Attachment 1B - Architects Design Statement.pdf

NOOSA SPRINGS BOUTIQUE HOTEL
ARCHITECTS’ DESIGN STATEMENT


CONTEXT - MACRO

The Noosa region is internationally recognised for its attraction as a tourism destination, largely
predicated on a particular character of different landscapes including from coastal wallum to semi
rainforest often on steep hills leading to the water’s edge. Much of the area is low lying behind the
famous Noosa Headlands and encompasses a range of wetlands and lakes which make up part of the
Noosa River System. Interspersed in the landscape are rolling hills of sand dunes, most now completely
covered by the coastal landscape, and varying scales of water bodies with distant views to mountains in
the western coastal plains, remnants usually of ancient volcanoes. This combination often provokes
dramatic sunsets with stunning orange mackerel skies. Within the immediate hinterland and behind a
major range of sandy coastal dunes lies Noosa Springs. Developed over the past 20+ years as a valued
community of high quality homes integrated with dense landscape around a highly respected golf course
interspersed with ponds and lakes emanating from the springs which give this place its name. The general
composition of the community, on a very sizeable property on the eastern edge of Lake Weyba, one of
the largest lakes in the system, is influenced by the natural topography. The site itself is like a shallow 3
sided bowl opening onto Lake Weyba to the west. The Golf Course has generally been located on the
lower parts of the site up to the edge of Lake Weyba, with a visually stunning landscape of gently rolling
hills, water bodies and a combination of retained and new landscape with a bias toward native and indeed
indigenous vegetation greener and more lush to be found in the wetter areas of the region on the richer
soil of the flood plains.


CONTEXT - MICRO

Informally arranged around the western and northern sides of the site , generally larger in scale, of 1 and
2 storeys, are detached houses with a reasonably consistent typology influenced by traditional
Mediterranean buildings of similar scale with lighter coloured washed walls and terracotta tiled rooves.
With the lushness and density of the sub-tropical landscape and architectural designs with a concern for
quality, access to views and privacy, the major 2 areas of housing embody a resemblance of a holiday
villages with a more contemporary edge, to be found on parts of the northern Mediterranean, well known
as great exemplars of how buildings and communities can be integrated with landscape. A variety of views
are available to Lake Weyba to the south, the western plains and mountains and the highly vegetated
sand hills and parts of the Noosa Headlands to the north and east.


EXISTING FACILITIES

An important part of the facilities which contribute to a strong sense of community are the existing golf
club house and health and fitness centre tucked into the lower parts of the large sandhill on the eastern
edge of the site enjoying spectacular views over the golf course landscape and Lake Weyba. Although
these buildings are larger in scale, they have been carefully composed to articulate the scale and integrate
the landscape. They are not large bulky buildings but rather more intimate in feel with most circulation
under cover of generous external verandahs and courtyards. These buildings are well patronised by both
the Noosa Springs community and the wider Noosa community. A smaller pilates studio compliments
these facilities and is also tucked into the landscape along with the golf course maintenance facilities in an
exceptionally discreet manner to render them almost not visible.


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NOOSA SPRINGS BOUTIQUE HOTEL
ARCHITECTS’ DESIGN STATEMENT

CONTEXT - MACRO

The Noosa region is internationally recognised for its attraction as a tourism destination, largely
predicated on a particular character of different landscapes including from coastal wallum to semi
rainforest often on steep hills leading to the water’s edge. Much of the area is low lying behind the
famous Noosa Headlands and encompasses a range of wetlands and lakes which make up part of the
Noosa River System. Interspersed in the landscape are rolling hills of sand dunes, most now completely
covered by the coastal landscape, and varying scales of water bodies with distant views to mountains in
the western coastal plains, remnants usually of ancient volcanoes. This combination often provokes
dramatic sunsets with stunning orange mackerel skies. Within the immediate hinterland and behind a
major range of sandy coastal dunes lies Noosa Springs. Developed over the past 20+ years as a valued
community of high quality homes integrated with dense landscape around a highly respected golf course
interspersed with ponds and lakes emanating from the springs which give this place its name. The general
composition of the community, on a very sizeable property on the eastern edge of Lake Weyba, one of
the largest lakes in the system, is influenced by the natural topography. The site itself is like a shallow 3
sided bowl opening onto Lake Weyba to the west. The Golf Course has generally been located on the
lower parts of the site up to the edge of Lake Weyba, with a visually stunning landscape of gently rolling
hills, water bodies and a combination of retained and new landscape with a bias toward native and indeed
indigenous vegetation greener and more lush to be found in the wetter areas of the region on the richer
soil of the flood plains.

CONTEXT - MICRO

Informally arranged around the western and northern sides of the site , generally larger in scale, of 1 and
2 storeys, are detached houses with a reasonably consistent typology influenced by traditional
Mediterranean buildings of similar scale with lighter coloured washed walls and terracotta tiled rooves.
With the lushness and density of the sub-tropical landscape and architectural designs with a concern for
quality, access to views and privacy, the major 2 areas of housing embody a resemblance of a holiday
villages with a more contemporary edge, to be found on parts of the northern Mediterranean, well known
as great exemplars of how buildings and communities can be integrated with landscape. A variety of views
are available to Lake Weyba to the south, the western plains and mountains and the highly vegetated
sand hills and parts of the Noosa Headlands to the north and east.

EXISTING FACILITIES

An important part of the facilities which contribute to a strong sense of community are the existing golf
club house and health and fitness centre tucked into the lower parts of the large sandhill on the eastern
edge of the site enjoying spectacular views over the golf course landscape and Lake Weyba. Although
these buildings are larger in scale, they have been carefully composed to articulate the scale and integrate
the landscape. They are not large bulky buildings but rather more intimate in feel with most circulation
under cover of generous external verandahs and courtyards. These buildings are well patronised by both
the Noosa Springs community and the wider Noosa community. A smaller pilates studio compliments
these facilities and is also tucked into the landscape along with the golf course maintenance facilities in an
exceptionally discreet manner to render them almost not visible.