We sit down with LahzNimmo Architects to hear about the design and execution of their Tamarama Kiosk project, which has provided a more functional, more attractive, safer and more sustainable amenity centre for the popular beach.
May 5th, 2014
Why did the community need a new kiosk?
The old Tamarama Kiosk was no longer in good repair and didn’t meet the needs of the growing local community. Waverley Council commissioned Lahznimmo architects to design a new kiosk and a services building to accommodate Council maintenance, lifeguards and Tamarama Surf Club operational and storage requirements.
The design needed to retain the same feel and sense of place, minimise the size and impact of buildings and concrete, retain green space and views, address the issues of park access and safety, and provide increased functionality.
The new kiosk provides a safer, more functional space for visitors while preserving the ocean views and making the most of the spectacular environment.
What is unique about Tamarama?
Tamarama Park is a beach park located between Bondi and Bronte Beaches on the coastline of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Tamarama, also known as ‘Glamarama’, is a popular stop on the Bondi to Coogee walk. The area enjoys an iconic reputation and the beach is popular with surfers and sunbathers, families and locals. Surrounded by stunning ocean and beach views, in addition to a dramatic sandstone escarpment which wraps around the beach and park, it is a unique site for a kiosk.
What were the major challenges and the design solution?
Tamarama Park is a long-established and much-loved community landmark. The new design needed to respect the deep feelings of ownership for this space in the community while reflecting the unique character of the surrounding environment. The design uses materials and colours particular to Tamarama Beach, the surrounding headland and sandstone escarpment to retain a sense of place. The buildings also sit back quietly against the landscape to become a backdrop to the varied activities of the park and beach. Designed as linear elements, the buildings form an edge to the landscape and reinforce the existing pedestrian pathways and beach promenade.
What other improvements have been made?
The Kiosk has reopened in a new location at the south side of the beach, establishing a new hub away from vehicles, making the park much safer (pedestrian safety had been a major issue in the past). This solution preserves view lines across the park and the beach. It is also sunnier in winter so the kiosk can remain open longer in the cooler months.
As well as a kiosk the new facilities include lots of shaded seating and a ‘spill-out’ area, new showers and toilets, shady picnic tables and a much-improved children’s playground.
How has the building addressed environmental concerns?
The kiosk and services building maximise natural ventilation and daylight to reduce their energy requirements. Other initiatives such as solar hot water heating and low energy use lighting also minimise energy consumption.
LahzNimmo Architects
lahznimmo.com
Photography: Brett Boardman
brettboardman.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Powercast is a universal range of economic lighting tools for outdoor applications. The projectors and floodlights feature cutting-edge technologies including LEDs and Spherolit reflectors for efficient visual comfort.
Workspace Commercial Furniture delivers a thoughtful tribute to the essence of South Sydney – from honouring the traditional custodians of the land to celebrating the community’s beloved Rabbitohs.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
A hair salon in the Japanese capital blends a language of metal and water in a distinctive, original design.
Simon Liley, Principal Sustainability Consultant at Cundall, writes about how cyberpunk dystopias haven’t (quite) come to pass yet – and how designers can avoid them.