Located right near the ocean at Broadbeach, the Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club is a Gold Coast institution. With over 1,700 active Surf Club members and 14,000-plus Supporters Club members, it is perhaps the best-known establishment of its kind in Australia.
The original clubhouse was built in the early 1960s. In 2013, following multiple earlier renovations of the original building, the club decided it was time was for a complete rebuild. Given the club’s size, location and iconic status they wanted the new building to make a statement. But they also wanted it to remain a real, functioning surf club with surfboats, skis and boards.
Opened late last year, the Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club successfully strikes a balance between its dual civic and recreational functions. The building houses surf club facilities as well as a supporters club with a 600-seat restaurant, café, bar and gaming lounge.
“The key to the design is the provision of a generous civic ‘outdoor room’ created under a sculpted sheltering roof,” said architect, Anne Sulinski of Arkhefield.
“The generous folded roof form was a fundamental element to the design; its form typifying a subtropical architectural language and supporting a strong narrative of the building which expresses the relationship between the two primary user groups. Both the Supporters Club and Surf Club are visually expressed and are sheltered under one roof.”
The architects specified LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® roofing for the main building roof, as well as LYSAGHT SPANDEK® cladding and LYSAGHT FLATBACK Gutter on the ancillary structures. According to Anne, they chose LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® because they wanted the roof to have a distinct, clean and elegant look.
“A folded origami type roof form engages with both the natural beachscape and contemporary gold coast skyline,” she said. “We are pleased with how the KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® roofing enhanced the look of this fundamental design element, creating a roof which is visually distinct from, yet complements these two contrasting environments.”
On top of that, she said the product offered design flexibility and integrated well with the angular geometry of the roof.
“With a deep profile, concealed fixings and wide pans, KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® roofing in conjunction with the COLORBOND® Ultra steel offered the required protection against the harsh costal environment while fulfilling all our design objectives,” she said.
Anne wasn’t just happy with the performance of the LYSAGHT® products. She also praised the support provided by the company during the design process.
Pointing to the example of assistance to resolve complex crossfalls within the dynamic roof form, she said Lysaght’s technical team helped Arkhefield come up with practical solutions to achieve their preferred design.
Right in the heart of one of Australia’s major tourist destinations, Kurrawa beach welcomes about 5,000 people a day. Now, thanks to the new Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club, they have the perfect spot for a coffee or something to eat after their swim.
