Club Helensvale Bowling Green Canopy
Project Details
Location: Helensvale, QLD
Completion Date: August 2023
Size: 2180 sqm
Fabric: PTFE - Chukoh FGT800 & ETFE - AGC Fluon®
Client: Club Helensvale
MakMax Australia takes immense pride in presenting the Club Helensvale Bowling Green Canopy—a testament to our expertise in designing and constructing innovative tensile membrane structures.
The canopy, spanning an impressive 42 meters in width and 50 meters in length, covers an expansive area of 2040 square meters. This unique lawn bowls roof stands as a prime example of our commitment to creating functional and visually striking architectural solutions.
The Brief
Situated at the picturesque Northern end of the Gold Coast, Club Helensvale holds a significant place in the world of lawn bowling as one of the regular host clubs to huge events such as Bowls Australia’s annual Australian Open and the prestigious World Bowls Championship in 2023.
MakMax Australia worked with team at Club Helensvale in a collaborative design process to come up with a comprehensive and inspired vision for an undercover bowling green. The primary objective was to provide a weather-resistant covering for a 12-rink lawn bowling green. As part of a larger redevelopment effort, the canopy was expected to offer both practical protection and elevate the aesthetics of the club’s surroundings.
The challenge was to blend design, functionality, and precision to meet the club’s high standards. The result was MakMax proposing a unique, customised version of our Tensosport-MAX Flatback Bowling Green Canopy.
The Concept
Working in collaboration with BSPN Architecture and Ashley Cooper Construction as part of the redevelopment team, MakMax Australia conceptualised a distinctive PTFE Flatback canopy, characterised by a clean and elegant barrel vault-style structure. The canopy’s unique geometry was meticulously planned to integrate seamlessly with the newly constructed player lounge.
The lawn bowls roof design features a raised end rafter closest to club house, ensuring an unobstructed view of the green from the two-story lounge. To maintain the line of sight to the main clubhouse, an ascending edge beam was also incorporated into the geometry of the eastern side.
Integrated LED lighting with MakMax Helios-style light droppers delivered an even 200LUX illumination across the entire playing surface.
Another unique aspect of the Club Helensvale Bowling Green Canopy is the addition of a lower level ETFE awning. Running along the Western edge of the canopy, between the covered green and bowling green 3, the clear awning provides weather protection for club players, patrons and visitors arriving and departing from the car park. The clear ETFE provides weather protection for the walkway but allows sunlight through to minimise the effect of shadowing on the adjoining natural grass green. This technique of including an ETFE leading edge has been used on a number of major stadium projects around the world, including the Sydney Football Stadium, but this is the first time in Australia a lawn bowls canopy has included this premium feature.
The Materials
The selection of materials played a pivotal role in realizing the vision of the Club Helensvale Bowling Green Canopy. Chukoh FGT-800 PTFE membranes were employed for the main canopy, contributing to its durability, weather resistance, and distinct aesthetic appeal.
Additionally, AGC Fluon 250up (no frit) ETFE was utilized for a lower-level awning on the Western edge. This innovative technique, drawing inspiration from international stadium projects, blended weather protection with an unobtrusive presence, ensuring sunlight reached the natural grass green.
The Result
The outcome of the Club Helensvale Bowling Green Canopy project was nothing short of extraordinary. The integration of a lower level ETFE awning showcases MakMax’s commitment to marrying form and function seamlessly and our ability to create premium-quality bespoke design elements that focus on the needs of the club.
The Club Helensvale Bowling Green Canopy exemplifies MakMax Australia’s expertise in conceptualising and delivering remarkable tensile membrane structures. It serves as a shining example of how form and function can harmoniously coexist, providing both weather protection and an elevated aesthetic experience. This project not only adds to the allure of Club Helensvale but also stands as a beacon of innovation and architectural excellence in the realm of tensile membrane canopies.
