Man-made Melbourne surf park given green light
Construction will begin in the next few months on Australia’s first man-made surf park after planning approval was granted for the Melbourne project.
Perth-based company Wave Park Group has partnered with architects MJA Studios – who recently unveiled their plan to transform an abandoned sports stadium into an enormous outdoor wave pool near Perth – for the facility, which will be called Urbnsurf.
“Surfing is a sport enjoyed by millions of Australians for its fun, health benefits and lifestyle,” said Wave Park Group in a statement. “Up until now, it has been held back by geographic limitations, only available at certain coastal locations, and by weather conditions, needing enough swell, the right wind, tide and daylight.
“Urbnsurf unlocks these limitations and allows surfers to enjoy their sport safely, more easily and more often.”
The company has declared its intention to open several surf parks across the country, and has partnered with Spanish wave generation specialists Wavegarden on all of its projects.
For Urbnsurf, which will open in late 2017, MJA have designed the lagoon-like park “in keeping with the local and Victorian coastal habitat that will integrate the built environment into the natural.” According to local reports, the facility, located near to Melbourne Airport, will feature a 3.9 hectare LED-lit body of water, with artificial waves ranging from 0.6 to 1.9 metres in height.
The park will also have a cafe, surf shop, surf academy and beach cabanas. Skate ramps, playgrounds, rock-climbing and mountain bike pump tracks will provide additional leisure opportunities.
The cost of the project has been reported as AU$18.5m (US$14m, €12.3m, £9.8m).
Wavegarden is best known for providing the wave generation technology for the Surf Snowdonia attraction in Wales. That park recently re-opened after a period of closure and a £1m (US$1.4m, €1.2m) investment in “significant modification” to the motors. Surf Snowdonia said it was happy with the technology, despite the “intermittent teething issues.”
Man-made surf park Melbourne Urbnpark Wave Park Group MJA Studios Australia architecture design surfing WavegardenOz: architects bid to save stadium by transforming it into a huge surf park
Five new sports make shortlist for 2020 Olympic debut
[VIDEO] Architects seven design new Welsh adventure attraction, Surf Snowdonia
French museum launches VR surfing experience
Surf Snowdonia, with architecture by seven, to be world first for new Wave Garden surf generator
Rotterdam canal being converted into artificial river
Green light for artificial surfing lake in Bristol, UK
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
From Nobu Restaurants and Ian Schrager’s latest hotel to Imagination Playgrounds and the set design for The Rocky Horror Show, US architect and designer David Rockwell always keeps it fresh. He tells us the secrets of his creativity