The Club Stand
The Club Stand
Bates Smart
ARCHITECTS
Bates Smart
PROJECT MANAGER
Case Meallin
MANUFACTURERS
Aglo Systems, Sculptform, Atlas Schindler, Cosh Living, Cult, Douglas And Bec, Dulux, George Fethers, Hub Furniture, Living Edge, Rc+D, Zumtobel, Algo Custom Lighting, Baron Forge, Grazia And Co, Img Commercial, Kbr Commercial, Melbourne Facades, Omni Floor, Pippo & Co, +1
LANDSCAPE
Ayus Botanical
ENGINEERING
Arup
SERVICES CONSULTANT
Arup
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
Multiplex
ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT
Arup
CIVIL CONSULTANT
Arup
LIGHTING CONSULTANT
Electrolight
CLIENTS
Victoria Racing Club
DESIGN TEAM
Kristen Whittle, Jeffery Copolov, Jan Eastwood, Stephen Davies, Molly Rizzo, Jane Tuck, Samantha Poole, Denisa Syrova, Andrew Raftopoulos
SIGNAGE & WAYFINDING
Fabio Ongarato Design
ACCESS CONSULTANT
Architecture & Access
HERITAGE CONSULTANT
Lovell Chen
KITCHEN CONSULTANT
Chris Love Design
AV CONSULTANT
Arup
LOCATION
Flemington, Australia
CATEGORY
Hospitality Architecture, Recreation & Training
Text description provided by architect.
The brief from the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) for the new Club Stand at Flemington Racecourse was to create a symbolic building that would not only celebrate the incredibly rich heritage of the club but exemplify the future and change the race day experience forever.
The team responded with the resolve to create a strong and memorable building—one which would become an indelible part of Flemington’s future. The intention was to not only reinvent the very nature of the grandstand, but also the types of hospitality venues on offer for members.
Initial explorations determined a distinctive and clear rationale that resolved functional problems but also revealed the potential to create an emblematic stand that acknowledges the site context.
The oval shape of the building is fundamental to this and helped to resolve key problems of the site, with the stand’s ‘in the round’ design allowing for a panoramic experience that captures the theatre of horse racing on all sides.
The highly-sculptural and curvilinear design was inspired by the shape of the racetrack, race day millinery and Flemington’s iconic rose gardens, and occupies nearly the same footprint as the former Members’ Old Grandstand, but with greater capacity.
Positioned near the main entry, The Club Stand is a focal point that cross-connects multiple elements of the course including the Members Lawn, Pre-Parade Ring, Betting Ring, Committee Room, and Winning Post.
The design acknowledges this context and the sweeping curvilinear and sculptural form of the design provides the opportunity for members to view the energy and excitement that happens both on and off the racetrack.
The building’s oval form captures the dynamic spirit of the location, while the tiered ‘petal’ cantilevers impart a strong sculptural presence that differentiates the stand from other racing grandstands, both within Australia and internationally.
The well-defined architectural language of the exterior is continued internally. The flexible quality of the interior was achieved by considering the hospitality spaces as akin to stage sets, which could be ‘plugged’ into the timeless shell and given distinct personalities in order to appeal to contemporary expectations and the varying needs of members.
The team invested a vast amount of time to research and analytical studies, observing and collecting data about visitor movement, patterns, and operations. This research informed the design and venues were planned with an understanding of pedestrian movements, ensuring visitor comfort is maintained during peak periods.
For race-goers, the new stand delivers a diversity of dining and entertainment options, with thirteen different venues providing an unrivaled race day and events experience.
Celebrating the lineage of The Club Stand was of vital importance and the design is imbued with sophisticated references to the history of the racecourse and the VRC, while at the same time championing its evolution and future.
The VRC’s extensive collection of artwork and memorabilia, as well as repurposed elements from the former grandstand, are woven through the building providing a historic texture to the design.
