Sydney’s Harbord Diggers Club has announced the Architectus Consortium, comprising Architectus, CHROFI and JMD Design as the winner of its design competition. The Architectus Consortium was one of five design teams selected to prepare initial design concepts for the precinct, with submissions presented to the public at a community information and feedback session in March 2014. Submissions underwent review and assessment by a technical advisory panel and a competition advisory panel. The winning team will now develop their design concept to development application level.
The Harbord Diggers precinct is located on Evans Street in Freshwater and includes adjoining Crown Land. In mid-2011, Harbord Diggers commenced a community consultation, urban design and planning process to prepare a masterplan to guide the future use of the club, the site and the Freshwater Headland precinct (overall, the Harbord Diggers precinct). The aim is to create a destination venue that better serves the local community and celebrates its iconic headland location, between Freshwater and Curl Curl beaches. The proposed development includes a new club house, seniors’ living village, professional child-care facilities, fitness centre and public swimming pool.
The winning scheme includes a club house, seniors’ village, child-care facilities, fitness centre and pool.
Image: Courtesy Harbord Diggers Club
“The Architectus, CHROFI and JMD Design concept was unique in its response to the local character, and its utilization of open spaces and quality of the building formations,” said Harbord Diggers general manager, Dale Hunt. “It took great advantage of our site’s panoramic views and distinctive coastal features. JMD Design’s commitment to site-specific and environmentally sensitive solutions is evident in the winning site concept, and the way they confidently blurred the boundary between art, architecture and landscape is refreshing. There are many synergies in this team, and it is clear from their concept for our site, that they have a clear vision, an eye for detail and absolute commitment to a sustainable development that pays homage to the headland.”
