MJA Studio and Wave Park Group reunite to 'bring the beach to the backyards' of Perth's surfers
– Andrew Ross, Wave Park Group
Australia’s Wave Park Group has proposed bringing one of its URBNSURF parks to Perth as a 4.5 hectare centrepiece for the city’s sports and recreation precinct.
The surf park company wants to redevelop a bowls club in the 22 hectare Tompkins Park into a world-class destination that attracts surfers disappointed by the surfing opportunities along the coastline.
“Perth is blessed with a number of idyllic beaches, but the surf quality at those beaches is often poor, with overcrowding also becoming an increasing issue,” said Wave Park Group executive chair Andrew Ross. “Also, with a busy job and as a father of young kids, I can’t always get to the beach at the right time to catch decent waves, and when the swell is up, the breaks are full with others trying to do the same thing.
“URBNSURF Perth will bring the beach to our backyards, by unlocking the geographic limitations of ocean based surfing.”
The proposed park for Perth would be able to hold around 84 users per hour, with 36 intermediate or advanced level surfers in the park’s Peak Zone and 48 beginners in the calmer Bays Zone.
Body boards, shortboards, mals, surf skis, surf kayaks and stand-up paddleboards could all be used. The waves, powered by Wavegarden technology, would range from up to 1.7m high – designed for the highest levels of performance surfing – to 0.6m high for beginners. LED lagoon lighting systems would illuminate the waves from underwater, making night surfing available.
The proposed facility also includes a climbing wall, parkour trail and skate course. For visitors wanting to relax, there would be a café, rooftop bar, river-facing beach club, multipurpose space for music and film festivals and a children's playground.
The park’s design – which aims to be as sustainable as possible through the use of solar power and water-saving systems – has been created by MJA Studio, who have collaborated with Wave Park Group on a similar, green-lit scheme in Melbourne, as well as proposing a surf park to be built in Perth’s disused Oval sports stadium.
According to Ross, the development of URBNSURF Perth would generate over 300 jobs during the construction phase and another 45 full time positions after opening, as well as injecting more than AUS$250m (US$188.3m, €169m, £142m) in gross economic contribution to the region. He forecasts the facility to attract approximately 300,000 guests every year.
“Surfing is enjoyed by millions of Australians for its excitement, lifestyle and recognised health benefits, and is second only to Australian football in terms of national sports participation,” he said. “URBNSURF Perth will provide greater opportunities for those that love surfing to engage with their sport, and for non-surfers to learn how to surf safely and conveniently.
“With surfing now confirmed as an Olympic medal sport for the 2020 Tokyo Games, we think this facility will play an important part in the future of the sport of surfing in Western Australia.”
Preliminary technical, environmental and commercial feasibility studies for the proposed development have been completed, and a detailed business case will soon be delivered to the local government for consideration.
If a lease for the site is awarded, it is anticipated that a development application would be lodged in Q1 2017, and that construction could begin later that year. In that scenario, the first riders would take to the waves in late 2018.
Perth Wave Park Group surf park MJA Studio Wavegarden Western Australia architecture design Tompkins ParkUnder-development Texas surf park in hot water after county authorises lawsuit
Man-made Melbourne surf park given green light
Oz: architects bid to save stadium by transforming it into a huge surf park
[VIDEO] Architects seven design new Welsh adventure attraction, Surf Snowdonia
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
SHA Mexico to debut in January 2024 with genome-inspired design by Sordo Madaleno
Bionic leaves, breathable metals and selfgrowing bricks... Biomimicry in architecture has come a long way. Christopher DeWolf takes a look at the latest advances