Kirribilli RSL

P

erched above Lavender Bay, Kirribilli RSL looks out across the tops of palm trees to a stunning view of Sydney Harbour. But, until recently, that’s where the opulence stopped. Here was an RSL that looked dated and basic.

Thakral Holdings has totally redeveloped the site by demolishing the old building, constructing a residential development and a new club. Nettleton Tribe was the project architect for the development and SJB Interiors was engaged by Thakral to design the new club.

As is typical of many RSLs, the Kirribilli Club recognised the need to attract a more diverse clientele. It was time to dispense with the clichéd stained carpets, smoky bars and octagenarian bingo brigade. Lavender Bay is hot property and has an upwardly mobile demographic of young professionals, so it was high-time to lure them and their wallets into the club.

Kirribilli Agreement The venue comprises three floors: the lowest houses the conference and function room, the middle is the main entry level and the third floor has all the food and beverage.

The first design issue to overcome was dealing with an entry floor that

Kirribilli RSL

The Kirribilli RSL has always had the million-dollar views, now it looks a ‘million bucks’.

Text: Cat Strom

Kirribilli Club: 11 Harbour View Crescent, Lavender Bay, NSW (02) 9955 2245 or www.kirribilliclub.com.au SJB Interiors: (02) 9380 9911 or www.sjb.com.au Nettleton Tribe: (02) 9431 6431 or www.nettletontribe.com.au Total Concept Projects: (02) 9648 3444 or www.totalconceptprojects.com.au

contained little more than the front door — it was unwelcoming, to say the very least.

SJB worked in collaboration with Wendy Whiteley (the widow of Brett Whiteley), to design what can only be described as a ‘feature pond’ in the foyer. The Whiteleys lived just over the bay from the RSL and Brett (and his artwork) had an affinity with the area. The main floor finish in the entry is white terrazzo, and with Wendy’s assistance SJB designed a black mosaic-tiled pond that has a massive reproduction of one of Brett’s watercolours in its base. The selected artwork is ‘Waves on the Harbour’ from 1973; a painting that looks out over the harbour from a Lavender Bay vantage point.

On ascending a grand staircase (see this spread’s photo) from the lobby to the bar floor, the club oozes space. And it’s space that’s divided into three individual and diverse areas. At one end is the brightly-lit bistro, Dedes Watergrill, while in the middle section is a large stainless steel curved bar decorated with lilies and bordered by green leather banquette seating and metal screens.

The third area is a cocktail lounge with chocolate brown carpet, red stripe detailing and matching brown leather banquettes with red piping hugging the length of the wall. Red velvet curtains add a touch of glamour.

Departure Lounge The venue has been designed as a complete departure from the stereotypical RSL: silver mosaic tiles, mirror ball pendants, red velvet curtains, and leopard-skin patterned ottomans aren’t normally on an RSL’s shopping list. ”It’s a club that now caters for the community in a broad sense,” explains Jonathan Richards, SJB’s Director and Chief Designer for the project. “There’s a vibrant youthful lounge, rich in deep reds and velvets that looks across the floor to the traditional club-like bar for the old-timers. And in the middle of the floor, overlooking the harbour is the modern bistro run by the same operators as Flying Fish Restaurant at Pyrmont.

“A series of screens provide separation from one area to another but a transparency allows views and glimpses across the floor and out to the water. It gives each area some privacy and assists in creating its own identity.”

The materials were selected to withstand the usual rough and tumble of a hospitality venue but they also provide the spaces with a sense of lightness. After all, the club is elevated over the trees looking out to the horizon and it needed a quality that reflects its posi — hovering over Lavender Bay as it does. Natural spotted gum timber floors, sage green upholstery, mirror walls and white ceilings give a very Sydney freshness to the main bistro space.

The Kirribilli Club now stands as a revitalised modern reincarnation of the essence of the RSL. It caters for the community by being a venue approachable to all. It now proudly stands in the place of its old self offering a venue equal in standing to the knockout views it always had. But before we get too mistyeyed… let’s take a look at the AV. Audiovisuals Total Concept Projects were appointed to design and install the complete audiovisual setup… after the building had already been constructed — obviously not the ideal way to start a complicated job.

“We went in after the building had been finished and handed over to the club, which is unusual,” commented Thurid Bouzaid, TCP’s Project Manager, smiling ruefully through gritted teeth. “It had even been painted.”

The scope of works included a full audiovisual system for the function rooms over two levels as well as in the main club on the top level.

“The audiovisual system is split over three main areas with a full audio matrix for the function areas and the club,” said Thurid. “There’s also an AMX control system, with touchscreens, over the entire facility. A matrix aerial system means that any of the wireless microphones can be used anywhere in the building. We’ve also installed hearing induction loops into the function area.”

With residences situated above the club a lot of attention was given to sound leaking out and up.

“When we cut into the ceiling to install the ceiling speakers we had to re-soundproof the ceiling to make sure there was no leakage of the audio upstairs,” Thurid said. “We used a particularly low profile ceiling speaker simply because there was very little ceiling space. Putting thousands of metres of cable through a ceiling that had already been gyprocked was a challenge!”

TCP used Atlas Sound Strategy Series II range (from Technical Audio Group) and the ElectroVoice EVID range (from Bosch) in-ceiling speakers.

A comprehensive digital signage system was also installed, encompassing an in-house channel that clearly displays what’s happening in each of the function rooms as well as providing function signage to Panasonic plasmas and Toshiba LCD screens have been employed.

Kuadra Barstool yet to clarify exact model www.jamesrichardson.com.au

Modular Bolster lights from JSB Lighting.

20mm x 20mm glass mosaic Bisazza tiles from Academy Tiles.

LCDs supplied by client

Custom made screen from B and J Interiors Joinery.

Spotted Gum crown cut veneered wall panels from B & J Interiors Joinery.

Sage green Sienna leather from Contemporary Leathers.

La Palma Hole chair from ECC.

Parri Baby Barstool from Stylecraft.

Spotted Gum solid timber floors.

White terrazzo floor tiles from Terrazzo Australian Marble.

Arper Catifa 80 lounge Chair from Stylecraft.