Normanville SLSC

Type | Surf Life Saving Club and Kiosk

Completed | 2023

Area | 1350 sqm

Beach culture holds a prominent position in Australian lifestyle and identity, with the Surf Club playing a crucial role.

Architects Ink was engaged to design a new Surf Club for the Normanville foreshore. Intent on preserving a township identity, the volume was carefully articulated to reduce visual mass. The intentional stepping of the program and balcony edge creates an open connection with the plaza, beach, and heritage dunes.

Material selections are familiar and suggest longevity, allowing the structure to sit comfortably within its coastal environment. Concrete rendered masonry anchors the building, akin to protective seawalls, while weatherboard wraps the upper level. The fenestration of the corner balconies and patrol room is reminiscent of light framed beach tents.

Since opening, Normanville SLSC has been warmly embraced, seeing a record intake of new memberships. This not only supports the club's sustainability but creates an enduring legacy for this beloved coastal town.

In the words of the client:

“Architects Ink have created a building that enables us to conduct Life Saving duties with ease. From the position of the First Aid room to treat patients with easy access, the patrol room upstairs with its large windows gives us greater visibility to patrol the beach, the storage downstairs for our craft and lifesaving equipment enables us to be rescue ready. The upper level is a perfect space for our members and community to socialise, and the interior is connected to breathtaking views of the coast.

I could have written a 1000-word document - it is perfect for our operations.” 

Photographer: Sam Noonan