City of Sydney — Prince Alfred Park Pool
Make a splash.
City of Sydney’s vision to embark on a major revamp of Prince Alfred Pool was an opportunity to extend our already long standing relationship with this client and Neeson Murcutt Architects. We were commissioned to design environmental graphics, wayfinding and signage for the new swimming pool complex which is the largest public works project in Sydney in recent years.
The site’s colourful history as the home of Sydney’s seasonal circus gave us a theatrical and rich heritage to tap into. We developed our design using this inspiration while remaining mindful of the pool’s sustainability initiatives, the pool’s visitors, the architectural intent of Neeson Murcutt for the site’s redevelopment and the needs of the site both within the pool area and the surrounding site.
The site’s colourful history as the home of Sydney’s seasonal circus gave us a theatrical and rich heritage to tap into. We developed our design using this inspiration while remaining mindful of the pool’s sustainability initiatives, the pool’s visitors, the architectural intent of Neeson Murcutt for the site’s redevelopment and the needs of the site both within the pool area and the surrounding site.
We started with a deep-dive into the dynamics of the community and the pool’s future users to uncover attitudes and experiences. We dialled up the impact of a clear visual language by providing splashes of colour referencing the site’s circus heritage and the playfulness of water droplets. Hand-painted signs, kiln-fired tiles and stainless steel discs etched with the site’s sustainability initiatives are seen around the site. Our environmental placemaking approach blends with the green space while the future installation of super-size tree-guards for the surrounding palm trees provide an interpretive overlay, hinting at the stories embedded in the park’s rich history. The result is an overall experience for visitors that is both bold and nuanced.
We integrated all signage into the architecture and surrounds so it performs its identity, wayfinding and communication functions in a polite and fresh manner.
The redevelopment of the existing pool is part of a larger scheme that has seen enormous improvements to this area of the city and the experiences available to visitors, including the upgrade of the park and community facilities. The future implementation of a new tri-generation plant at the pool will allow the whole site to be taken off the energy grid – making it Sydney’s first self-powered pool.
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At Frost*collective, we’re all about designing a better world. We’ve been operating independently for over 25 years, working with inspiring brands and organisations across the globe. We combine specialist skills in brand, environments and place to solve complex business challenges and design experiences that enrich lives. If you'd like to work with us, get in touch.
