2021 National Architecture Awards shortlist
Traditional Land Owners: The Kuring-gai People
Sited on one of Sydney’s iconic headlands, Harbord Diggers is surrounded by spectacular coastal sandstone formations and native coastal landscape.
After years of uncertainty, a building envelope and master plan was proposed by Architectus to comprehensively transform the site with a redevelopment that combined seniors living and a range of community facilities. With extensive community consultation, the resulting vision was to set a new direction for clubs in NSW – more family friendly and attuned to modern lifestyle.
Architectus + CHROFI + JMD design embedded the project into the natural environment, amplifying its beauty while exponentially expanding the club’s offer with seniors living apartments, retail, carparking, child-care, multigenerational sporting and fitness facilities and a food and beverage precinct with expansive outdoor terrace.
The outcome is testament to the master plan with a diverse set of facilities nestled gently into one of Sydney’s great coastal headlands.
Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?
“The new venue, befitting the coastal location, has been embraced and adored by our local community since opening as a destination for all to enjoy – evidenced by membership growing exponentially from 20,000 in 2018 to 65,000 in 2021 while visitation levels have almost tripled.
The seamless transition from internal to external areas has provided the venue with greater flexibility, functionality and driven the customer experience, encouraging opportunity for customer engagements that have become a backdrop for social media posts.
As a result, the Club has become financially sustainable and a showpiece of the Club and Retirement Living industries.”
Ray Brown, Architectus Team / CEO, Principal
Michael Harrison, Architectus Team / Principal, Urban Design & Planning
Jennifer Husman, Architectus Team / Senior Associate, Project Leader
Agnieszka Romanowicz-Butler, Architectus Team / Project Architect
Darrin Rodrigues, Architectus Team / Team Member
Oscar Stanish, Architectus Team / Urban Designer
Steve Fox, Architectus Team / Principal, Digital Design & Delivery
Luigi Ascione, Architectus Team / 3D Visualisation
Laim O’Brien, Architectus Team / BIM Manager
Tai Ropiha, CHROFI Team / Director
Martin Tarnawski, CHROFI Team / Associate, Project Leader
Max Kamlah, CHROFI Team / Designer
Daniel Spence, Other, CHROFI Team / Architect
Georgina Blix, Other, CHROFI Team / Associate, Architect
Susanne Pollmann, CHROFI Team / Senior Project Lead
Joshua Zoeller, CHROFI Team / Associate, Architect
John Choi, CHROFI Team / Director
Steven Fighera, CHROFI Team / Director
Fraser Mudge, CHROFI Team / Associate, Architect
Anton James, JMD Design Team / Design Director
Don Kirkland, JMD Design Team / Construction Manager
Claire Broun, JMD Design Team / Senior Landscape Architect
Mark Curzon, Former Architectus Team Member / Principal
Pulasthi Wijekoon, Former Architectus Team Member
Natalie Rumore , Former Architectus Team Member
Damir Causevic, Former Architectus Team Member
Hiren Sheth, Former Architectus Team Member
Dorinda Appiah, Former Architectus Team Member
Katharina Kulpa, Former Architectus Team Member
Stephanie Brancatisano, Former Architectus Team Member
Dominica Watt, Former Architectus Team Member
Naffs Monazam, Former Architectus Team Member
Johana Siahaan, Former Architectus Team Member
Lucas Kim, Former Architectus Team Member
Kylie Lee, Former Architectus Team Member
Simon Zou, Former Architectus Team Member
Darryl Chandler, Former CHROFI Team Member
Andrew Lamond, Former CHROFI Team Member
Elke Jacobsen, Former CHROFI Team Member
Farnam Ghazizadeh, Former CHROFI Team Member
Lauren Sideris, Former CHROFI Team Member
Dmitriy Lewicki, Former CHROFI Team Member
Alberto Quizon, Former CHROFI Team Member
Joe Lin, Former JMD Design Team Member
Ali Gates, Former JMD Design Team Member
Cerno, Project Manager
Philon, Other, Development Manager
Urbis, Town Planner
Slattery, Quantity Surveyor
Fender Katsilidis, Interior Designer
Enstruct, Structural Engineer
Enstruct, Civil Consultant
Arup, Facade Engineer
Arup, Traffic Engineer
WSP, Services Consultant
Acoustic Logic, Acoustic Consultant
Cundall, ESD Consultant
Steve Watson & Partners, Other, Building Certifier
Morris Godding, Access Contact
GTA, Traffic (DA only)
Wood & Grieve Engineers, Services Consultant
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
