Long Reef Surf Life Saving Club

The renewal of Long Reef SLSC to increase amenity and functionality of the public and club facilities and to provide an up to date life saving building serving all beach goers.

Description

With its intertidal rock platforms, unique marine life and protection as an Aquatic Reserve, Long Reef is a sanctuary for native flora and fauna of all kinds.

With a number of threatened plant and wildlife species, the dunes, headland and surrounding natural areas are also protected under Long Reef Wildlife Protection Area.

The building largely sits on the same footprint as the previous surf life saving club, helping to minimise impact to the protected natural setting.

The building remains low-key through the careful location of the two-storey element of the SLSC building — tucked behind the Banksia trees and shielding the view from the local residents to the north.

The functional brief was divided into three separate pavilions to break-down the mass and help the building nestle into the natural landscape — resulting in a protected courtyard that has become the main social hub.

As APA put it, the result is “a quiet architecture that nestles into the surrounding landscape” — with “a building that weathers and lets the landscape in, respecting and preserving the rich and delicate ecosystem that is Long Reef and the greater Griffith Reserve”.

The material palette is made up of raw natural elements allowed to weather and gain patina — further reflecting the natural setting. Landscape furniture is designed to work with the natural landscape, where concrete benches have been designed as comb-like groins to allow for the collection of sand and plant materials — affording the natural development of dunescapes.

Credit

Architect : @AdrianoPupilliArchitects

Photographer : @MartinMischkulnig

Contractor : @GrindleyInteriors

Client : @NorthernBeachesCouncil

Role

This project was completed during my time at Adriano Pupilli Architects.

As the project lead, my involvement ranged from project bid & initial design competition, concept design, developed design, development application, construction documentation and construction services.