Project Team

design: Carr Design

Suppliers

furniture: Space Furniture,Stylecraft, Temperature, Living Edge, MAP International, 4M, Osiris, Basile and Evans, Thonet, Mark Tuckey
lighting: Planet Lighting, Neoz, Inlite
carpet:
Brintons
tiles:
Signorino
upholstery: Warwick Fabrics

Carr Design was appointed initially by the Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club to undertake the interior design of the refurbished existing building and the new extended wing by others. The hospitality and sporting facilities were to achieve a new vision for the 125 year old Club; key to the redevelopment was a desire to appeal to the club’s broad member group, respecting the traditions of its extensive history whilst equally providing a contemporary direction.

Container Table

Designed by Marcel Wanders, the Container Table concept is a fully versatile system that has endless composition possibilities to fit in any space.

Space Furniture


Analysis of the proposal uncovered duplication of the facilities and generational segregation; Carr Design also identified the benefits of improving the use of existing buildings and the reduction in scale of the extended space. This was particularly required to meet the Club’s needs and halve construction cost.

Carr Design was appointed to undertake a new focussed brief which encompassed the design of the new building with the existing, providing a seamless collaboraton between interior design and architecture.

A 5.8 metre high ramped entry deliberately highlights the contrast of moving through the subterranean car park and signals the junction of new and old. A lift was installed to provide accessible entry to all levels, in each case opening to expansive views.

The new spaces house a gym at first floor and informal lounges, dining areas and bars at second floor together with extensive upgrade of change room and back of house facilities.

On level two and linked by a central gallery spine, each space is connected through a series of portal elements which define the Club’s rich history; through contemporary ‘honour boards’ printed on the portals and lit glass and steel display cases which reinforce the club’s achievements. The gallery terminates in a repurposed ‘glass room’, the curved lounge area preserved from the 1970’s, which now sits comfortably and offers further variety to the hospitality offer.

The outcome demonstrates the strength of a single idea and the power of understanding a brief to create practical outcomes.

The number and age of stakeholders to please was complex and challenging; the key was to remember they were designing a club, not a hotel, yet they abandoned the typical stereotypical ‘club ‘ detail to define a contemporary and enduring aesthetic to span generations.

The new facade, pushed gently towards the courts and clad in charcoal composite paneling is expressed as a striking cantilevered volume with a deep reveal at second floor to provide an expansive balcony. The western slot window offers views from the restaurant to the parkland opposite. Flush face mirror tinted glazing to the west and south aspects maximises view opportunities from the gym internally, providing a strong link between the health and fitness activities with the core activity of the club, the lawn tennis courts. All materials achieve section J BC4 compliance at 5 star.

The reuse of existing space with seamless connectivity to the new area was efficient and non wasteful. The total project was designed for a conservative $2000m2 achieving the $4.0M construction budget set by the Project Control Group at the outset.

The interior design scheme is presented as a series of muted tones and natural materials. The deep veining to the calacutta marble bar and subtle texture to the wide set timber flooring is offset against serviceable finishes of stainless steel and bespoke commercial carpeting.

The firms involvement has extended through the project’s duration to provide advice on artwork and landscape to continue a cohesive vision.