Bronte Surf Life Saving Club
THE BRIEF
Plus Studio was engaged by Arcanary Architects as landscape consultant for the proposed upgrade of Bronte Surf Life Saving Club.
The landscape strategy needed to support the core architectural idea of the building as an extension of the hillside while responding to the needs of the club, community and Waverley Council.
THE PLANNING TEST
Bronte is a highly sensitive coastal and civic setting.
Rock outcrops, steep topography, coastal ecology, heavy pedestrian movement and multiple operational users all needed to be considered within a project subject to significant community scrutiny.
Safe circulation was particularly important between Council lifeguard operations, surf club activities, commercial uses and the general public.
THE MOVE
The landscape framework was developed as a continuation of Bronte Park rather than as decoration around the building.
Native planting across the rooftop and building edges reinforces the architectural concept of the structure emerging from the hillside, while landscape and circulation were considered together to help negotiate the transition between park, promenade and club operations.
THE OUTCOME
A landscape strategy that strengthens the architectural concept while responding to the ecological, operational and public-realm complexity of one of Sydney’s most recognised coastal settings.
PLUS STUDIO VALUE
On complex public projects, landscape architecture is not the final layer.