Brighton, Victoria, Australia
Located on, and taking design inspiration from the existing putting green and bunkers of the Brighton Golf Course, the organic shapes of the Waters will provide a stunning oasis in metropolitan Brighton.
The Waters by TERROIR received an 2025 International Architecture Honourable Mention from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
Using a site of disturbed ground, we’ve worked to ensure retention of the existing around the perimeter to form a natural zone between the new building and the Golf Course and busy road nearby. The porous outer wall will also be a nesting sanctuary to the many native bird species and contribute habitat in an area of Bayside that is lacking in natural bushland reserves.
Many more trees will be planted to enhance the natural surround to the many relaxation and plunge pools varying in size and other wellness experiences. The internal and external landscape scheme are treated as one. Conceptually the landscape is to envelope the building as well as emerging through it internally.
The connection to the natural environment will come from the inside/outside spaces, with roof openings enabling natural light and air and views to the mature trees. Natural materials will also connect the building to the site, with the stone colour and tones derived from the varied geological layers of the Port Phillip geological basin. The material strategy is to translate the geological story of the site throughout the building.
The building will also explore the celebration of indigenous art, culture and connection to land.
The building’s stepped floor emulates the topography of the undulating golf course. Further making the connection to the golf course context, the building abstracts and transposes common patterns such as a dimpled golf ball surface to the built form. Such translation of patterned and textured surfaces also connects the building with water droplets and skin cells aligned to the wellness centre character.
Meniscus is derived from the Greek word ‘crescent’ and describes the curve in the upper surface of a contained liquid. At The Waters, the dappled surface ceiling is a meniscus profile connecting the inside and outside spaces. At its lowest point, the ceiling opens out to a generous oculus to the sky over the central wellness pools.
The internal atmosphere will be a series of water experiences, varied light and reflected surfaces. The Waters will be an unexpected sublime internal world within metropolitan Melbourne.
Architects: TERROIR
Design Team: Mitchell Gardoll, and Scott Balmforth
Client: Bluefit Group
Photographs: Courtesy of Architects
