Calling all architects: Moreton contest to replace crumbling Suttons Beach bathing pavilion

A plan which produced the globally recognisable Sydney Opera House could now secure the future of the site of the crumbling Art Deco Suttons Beach pavilion.

The historic building is surrounded by fencing while it awaits demolition. Courtesy of Suttons Beach Pavilion Preservation Group

The country’s best architects will have their work cut out for them in a national competition replace a dangerously crumbling art deco building on prime waterfront land north of Brisbane.

Moreton Bay City Council has announced a competition to flush out the best designs for a building to replace the Suttons Beach pavilion on the Redcliffe Peninsula.

The Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House and Washington’s White House were built after design competitions.

The much-loved 1930s structure, currently shrouded in construction fencing, was earmarked to be bulldozed after a damning report found it to be crumbling beyond repair and too costly to save.

Moreton City mayor Peter Flannery said the winning design would include plans to enhance the entire waterfront site and will include restaurants, a rooftop public space and showers and toilets.

He also said the council wanted to keep as many materials as possible in an effort to salvage a part of history.

The popular building on the waterfront at Redcliffe. Picture: Courtesy of State Library

“We understand the significance of the previous Suttons Beach Pavilion to the local community, and the new building design will consider the history of the site, as well as extensive community feedback,” he said.

The council has allocated $1.25 million this financial year to rebuild and reshape the foreshore and the historic swimming sheds, which opened in 1937.

Residents gave ideas for designs and building style for a replacement building in March and April with responses expected to form part of the design brief.

Suttons Beach Pavilion Preservation Group secretary Karen Whittam said residents should be excited and the discussion was positive at this week’s council meeting when the contest was announced.

The building is still standing but awaiting demolition. Pictures: Courtesy of Suttons Beach Pavilion Preservation Group

Ms Whittam thought it was unlikely that her group would make an architectural submission to the contest.

“I’m not sure that’s a road we want to go down,” she said in an online forum.

“The council have money to spend to hopefully get top architects involved.

“We will be pushing to be involved in design selection though.”

The council has consulted the Australian Institute of Architects to ensure industry best practice and is currently seeking AIA endorsement for the final competition guidelines and model.

The competition will be launched mid November and the council hoped to have a shortlist of architects to compete in the second stage early next year with the winner announced by July.