Image Credit : Tyrone Branigan Productions
Project Overview
Coogee Lifesavers Pavilion takes the typical amenity building typology and flips it on its head. This is a space to be celebrated, a space to be used and a space for locals to be proud of. It embodies the key characteristics of Coogee and uses large scale and playful pictograms in association with smaller regulatory signage requirements typically dictated by codes, while at the same time integrating completely with the architecture and interiors of the space.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Project Director: Carlo Giannasca
Design manager: Adam Longo
Group Creative Director: Ant Donovan
Creative Director: Ben Hennessy
Senior Designer: Henry Ellis-Paul
Project Brief
As part of the redevelopment of the Coogee Beach Lifesavers Pavilion, Urbanite (part of Frost* collective) was engaged by Randwick City Council to design and develop a signage family and environmental graphics scheme for the unique underground concrete structure located on the Coogee beach front.
The Pavilion provides voluntary lifesavers with facilities to operate from, as well as a public amenity block of toilets, showers and change rooms.
Randwick City Council and Brewster Hjorth Architects wanted to engage with a design team who could build upon the unique and playful character of Coogee, whilst still meeting the strict requirements for signage and wayfinding within a public amenity facility. In addition to this, the functional aim was to assist with the public’s use of the space as well as soften the contemporary architecture.
A great opportunity presented itself to redefine the typology of a public amenity building, typically hidden at the rear of public spaces, and to celebrate the functional aspect of the architecture. We were also able to further strengthen and reinforce the character that makes Coogee beach one of the most popular beaches in the world.
Project Innovation/Need
Urbanite’s primary aim was to create a holistic signage scheme that allowed users of the space - the public and lifesavers - to intuitively navigate and utilise the space with ease. It was important that the signage and graphics were integrated where possible and complementary to the architecture and interiors throughout. Further to this, the signage needed to strengthen and resonate the Coogee character and surrounding area to the hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors who use the beach and would interact with the pavilion each year.
Design Challenge
Due to the nature of the building’s function, a considerable amount of emphasis was placed on addressing safety and emergency procedures and for this reason it was crucial that particular elements of the signage abided by strict regulations. Accessibility was of the upmost importance on this public building, and this was translated through highly legible signage which enables the use of the spaces by people of all abilities. This signage was used in combination with integrated tile graphics, large-scale typography and pictograms used in bold and colourful ways, which were derived from the surf lifesaving club’s colours. This approach helped us break out of the typical public amenity facility typology which can embody a lack character and playfulness. We were able to redefine what a user’s experience with these types of buildings could become and celebrate the benefits and convenience it provides the locals and visitors of Coogee.
Effectiveness
A resident’s survey in 2014 found that 73% of respondents supported plans for new toilets on Coogee promenade with 40% believing the former facilities were “poor”. A new survey is yet to be completed but initial user engagement with the site has been exceptional. Noticeboards are being utilized with messaging being amended every day, while small children are seen measuring themselves up against the height graphic applied to the central column.
The bold and playful approach perfectly supports the users and the location and we eagerly look forward to receiving the results of the next survey.
Graphic Design - Environmental
This award celebrates creativity and innovation in the intersection of communication design and the built environment, and is concerned with the visual aspects of wayfinding, communication identity and brands, information design and shaping the idea of place. Consideration given to clarity of communication and the matching of information style to audience.
More Details