Set back from the beach in one of Sydney’s suburban, once blue-collar northern beaches, Harbord Hotel in Freshwater by Alexander &CO. draws influence from its rich, working-class history and Australian surf culture. Completely gutted, the dated three-storey venue has been transformed into a destination bar and restaurant. Showcasing modern Australian fare, Harbord Hotel celebrates the unique, unpretentious local community that surrounds it. Throughout the project, our team sought to reveal elements of the building’s past, whilst introducing its new, ‘effortlessly cool’, low-fi persona. A multi-functional space for the community to ‘drop their board and stay for the rest of the day’. Harbord Hotel includes a ground floor front bar, Balsa Dining Room restaurant, kitchen facilities and external courtyards as well as a newly refurbished original staircase to the first-floor functions/events zone with a built-out balcony. In time, plans will see the third floor become a local recording studio and regenerated rooftop.
Client Design Brief
The existing 1950s, pre-war arched pavilion housed an inadequate amenity to perform as a contemporary venue and was poorly planned as the result of generations of small, un master-planned renovations; each floor was set out as a series of disjointed rooms. All three floors were tired and in desperate need of rejuvenation. Our brief required a complete re-development of the entire site. However, our immediate scope during the 2020 pandemic included a staged, sole focus on the first two storeys. The client requested a more open, diverse venue that captured the spirit of the locality to allow for a more flexible, varied use of space and increased local patronage. Once a thriving meeting place, the venue had developed a displaced dialogue with its community and so creatively, it was our intention to bring Harbord Hotel back to the Freshwater community.
Response to The Client’s Brief
The grand, masonry exterior of Harbord Hotel highlights the newly restored heritage façade. Stepping through the front entrance to the left is Balsa restaurant and to the right is the main, front bar. Balsa’s identity is surf shack elegance. A homage to the art deco venue genesis. Exposed spotted gum ceilings, green marble and stone flagged floors illuminated under amber lighting. The front bar was envisaged as a multi-functional space that not only helps with traffic flow and zoning but also works as a dispense and general bar. One of the best spots in the house, it overlooks the beer garden below.
Masonry wall detailing, a custom-created fridge display behind the bar, celebrated original archways and retro-inspired custom lighting and furniture including ceramic wall lights and cork and concrete tables all inform the relaxed ‘living room’ aesthetic within this space. Up the refurbished staircase to the second floor sits the private functions and events area and eventually, the third floor and rooftop will be built as part of the second design stage scheduled for 2021. Our intention was that the venue’s story should evoke a sense of nostalgia without feeling excessively thematic. We explored a ‘surf shack come living room’ style; curved bulkheads, faded palettes and cool simplicity. Seafoam greens, periwinkle pinks, gunmetal greys and brass all make a strong case for an old school era. Restored as well as custom-designed furniture and lighting celebrate an unpretentious, retro feel, while mustard terrazzo, spotted gum timbers and original masonry detailing all maintain a sense of the found and familiar. It is tactile, textured and unpretentious. The result is a space in which the synergy of its various materials, textures and colours answer to the requirements of the greater Freshwater ‘family’. Transitioning seamlessly from day to night; young to old, the narrative captured at Harbord Hotel not only acknowledges the heritage of the building but speaks to the unique surf culture of the Northern Beaches.
How Did We Achieve Excellence/Beauty/Innovation in Our Design Outcome?
Excellence can be found in the Harbord Hotel’s ability to communicate the history of the community. The reveal of its strong, heritage bones including the Art Deco archways, curves and original masonry façade which all beautifully uncover how the venue has developed over time. The innovative, new architectural language and the consequent opening of the space see versatility returned and the pub transformed into a space that appeals, not only to the traditional, hardworking customer but young families and surfers alike. Built by locals for locals; Harbord Hotel is a beautiful gift from the local trade and craftspeople to their very own community. A story of working class-come-good Surf shack, Harbord Hotel is all bricks and mortar, blue-collar, sandy feet and local hospitality. Even the owners have gifted their personal collection of vintage surfboards and retro surf magazines to add a personal authenticity to the interior. Capturing the true essence of the local people, Harbord Hotel is once again a spirited, central meeting place that aims to enrich the neighbourhood.
