Smiths Beach Surf Life Saving Tower, Phillip Island Project, Victoria Timber Building, Australian Architecture
Smiths Beach Surf Life Saving Tower on Phillip Island, Victoria
New Timber Building in Australia – design by MRTN Architects
17 Oct 2019
Smiths Beach Surf Life Saving Tower
Design: MRTN Architects
Location: Smiths Beach, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia

The Smiths Beach Surf Life Saving Tower was required to provide that most basic of architectural intents, shelter from the weather. The success of the design however was to meet a wide range of additional brief requirements: beach safety, a space for first aid provision, a relocatable structure, prefabricated construction type, seasonal use, wildlife conservation and a protected coastal location.
The tower is used by up to five life savers during the active summer season, for the rest of the year the structure is closed. Smiths Beach is patrolled as an outpost of the Woolamai Surf Lifesaving Club it is a challenging location due to the absence vehicle access and water craft launching opportunity.

The tower now provides protection from the weather and a space for first aid services but also storage for equipment and importantly a visible patrol presence when opened up. Located on the exposed coastal park edge of Phillip Island the site is included as part of the protected Phillip Island Nature Parks and is a key habitat for migratory Shearwater birds. The tower is designed to withstand its highly expo...