New Brighton Surf Club: a demonstration of form and function 

By PeterFell

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While concrete is often chosen for its durability, there’s no doubt it is also a visually striking material – especially when it’s coloured.

When South by Southeast Architects and Snøhetta were engaged to design the latest iteration of the New Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club in Christchurch, it was important for the building to complement the landscape and perform on a practical level for the community.

“The environment that it’s set in is by the sand, sea and dunes – so the palette is pared back. We're not overloading elements, we are letting the building connect to the landscape,” says South by Southeast Architects principal Ken Powrie. “The design was based on the idea of a piece of driftwood sitting within the stonework.”

As the third iteration of the New Brighton Surf Club – after the original structure erected in the early twentieth century didn’t survive and the second build constructed in the 1940s succumbed to the elements – it was important for this third attempt to be durable and survive in the area’s often ferocious weather.

Imitating the tones of the driftwood, sand and tussock, the community hub is clad in timber – paired with sections of precast concrete coloured with a PeterFell oxide. Fanning towards the ocean on the seafront elevation, a striking silhouette that speaks to the curves and undulations in the sand and driftwood is created.

“The Surf Club had limited funds – they're a charity so the money that they generate really needs to be spent on training and new gear. We wanted to pick materials that didn't require ongoing maintenance, but that were also going to hold up to the environment. Accoya was one of our main materials – it has amazing durability. And then the second element was the precast concrete, which is oversized and [coloured] in PeterFell’s black oxide, for a very grounding element,” says Ken.

“For the walls, the colour accentuates the ground stone – bringing out the colour of the localised stone which enables a good contrast between the timber and the concrete shed areas.”

Protecting the precast panels is PeterFell’s Natural Sealer. Instead of forming a surface coating that can be worn away over time, this sealer penetrates deep into the concrete to protect it against stains and make it easier to clean and maintain – ideal for the brutal weather that beats against the building.

Inside, black oxide and PeterFell Natural Sealer have also been used on the concrete flooring in the Club’s entry foyer, made non-slip with the PeterFell Texture Safe System. Rather than simply being an anti-slip application, Texture Safe is a permanent non-slip texture that’s part of the concrete’s surface.

“It has a bush hammered finish to the concrete, which then the PeterFell sealer was applied to,” explains Ken. “This was for durability because the area gets heavy use with a lot of foot traffic and wet feet over the top. It also gives the concrete a seamless finish from inside to outside.”

Durability is then further enhanced thanks to PeterFell’s C2 densifier which hardens the concrete surface.

Overall, the choice in materiality and colour palette means the building is sculptural in the landscape and integrates easily within the beach setting while being robust and suited to the day-to-day use of the Surf Club.

Visually striking in a beautiful environment, Ken says the new building represents more than the sum of its parts – somewhere for the whole community to enjoy for generations to come.

Words by Cassie Birrer

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New Brighton Surf Club
Members of the community often gather outside for morning coffee to interact and enjoy the facility.
The dark-coloured concrete contrasts against the Accoya.
Running parallel to the ocean, concrete paths provides access around the Surf Club's perimeter.
In this environment, it was important for the building to complement the natural surrounding elements.
The proximity to the beach meant it was crucial for the materiality of the building to be durable.
“I think this Surf Club is a small part of the puzzle in a much bigger picture. You've got a series of new-builds like the Surf Club, the hot pools, new residential builds coming through as part of the redevelopment after the ‘quake, so investing in these types of projects means the community can continue stitching itself back together,” says Ken.
Fanning towards the ocean, the building's architectural form mimics the curves and undulations in the surrounding sand and driftwood.
The multiple garage doors of the storage shed face east-west, and open up on either side.
Coloured in PeterFell's black oxide, the materiality offers durability.

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New Brighton Surf Club: a demonstration of form and function 

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New Brighton Surf Club: a demonstration of form and function 

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PeterFell - Specialist in Coloured Concrete

PeterFell has been the market leader in decorative concrete products since 1991. Our products are the best available and our service and support second to none. The PeterFell System provides a toolbox of options to create unique concrete patios, paths, drives, floors and walls.

Best Colour: PeterFell Limited's rich, deep colours are created right here in New Zealand using a blend of German-crafted Bayferrox pigments in a concentrated liquid.

Best System: The PeterFell System utilises products designed to market leading performance standards - such as the range of concrete sealers designed for maximum durability in New Zealand's demanding conditions.

Best Service: PeterFell has been providing coloured concrete solutions since 1991 and are happy to share this experience to ensure the best possible result for your project.