CONSTRUCTION: CLUB RIVERS

Rise and shine

Flat, open car spaces don’t make the best use of club property, so if you build on it, will they come? Club Rivers found that was indeed the case. Grant Jones reports.

A FEW YEARS ago, Club Rivers was sitting on a block of land it owned across the road, a featureless flat piece of tar that could accommodate just 34 cars. Today, rising from that same space is an impressive structure that can accommodate a whole lot more.

Carparking was once at a premium as the club is opposite Riverwood Railway Station. The realisation was that this southwestern Sydney venue could better utilise the land, so set about getting creative with the space which was on two titles and had two height restrictions. The solution, to build a five-storey carpark across both sites, whilst on one title, adding a further two floors of office space with a setback balcony space over the carpark, totalling seven floors. Not only do the tenants pay rent, but they are also regular users of the club facilities across the road.

So successful was that opportunity, that a second chance to better utilise an open space arose from an 8m-wide ground-level carpark next to the club proper. While the admin carpark was maintained below, what has emerged on top is The Canopy, a great new indooroutdoor space, augmented by an operable glass roof that can open to the sun or be closed to the elements.

With a build by Boden Projects, Altis as architects and featuring Mint Furniture, The Canopy can seat 80 – or about 100 standing –in airconditioned comfort and has an open-air balcony which acts as a break-out zone and proves ideal for cocktail and casual events. While patrons appreciate the glassed-in rooftop space, The Canopy also created an additional 200sqm of floor space for the club.

“The Canopy is a space that has an abundance of natural light and natural air flow which can be enjoyed as a great destination for your F&B experience,” says 20-year club veteran, CEO Paul Millar.

“The response has been excellent; we had the full support of the members as they agreed that an amazing space such as this was definitely missing in the Riverwood area.

“It has been well occupied by families and gatherings of friends and also just for a casual catch up for a drink or two.”

The refit and addition also allowed the club to reconfigure other internal spaces, which include creating a sports bar downstairs in underused office space, alongside refreshing the bar and bistro to create a new look and feel, including the furnishings.

Mint Furniture was approached by the club to come up with The Canopy and Bunker Bar furniture selection and layout that best reflected the architect’s vision and the club’s desire for practical and comfortable furniture.

“For The Canopy, our designers continued the alfresco scheme with the use of natural textures and finishes,” says Mint Furniture general manager Ally Jago. “The Bunker needed a more sophisticated lounge feel so we started with some classic pieces and took them to the next level with custom finishes like velvet, metallics and inlaid tiled tops. We then bring this all together and present the furniture and finishes to the CEO for final approval.

“We love working with clients that trust our experience and vision when it comes to furniture selection and Paul is one of them. We are already working on the next stage and can’t wait to see how it all comes together.”

A temporary gaming space, set up during the pandemic, is also set to return to family-friendly dining, with a kids’ break-out space.

“We’re bringing back the family destination feel which is what we have lacked the past few years,” says Millar. “Now, with the additional areas we have a little more flexibility of space that we can now utilise for alternate uses.”

After sitting in the CEO chair for four years, including two of the toughest in club history, Millar is confident the venue is through the worst of it.

“It was great to string a full year together with our team in 2022 after so much disruption throughout the whole industry,” says Millar.

Photography: David Curzon

“It proves that our communities still value their local clubs and want them to provide a range of entertainment purposes and remain the social hub where friends and family can continue to gather.”

Other plans in place include revisiting the Asian diner on the railway side of the club and reconfiguring the three existing gaming spaces.

“We have some big plans brewing as we continue to grow and are always looking to what suits the growing and ever-changing demographics of the area,” Millar concludes.