The Bondi Pavilion at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach of will reopen to the public on September 22 following a major heritage restoration so it can continue to cater to the needs of the local community and provide a hub for arts and culture.
The $38 million restoration includes an art gallery, cultural spaces including the new Bondi Story Room digital heritage space, a restaurant and a café, a larger pottery studio, as well as, showers and a family and accessible bathroom and change space.
Paula Masselos, Mayor of Waverley, said the restoration retains the Pavilion as a community hub and “cements its place as an arts and culture venue for creative programming.”
“We are delighted to welcome back the community to our beloved Pavilion and for the public to discover and explore all that it has to offer, not just on opening night, but for years to come,” Mayor Masselos said.
All other existing rooms inside the Pavilion have also been refurbished and upgraded.
Features outdoors include landscaped internal courtyards, a new grand entrance to the north and creating additional east-west connections through the Pavilion, better connection from Campbell Parade to the beachfront, terracotta roof tiles in the original 1928 cordova pattern and 220 solar panels that will power 70 per cent of the building’s energy needs.
“Alongside our sustainability initiatives, we have created community connections and opportunity during the build, adding to the positive legacy of the project.”
Lead architect, Peter Tonkin of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects, said designing the Bondi Pavilion restoration was among the most inspiring projects of his career and relished the challenges that come with restoring an old heritage building.
“The Bondi Pavilion is a fine example of how an old building located in a hostile coastal environment can be reimagined through ingenuity and innovation in design,” Mr Tonkin said.
For over 90 years, the Bondi Pavilion has been a key part of life for residents and visitors to Bondi Beach.
The Bondi Pavilion all-ages community launch will be held at 6pm on Thursday 22 September and includes a concert in the courtyard, pop-up exhibitions and activities throughout the building and food and beverage offerings.