Berwick Bowling Club Roof
Project Details
Location: Edwin Flack Reserve, Berwick, VIC
Completion Date: June 2022
Size: 2002 sqm
Fabric: PVC - Mehler FR900N
Client: City of Casey / Berwick Bowling Club
Photography: © Keith Orton
The Berwick Bowling Club Roof is a unique example of a MakMax TensoSport-MAX Flatback canopy. A single ascending edge beam leading to a raised corner closest to the club house creates spectacular stadium-like viewing of the undercover rinks and the clean, elegant lines of the Flatback design help to highlight the bespoke geometry.
The Brief
The Berwick Bowling Club Roof was proposed by the local City of Casey council as part of a larger sporting redevelopment project of the Edwin Flack Reserve is Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs.
Originally tendered as a three-arched canopy by the City of Casey designers, with each arch raising higher than the previous, MakMax suggested a cleaner, more elegant Flatback design where the clean, straight lines created by the edge beams and longitudinal rafters create a vanishing-point effect when viewed from the adjacent bowling greens. The unique ascending edge beam and raised-corner geometry of the canopy closest to the clubhouse becomes the hero of the design.
Conforming to the height, specification and dimensions of the tender, MakMax’s value engineered option was accepted by the City of Casey, and the end result certainly makes the end result both a practical sun and weather protected sporting facility, as well as a bold architectural statement for the club.
The Concept
With the Berwick Bowling Club clubhouse sitting on higher ground than the three main greens, the north-west corner of the canopy has been raised to allow clear sight lines into the new undercover green. The north-west column is 2.4 metres higher than the columns on the eastern edge of the canopy, as well as 2.4 metres higher than the southwest corner.
A deceptively simple-looking design, the change in geometry along one edge of the structure required some additional engineering analysis and design, as well as detailed membrane patterning to allow for the changes to the tension load over the various panels.
The Materials
Covered in Mehler Valmex Mehatop FR900N PVC, the Berwick Bowling Club Roof was fabricated in our Brisbane fabrication facility. The Mehatop ‘N’ lacquered surface uses a special nanostructure which protects the woven fabric and offers a significant reduction in surface energy. This helps the coating to provide exceptional dirt repellent characteristics compared to other PVC membranes on the market.
To see some great photos of the membrane installation, visit out install partner Sky Skills.
The Result
We received some very positive feedback from the Berwick Bowls Club Members during a follow-up site visit of the new structure. They love the new structure and the green underneath. The club’s membership has increased by over 40+ since the opening (around 3 months) which they attribute to the shade structure.
The MakMax team members met the director of the club, John Rich, who sang our praises for the way MakMax went about the construction of the Berwick Bowling Club Roof. John advised us the club had a delegation from Bowls Australia visit recently to look at the new green and they were impressed with what they saw.
