Julia Shtengelova, General Manager, KDV Sport ( KDV Golf and Tennis Academy)
When people heard we were building something in Carrara, they thought no one would come here as the whole area is far from the city centre, so it was an unlikely choice of site, because it was a floodplain and not then a very popular area.
Because the site is very low, it was very difficult to obtain all the approvals as well, so it has taken a lot of time. But right now it’s really changing, and of course, we were really lucky because when we first had the idea, it was still unknown that Carrara was going to be the home of the Commonwealth Games.
It was only after the project started that the other stadiums were also built and this area now is completely different to what it was seven years ago.
As for us, we have European tastes and this project is really big and special and we wanted to have really a special architect for this special project.
We wanted to be different, so that is why it was important to find the proper person to design it.
And, the project is very personal, so we wanted to find a person we could connect with, who could understand us, listen to us, and create something different.
I met Hiromi through [KDV project director] Wim Steenbeek, and he recommended her because of the projects she’d participated in, and she’d worked already for a big architect beforehand, so she was experienced. Wim was confident in Hiromi, and his trust in her was important to our decision.
Our first brief to Hiromi was that this was a big facility but it should be transparent, it shouldn’t be intimidating, it should be visible and welcoming, and transparency was one of the criteria, with lots of daylight in its design.
So, its design shouldn’t be too decorative, of course, but Hiromi is very strict in using minimal elements, without too much detail, and so, yes, it’s a simple structure, but very classy.
When Hiromi presented her concept, it was love from first sight. We loved it, and when you see it and you love it, you don’t want to change it.
Then, we could see immediately, the person and our personal connection, and we thought yes, we have to trust her.
And now, we are going to build the hotel as well, which is very different and that is Hiromi’s too.
Some people are scared to come here because it is too beautiful, it looks too expensive and that’s what we had to struggle with, being too good to attract everyone.
When you have a big puzzle, every piece should be on display, so we have the facility, we have the program and now everything is working.
Before, we had to travel to some other sports facilities and centres, and now I feel very proud, I love all the competition I see, and I am very comfortable because we have everything.
We work here, and, of course, we have to be proud of it. But it is true, and I talk to lots of different people and, of course, they say it is such a good place, it is a beautiful facility and we are so proud that you have it here. It really is a nice place.
Daman Foy, Marketing Manager, KDV Sport (KDV Golf and Tennis Academy)
This area now is completely different to what it was seven years ago. Then, Carrara had a lower social demographic, but then they started developing, and the house prices started going up as the whole area started to grow.
Now, we look different to everyone else, and the academy is unique in its appearance. When I first started, I’d tell people I was working at KDV Sport, and they didn’t really know what that was. Then, I’d say it’s the Carrara Gardens golf course, and everyone knew that, and they’d say oh, that glass building, because there is nothing else like that anywhere near. It’s a really iconic landmark.
I’ve experienced that when people look at the front of the building and they think it’s pretty intimidating. They see it like an AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) facility, so when they come in, it’s important that we make them feel welcome here
And I was having this conversation with some people on the weekend about [a potential rival] and I told them I am personally not scared about them as competition because we are a training facility, and they are in hospitality, and that is a different market and theirs is just for casual golfers.
Unlike them, we want initially to be recognised as the best golf and tennis training facility in Australia, and what we want is to develop the next superstars, the next tennis players. And our goal is much more about developing the next generation of tennis players and golfers.
Now, some of the world’s top international athletes have been here. Pat Rafter, Pat Cash, Ashley Bartee, Sam Stosur, they have all come here to train, too, so that’s pretty good, and obviously us winning the commercial architecture award is good for us.
We’ve also had Casey Stoner [now-retired Australian professional motorcycle racer, and twice MotoGP World Champion] play golf here. We’ve had some of the Gold Coast Suns AFL players here on the weekend, I had one of the players come over on Friday with some indigenous kids.
The big picture is that this facility is attracting attention from the top talent.
Now, with the accommodation we are building with Hiromi, that steps us up on that international stage, and it’s not just about just tennis and golf any more, it is international in both ways.
One is bringing top international sports students here, but internationally, it is about the connections we can make as well. That really takes us from being not just one of the best facilities on the Gold Coast, but potentially in the world, too, so building the accommodation for us will be massive as far as the next step in where we are headed.
Meriton Apartments
On its own web site, Australia’s largest apartment developer, Harry Triguboff’s Meriton Apartments, has generous, unsolicited, words to say about the contribution of Shiro principal architect Hiromi Lauren to the late Harry Seidler’s design of Meriton’s own mixed-use commercial-residential headquarters tower in Sydney’s George Street:
“Seidler was a frequent and enthusiastic collaborator, and regularly used visual artists in the creations of his buildings. When building the Meriton Tower, he collaborated with gifted designer Hiromi Lauren, who now runs Shiro Architects. Her ability to adapt her designs at speed were exactly what Seidler needed for the ever-changing project.” (http://bit.ly/1Nttv7q.)
For Shiro, this is welcome acknowledgement indeed.
Parramatta Design Excellence Competition Jury, October 2015
Official jury comments:
“This [Shiro Architects’] proposal addresses the corner and Jubilee Park with two different geometries – a curved tower addressing the corner and a rectilinear stepped building addressing the park.
“The ground level is spatially exciting, with double storey heights and large retail floor areas … the strength of the sculptural response to the corner site is very impressive and distinctive amongst the entrants.”
Tom Copping, Senior Town Planner, Dyldam:
“Although Shiro was not successful on this occasion the Jury made a number of positive comments regarding the form and sculpture of your scheme which was distinctive from the other entrants and outside of the norm for a lot of the designs that we are seeing in Parramatta.”
Simon Parsons, Executive Director, PTW Architects:
“All competitors put in such strong submissions, yours was distinguished by its bold and sculptural approach to the site which was refreshing – Harry Seidler would have been proud of you!!”
Russell Olsson, Director, Olson & Associates Architects:
“All the competitors did well, as it was a constrained building envelope with a lot of floor space. Even with those constraints, your design had spatial volumes and articulated external forms. I hope your office gains more work, and I wish you all the best.”
Bruce Bland, Harry Seidler and Associates client, Alliance Française Centre, 257 Clarence Street, Sydney
Oct. 2014 Τo whom it may concern:
I have known Hiromi Lauren (née Shiraishi) for more than a decade.
As a long term client of Harry Seidler & Associates, where Hiromi was employed, I have worked with her on two major projects, several minor projects and observed the high regard in which she was held by Harry Seidler himself, the other Associates and staff.
The major projects were The Alliance Francaise Centre, (a 13 storey Sydney CBD building with a friendly client but a difficult developer/builder), and the addition of a penthouse to my Sydney Rose Bay residence, (complicated because the penthouse was added to an existing Seidler home and there were local Council as well as design issues).
Hiromi was the Seidler ‘Project Manager’ for both these projects. She also did some design work for me on some family investment properties.
Hiromi has engineering, architectural and planning qualifications. What I appreciated most working with her was:
– Her general intelligence and ability to ‘size up’ problems.
– Her singular gift of remaining calm and on friendly terms with all involved.
– The speed with which she found and delivered wonderfully innovative solutions to difficult architectural problems.
I highly recommend her as an excellent collaborator and would welcome the opportunity to personally elaborate on the above should you so wish (mob: 0412707 777, email: bland1206@optusnet.com.au)
Bruce Bland’s original testimonial is embedded beneath.
