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Iconic Rusted Steel Kiosk for a Surfers’ Beach

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A kiosk at a surfer beach along Australia’s long coastline at Torquay is made from rusty weathered steel repurposed from old flood barriers.

The structure was recognised by the Australian National Architecture Awards for its reverence for its environmental setting, engagement with beach culture and resilience to natural forces and energetic youths.

The brief for Tony Hobba Architects was to combine changing rooms, toilets, a cafe and toilets for year round use at the popular beach.

Weathered rusted metal forms a weather-proof coating around the building that will protect it against erosion.

The reddish brown and yellow oxides of weathered steel harmonises with the colour of the surrounding cliffs.

The construction is unique: self-supporting sheet piles – typically used to build seawalls and piers – are just slotted together to make the corrugated walls.

With no fixed footings, the kiosk could be easily dismantled and reassembled elsewhere if necessary.

The sheet piles are used as permanent formwork for the building slab, and extended up as the permanent retaining walls for the al fresco terrace and lookout.

The unique folded appearance also reflects the prevailing coastline undulations and windswept vegetation.

The iconic beach landmark accomodates one to three staff depending on the time of year and serves as an identifyable meeting point on the long coastline.

It’s modest and elegant simplicity respects the local coastal environment and follows the Victorian Coastal Strategy.