and scientists based in Brisbane since 1993. They deliver specialist expertise in acoustics, noise, vibration, air quality, odour, and lighting for clients Australia-wide.
The firm has now joined Trinity Consultants, bringing together Trinity’s professional support and the efficiency of a large international organisation with their expertise and exceptional technical services.
Construction
Paynter Dixon
Paynter Dixon is an Australian-owned construction services company with a proven track record of delivering innovative and cost-effective solutions since 1914.
Photography
Scott Burrows
Architectural and interiors-based photographer with studios in Melbourne and Brisbane but travels nationally/internationally staring at buildings.
www.scottburrowsphotographer.com
Photo Gallery
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Design © 2021 Arkhefield. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2021 Scott Burrows. All Rights Reserved.
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