Edithvale Lifesaving Club by Bickerton Masters | 2022 Victorian Architecture Awards

Описание: The Edithvale Lifesaving Club, designed by Bickerton Masters, was a winner at the 2022 Victorian Architecture Awards in Melbourne. Situated in the bayside suburb of Edithvale, the new facility is carefully crafted to redefine engagement with the public realm. The building features nautical-inspired forms, which reinforce the club's relationship with the water, and a material palette of concrete, block, and timber that is selected to show the harsh coastal conditions over time. The building has been articulated to offer bay views, encouraging the public to meander through the building and down to the beach.

See all the 2022 entries here:
https://www.architecture.com.au/award...

The design also takes into account the sensitivity of the sand dune ecosystem by minimizing the disturbance on native flora, fauna, and waterways. The building features a rain garden that captures and filters stormwater from the building, the esplanade, and the reserve before expelling it into the bay. Any rubbish and debris present on the street and in the reserve are collected in the rain garden, which also offers educational opportunities to the public and reinforces the message to keep beaches litter-free.

While the architectural and WSUD elements of the project contribute to the building's response to site and the public experience, the focus of the brief/design was for the club to effectively deliver emergency services when required. The observation room is located at a high level, proud of the building, to provide lifeguards with sweeping views down the beach and to the bay. The club's separation from the public was also necessary for club activities to be unimpeded when emergency situations occurred.

The new facility was erected for the club's centenary season, with significant club memorabilia reused from the former building. The original commemorative plaque greets visitors as they enter the social room, and lead-light windows are reused as lift landing indicator lights. These touches retain the club's identity, so that members feel at home in the new facility as they did in the original building. The Edithvale Lifesaving Club is a testament to how architectural design can balance functionality, environmental sensitivity, and public engagement.