Mona Vale’s new Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) is picture perfect, sympathetic to its surroundings, sustainably designed and provides a much-needed amenity to the community. The Club is an intrinsic element of wellbeing for all in the area, and, through this new home, the local populace and the staff of the Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club now have a grand place to meet, relax and enjoy the sea and sand in comfort and safety.
The design of the new Surf Club has been created by (W + M), with principal Sven Ollmann as architecture lead. The building has functionality at its heart, providing a people-first space that helps break down barriers to welcome people from across the Mona Vale vicinity. Through engagement with stakeholders, the community and the Club, Ollmann and his team analysed the requirements to understand the multiple needs of patrons better, and the result is a singular architectural expression that ticks all the boxes.
The building is open and active on all sides, with a café at ground level and sightlines to the water that links the park and beach. The three elevated glass pavilions are angled to capture the views, natural beauty of the beach and headlands and reside comfortably in its place.
The Club includes surf lifesaving amenities, a large storage area, a gym and change facilities for members, a family change room, a café and a restaurant, a function room and a members’ bar and lounge. There are also separate amenities and a public change facility alongside the Club for general use by bathers who utilise the pool or sea.
There were several vital pillars of inspiration for the project, and these included durable materiality, with raw concrete chosen to reflect the natural environment but also to help resist the harsh coastal weather. Timber was also specified for the façade and internal structure, and this will patina with age to enhance the building and further complement the surrounding landscape.
The locality was of great importance, and the Club pays tribute, acknowledges and celebrates the local history of the people and place of Mona Vale. Aboriginal art was a key component of the design, with artists Michael Glasheen and Leslie McLeod developing commissioned works for the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Where possible, low embodied Co2 materials were used that were locally sourced, and there was a focus on controlling water usage and run-off with a 70000-litre rainwater tank installed for the daily cleaning of the Club’s gear.
“We’re incredibly proud that the design of the building has exceeded all stakeholder expectations in its scope to boost membership revenue, secure the club’s future and create an enduring legacy for the community,” Ollmann concludes.
Watch Warren and Mahoney’s exclusive video of the Surf Club here:
Warren and Mahoney
Photography
Sean Fennessy and Brett Boardman
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