The Victorian Racing Club (VRC) has unveiled designs for a new $128-million members’ grand stand at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse by Bates Smart.
The new building will replace the existing Members’ Old Grandstand on the northern side of the race track.
Unlike the existing building, which is attached to an adjacent building to the east, the new club stand is designed to be free standing and viewed in the round. The new free-standing building will effectively form a new gateway and centrepiece to the racecourse.
The design of the new club stand is inspired by the garden setting of Flemington Racecourse. The building’s curvilinear form reflects the shapes and forms of the flowers and petals of the grounds.
The design of the proposed club stand by Bates Smart will draw inspiration from the garden setting of Flemington Racecourse.
Image: Courtesy Bates Smart
The five-level building will provide views on all sides to other parts of the racecourse including the track, Mounting Yards, members’ lawn, parade ring, betting ring, day stalls, other existing grandstands and the winning post. An external walkway will wrap around the perimeter of the building on the first floor.
“The shape and form of the Club Stand draws from the rich garden context of Flemington which has always framed the spectacle of horse racing in this historic location,” said architect Kristen Whittle, a director of Bates Smart. “Presenting itself in the round, the sweeping curves of the Club Stand generate excitement and expectation capturing the spirited energy of a day at the races.”
Tiered seating on the racetrack side of the building will link the function space to a new larger members’ lawn area. The new club stand will accommodate increased capacity, a more diverse array of hospitality venues and a rooftop terrace, which will be defined by strongly expressed canopies.
The design will also draw on the history of the Flemington Racecourse and the VRC, with their stories to be portrayed through the material, pattern and pictorial displays of the building.
“The Club Stand is designed to amplify the flamboyant heritage of Flemington, and become an iconic feature of Flemington’s future,” Whittle said.
Flemington Racecourse is the home of the Melbourne Cup. The new club stand is due to begin construction following the 2017 Melbourne Cup and will be completed in time for the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
