The Northern Beaches are known for, well, beaches. However, there are many impressive man-made structures that bring character to the area.
If you live in surrounding suburbs like North Narrabeen, Narrabeen, Elanora Heights, Ingleside or Warriewood or you are visiting the Northern Beaches from further abroad, here are three pieces of architecture that we love:
Unique architecture in Mona Vale
Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club: Mona Vale’s most recently completed piece of modern architecture, the Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), is a minimalist masterpiece.
Designed by Pacific-based architecture collective Warren and Mahoney, the Mona Vale SLSC is made up of three timber and glass pavilions set low and peaking above the sand dunes of Mona Vale beach. Considering Surf Life Saving clubs are a significant component of Northern Beaches’ lifestyle and culture, Warren and Mahoney knew they needed to put special care into the new building. The result is a visually stunning but highly serviceable complex that pays homage to local Indigenous culture and connections to nature. The new SLSC is a ‘people first space’, with the design including surf lifesaving facilities, a large storage area, a gym and changing facilities for members, a family changing room, an accessibility toilet, a disabled adult changing room, a café, restaurant, function room and a members’ bar and lounge – definitely a place for people.
You can enjoy the building after a swim or play at nearby Apex Park by ordering breakfast or lunch at The Brightside Cafe.
The Park House: Step inside the recently refurbished Park House and you’ll discover an architectural beauty. By stripping the original 1970s structure to the bones and focusing on creating a lo-fi space, the architects created a space that is modern but strongly reflects the building’s motel past. The building has multiple dining areas and an external courtyard with a retractable roof to make the most of any weather.
The recent transformation turned the Park House from a tired old local pub to a destination that is now a hit with patrons of all ages.
The Mona Vale Library marked its 50th anniversary last year but has been known in its current form since 2004. After the original library building, opened in 1972, began to get a little long in the tooth, it was decided that a new building would breathe fresh life into this popular part of the Mona Vale community. While the original building would remain, repurposed as council offices, the new library was designed by Andrew Hjorth of Brewster Hjorth Architects.
The ‘new’ library is cleverly built with the bulk of the premises below ground level, but it makes use of large windows, letting in plenty of natural light for a well-lit and pleasant space. The architects describe the library as two curved pavilions linked by a central, sunken garden, which provides a unique outdoor reading space in the very middle of the building. The library is, of course, free to visit and boasts tens of thousands of books, CDs and DVDs. There are morning sessions for parents and babies; you can check the What’s On page for more information.
These beloved pieces of modern architecture are only a few of many drawcards to Mona Vale but are all open to the public and worth checking out.
If you love the Northern Beaches and know more buildings worth mentioning, drop us a line to let us know.
Ready to buy or sell on the Northern Beaches? Contact Hunter Estate Agents today.