From the Resene Total Colour Awards
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Commercial Exterior Colour Maestro Award Winner
The Chair Lifeguard Tower

Woodend Beach

Wilson and Hill Architects were commissioned to design this new Lifeguard Tower for Woodend Beach in North Canterbury.

Woodend Beach is patrolled by professional Lifeguards over summer for the six weeks of the primary school holidays. For the remainder of the year the tower is unused. Constructed of treated plywood, heavily galvanised steel and acrylic windows, the ‘Chair’ provides panoramic views up and down Woodend Beach while providing shelter and a base for the lifeguards.

The yellow and red colour striped colour scheme identifies it as a lifeguard facility that contrasts with the often grey environment it sits in. Resene Tulip Tree and Resene Bright Red provide the striped effect with Resene Silver Chalice on the legs and Resene Black White on all remaining areas inside and out. The Resene paint systems used were chosen for their longevity. Plywood was finished in Resene TimberLock, Resene Wood Primer and topcoats of Resene Lumbersider. Steelwork was finished in Resene Vinyl Etch, Resene Armourcote 510 and Resene Uracryl 403.

The ‘Chair’ is designed to accommodate three lifeguards. The tower is accessed via a ladder that the lifeguards collect from the neighbouring camping ground each morning and carry over the sand dunes.

As it is unused for 46 weeks of the year, the tower has been designed to resemble a large deck chair – a piece of oversized  beach furniture that acts as a piece of sculpture in the landscape.

A piece of architecture that provides some joy and humour when a beach walker comes across it on a winter’s day.

Resene Tulip Tree

Resene Bright Red

Resene Silver Chalice

Resene Black White

Architectural Specifier: David Hill, Wilson and Hill Architects
Building Contractor: James Mackay Builders Ltd
Painting Contractor: Wayne Simpson Painting Contractor
Photographer: Dougal Holmes