A History of Leisure

The recently completed Gold Coast Aquatic Centre at Southport, is one of the first new venues for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonweath Games. Set against the Southport Broadwater, it includes 6 pools, a gymnasium, dive training faculties and is designed to expand its seating capacities to over 12,500 for the upcoming games.

Designed by Cox Rayner Architects, the aquatic centre’s architectural style makes reference to the Gold Coast’s golden era of modernism in the 60’s and 70’s, a movement which followed the newly forged path of Californian modernist architecture. Key elements such as low set, indoor-outdoors spaces create a sense of nostalgia whilst also creating a user-centred experience.

Dotdash worked closely with the architects to create a family of signage which complements and strengthens the architectural aesthetic. The signage outcome utilises a modern geometric typeface, oceanic colour palette, sculptural lettering, and mosaic tiling to further reference this era of design.

Where possible, signage integration into the site's built elements was also considered, with panels being set into existing structural columns.

The centre’s main entrance identification marker maintains a strong presence with bold, illuminated lettering. It not only marks the entrance into the centre, but acts as a landmark in the surrounding parkland, and a point of entry for visitors travelling into the Gold Coast from the nearby highway.

Client Cox Rayner Architects
Project Team Erin Stromgren, Keith Sullivan & Heath Pedrola

Photography Scott Burrows