Marks Park Amenities

At the Bondi end of Sydney’s Coastal Walk, as the narrow track bends into the curving headlands, the grassy expanse of Marks Park and a coastal panorama from Bondi to Maroubra Beach unfolds at the top of the hill.

At the Bondi end of Sydney’s Coastal Walk, as the narrow track bends into the curving headlands, the grassy expanse of Marks Park and a coastal panorama from Bondi to Maroubra Beach unfolds at the top of the hill. This majestic stage has long been home to a bunkered barnacle of a public toilet, unarguably necessary as it was ugly.

 

 

Externally, the building has been wrapped in a skin of recycled hardwood posts, sourced from the demolition of the cavernous former Waverley Council Works Depot buildings at Zetland.

These unify the form and gives rise to a play of textures and shadows throughout the day. The timber skin will weather naturally in the the harsh salt, sun and wind of the exposed headland, and settle over time into the muted silver tones of the nearby banksia scrub and sandstone escarpment.

The female and male amenities spaces were gutted, rationalised and re-planned to double the facility capacity. Robust materials of terrazzo and ceramic were chosen to remain beautiful with constant use and in the harshness of the elements. Judicious cuts into the original fabric inundate interior spaces with natural light and air. Natural light amplifies the warm hues of the shell-pink ceiling.

Marks Park Amenities Gallery

Plans

Project info	Details
Team	Sam Crawford, Imogene Tudor, Ken Warr, Ben Chan, Antonia Frey, Madeleine Rowe, Matthew Bolton, Chelsea Harper with Sonia van de Haar, Lymesmith
Builder	Grindley Interiors
Consultants	Project Manager – Complete Urban Access & BCA – BCA Logic Graphic Design – Deuce Design Hydraulic Engineer – Jones Nicholson Land Surveyor – RPS Lighting and Electrical Engineer – Jones Nicholson Quantity Surveyor – Altus Page Kirkland Structural Engineer – Cantilever
Client	Waverley Council
Photographer	Brett Boardman
Awards	2016 AIA NSW Public Architecture Award 2016 AIA NSW Small Project Architecture Award 2016 AIA NSW Sustainable Architecture Award – Shortlist
Published	Sydney Morning Herald July 2-3, 2016 Architecture & Design May 12, 2016
Completion	2016

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