City of Moreton Bay unveils the designs for the new-look Suttons Beach Public Space
The City of Moreton Bay has unveiled the designs of the new Suttons Beach Public Space project that will replace the Suttons Beach Pavilion, set to be demolished this year. The plans, selected after an Australia-wide architecture design competition, is expected to revitalise a beloved section of the Redcliffe waterfront. Read on to find out what you can expect …
The Sutton Beach Pavilion has been a mainstay of the Redcliffe foreshore since the 1930s. A cherished focal point for waterfront outings, the site has evolved into a local landmark beloved by many. In 2023 building investigations concluded that a large-scale renovation of the building was impractical, with saving the original an unfeasible prospect.
Though a disappointing result, Moreton Bay City Council is seizing the opportunity to revitalise the area, appointing professional advisors to set up an architectural-design competition encouraging some of the country’s finest firms to submit ideas for a new mixed-use facility at Suttons Beach. Selected by a jury of architectural design experts, the winning design was jointly submitted by Sydney-based lahznimmo architects alongside landscape architecture and public art studio firm Plummer & Smith.
“We wanted to create a contemporary pavilion that was responsive to its context in addition to acknowledging the history of Suttons Beach and the significant social and cultural memories it holds for the community,” says Annabel Lahz, director of lahznimmo architects.
“Whilst we appreciated the significance that the original Art-Deco pavilion had for the community, we didn’t want to just replicate what was already there. Instead, our design takes some clues from the original pavilion’s expression such as its: curved corners; strong horizontal lines and concrete roof deck and integrates these into a contemporary beach pavilion.”
Key features of the proposed plans include three new hospitality spaces, enhanced public amenities, a rooftop space (featuring one of the hospitality spaces), a public deck, and an event space, ample indoor dining and outdoor seating options, a re-imagined rotunda, a versatile landscape for everyday activities and events, design features that cater to the sub-tropical climate and weather conditions, and native plant species in the surrounding landscape.
“I was impressed when I saw the winning design and what the future holds for this iconic site,” says City of Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery. “I can see much thought and understanding of this unique place has influenced the design, from the history of the site through to the surrounding landscape, and Council is proud to endorse the jury’s selection.
It is expected that the Development Application for the new pavilion will be submitted in late 2024. Keep your eyes on The Weekend Edition for updates.