Forster Surf Club: A Winning Design with LYSAGHT PERMALITE®

When it comes to coastal buildings, strength and simplicity are everything.

The new Forster Surf Life Saving Club by Weber Architects delivers both. Featuring LYSAGHT PERMALITE® in the ENSEAM® profile, the building was designed to endure the harsh marine conditions of New South Wales’ Mid North Coast, while offering a clean, modern aesthetic that sits comfortably within its surroundings.

In his interview for Australia ByDesign, Architect John Weber shared why LYSAGHT® was the right fit:

“We use the PERMALITE® product from Lysaght as cladding on the project. It’s got a 25-year warranty… this is the Metallic range… similar to a standing seam roof… ENSEAM® fixes are all concealed… the colour is Aries™.”

Making steel work harder

With concealed fixings and a choice of pan widths, LYSAGHT ENSEAM® provides all the visual refinement of a standing seam roof, in a more durable and accessible format. The material’s coastal performance is just as impressive. Built in aluminium and finished in the COLORBOND® steel Metallic shade Aries™, the cladding holds strong against wind, salt and moisture.

For Weber Architects, choosing PERMALITE® wasn’t just about appearance, it was about delivering a long-term solution that wouldn’t require repainting, resealing or replacement.

“We really needed a strong product to use in this extreme environment. The Lysaght PERMALITE® product is working really well.”

Recognised by the industry and the public

This commitment to smart design and strong materials didn’t go unnoticed. Forster Surf Club was voted winner of the 2024 Lysaght People’s Choice Award, a national award recognising the project the public loved most.

It’s a great example of how community architecture can be both practical and striking. And its proof that the right material choice can carry a project from concept through to completion, and well beyond.

Watch the full feature

See the project in action on Australia ByDesign

Season 7, Episode 5, now streaming on 10Play.

For more on the project, visit our People’s Choice Article.