- Area: 215 m²
- Year: 2016
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Photographs:Douglas Mark Black
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Manufacturers: Aqualoo, Caroma, Living Iron
Text description provided by the architects. Leighton Beach has been undergoing significant redevelopment including infrastructure, housing and beachfront facility. The City of Fremantle has provided Public Facilities to the redevelopment in the form of Access, Landscaping, a Kiosk and Changerooms.
The site historically has had changeroom and kiosk facilities present however over the years these had been neglected and with recent redevelopment works in the immediate surrounding and adjacent areas The City of Fremantle recognised the existing facilities no longer provided adequate service.
Access to recent developments and the beach has being re-established. Particular attention to Universal Access is included to provide for users generally and for the frequent use by the Disabled Surfers Association of Western Australia.
Landscaping has re-instated the immediate dune structure while accommodating Universal Access and the broad re-instatement and augmentation of indigenous vegetation has provided a sustainable recreational environment.
The Kiosk provides for the user Public generally and in particular it supports adjacent picnic and park facilities. New covered and shaded seating are provided for free Public access. Building architecture is informal and adaptable in keeping with the beach culture and expected growth through use. Timber, the prime building material has been adopted in response to the need for a maintainable while changeable technology.
The Changerooms connect public space and lead to beach access. They provide external showering and internal change, showering and toilets. Family and Universally Accessible facilities are specially provided for. The Architecture is robust and open. The building is positioned immediate to the first dune formation and is protected and provides protection. Planning follows the dune and is linear enabling connection in the landscape while facilitating separation of users through a single point of securable access.
Careful consideration of the building position, planning and formation has resulted in an Architectural solution that sits in sympathy with the surrounding natural environment and uses features of the natural environment to enhance the architecture. Natural ventilation, light and shade have all been achieved in this intelligent architectural solution.
Effective planning and use of materials ensure ease of long term maintenance, servicing and vandalism control.
A carefully considered and restrained palette of materials has ensured that the changeroom structure sits quietly within the dune landscape allowing the activity of user groups to add the dynamic quality whilst the vibrant ‘orange’ of the Kiosk acts as a marker allowing this to be referenced as a location and meeting point for the public and site it’s reference to adjacent open park space.
