Few events are as iconic, or draw as much attention, as the Melbourne Cup does. Across Australia, design enthusiasts and highbrow, adrenalin seeking punters flock to the country’s culture capitol to enjoy all the season has to offer. Long gone are the days in which this included only the horseracing event.
These days, the attraction is in the full experience – and this extends to the venue to which one flocks. To equal the tradition and prestige of Melbourne Cup, and meet the exacting eye of attendees who over the years have come to expect a certain quality, Bates Smart has recently overhauled Flemington Racecourse. The new $128 million Club Stand has been designed to provide a unique race day experience and premium hospitality offerings for the high calibre of attendees, as well as greatly enhanced visibility of the track.
The new, five-level stand presents on the exterior as a monumental, elegant, curvilinear design that has increased the capacity of the building while barely increasing the footprint of the site. Inside, patrons are exposed to panoramic views and an immersive experience with outlooks towards the Racetrack, the Mounting Yard, Members Lawn, Parade Ring, Day Stalls, Betting Ring, and Winning Post.
Furthermore, Bates Smart has created a timeless palette that won’t date and offers continuity through out the different zones within The Club Stand. Even still, each area has it’s own personality and it’s the careful specification of the furniture and finishes that help forge these distinct yet connected identities.
These days, the attraction is in the full experience – and this extends to the venue to which one flocks.
The Nerd Stool by Muuto - available Australia-wide through Living Edge – finds a home lining the bar of one of 13 different hospitality venues. Specified in green, the stool adds to the casual yet considered atmosphere of the space. Designed by David Geckeler in 2011 for the iconic Scandinavian furniture, lighting and homewares brand, the Nerd Stool is a simple yet detailed take on the conventional bar stool. The backrest and seat are made from form-pressed veneer whilst the legs are solid wood, finished with a water-based lacquer.
In an alternate bar with a Mad Men-esque appeal, the Utility Bar Stool and Utility Bar Chair from Stellar Works enhance the look and feel of the venue. Dark timber floorboards and panelling, rustic hues and houndstooth patterning in the carpet, leather upholstery beneath the bar, dimmed lighting and marble accents work well alongside the Stellar Works pieces to present a subdued yet sophisticated mood. Designed by Neri & Hu for the Shanghai-based, Japanese founded brand, the Utility collection combines comfort and practicality in the ever-enduring industrial aesthetic.
Like the Nerd Stool, the Utility collection from Stellar Works can be found at Living Edge across Australia. Bates Smart worked closely with Living Edge to carefully specify key pieces for The Club Stand that would not only add functionality to the spaces but also enhance their architectural and interior design vision. Living Edge takes its ability to aid in the success of its clients’ work seriously and as such is committed to ongoing research into the evolving taxonomy of design elements in the hospitality landscape. This project is an exemplar of Living Edge’s approach to finding pieces that underpin the design, vision, functionality and objectives of their clients’ designs.
Designed by Bates Smart
