Surf Life Saving is a valued tradition of our beach culture and Surf Life Saving Clubs are central to our surfing communities. The Club at Kirra Beach, Gold Coast is the second oldest in Queensland and one of the oldest continuously operating in Australia. We are really proud to be working with members of Kirra SLSC and the local community to realise a new vision for the Clubhouse in the context of a new masterplan designed by our studio. Kirra Surf Life Saving Club is steeped in history and occupies a stunning stretch of beachfront. We wanted to do justice to both these aspects of the project while ensuring that our design would support the important work of the Club and secure its long standing in the community for the next 100 years. The research we undertook to reveal the history of the existing Club, designed by Brisbane architect John Beebe and completed in a Tudor Revival style in 1936, was the launch point for our process to imagine a new and exciting future for Kirra SLSC. The masterplan restores the charm and character of the heritage Clubhouse and proposes a contemporary structure - accomodating a range of new facilities - over the existing carpark. In between old and new, a laneway will create new pathways to connect community and surf both physically and metaphorically. The clubhouse extension will provide a refreshing and iconic destination for the community. Generous dining and gathering areas are raised above boat stores as a means to elevate the focus on the sand and surf that make Kirra famous. We value the opportunity to work on projects like these. We respect the responsibility we have to deliver something meaningful for engaged communities. Keeping the interests of club and community at the centre of the decision making process has helped us to establish the framework to deliver a design we are excited to see come to fruition.