The Gold Coast Aquatic Centre is am expansion of the original 1960s Southport Pool sited in the Gold Coast’s Broadwater Parklands. The redevelopment created the venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and held the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in 2014.
Project Name: Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
Studio Name: Cox Architecture
Project size: 7602 m2
Site size: 31824 m2
Completion date: 2014
Building levels: 1
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Photography: Christopher Frederick jones
The design concept is that of a series of pools sunk into earth berms, distinct from the conventional pool shed. This concept amplifies visual relationship with the Parklands and Broadwater and enhances the Aquatic Centres more significant role as the Gold Coast’s community pool post-Games.
The pools are framed and interconnected by colonnades on the concept of a Roman impluvium, accentuating vistas and imparting legibility. The clarity of this ethos is expressed by a predominance of two materials, concrete and hardwood, employing their raw patina to accentuate spatial experience.
The project encompasses the existing pool expanded to Olympic size with an 8-lane training pool, program pool, diving pool and children’s play pool. In addition are a gymnasium, dry dive facility, community meeting rooms, functions venue, and 1,000 seats readily expandable to 10,000 for major events, contracting easily after. A further flexibility facilitates marathon and triathlon event viewing on the Broadwater side.
