Te Arai Links Golf Course ‘Bunker Bar’
The ‘Bunker Bar’ a subterranean private members bar built in the sand dunes off the 18th Green.
The Build
I was tasked with a highly complex and difficult proposal of building a subterranean concrete structure built within a protected nature reserve and an active exclusive golf resort, the design involved some highly involved construction methodologies including, subterranean ducted HVAC, reinforced single span poured in-situ concrete roof structure, tilt panel feature panels and retaining walls, all built on active sand dunes!
The ‘Bunker Bar’ is for the sole use of select private members for their own ‘19th hole’ features include electronic private access, private personal ‘lockers’ to keep your most prized libations in a secure place to enjoy with friends or after a long day on the course, construction materials include specialist triple layer impact resistant glazing for errant golf balls! solid European oak to external joinery and American white oak finishes, cedar and powdercoat metals to internal surfaces, whilst soft furnishings and contrasting textures pre-cast and cast in-situ concrete panels accentuate the finer details, the construction took 9 months from excavation to opening ceremony, was built on time and on budget!
Base layer ready to set-out after -3m Geo Mesh layers and compaction.
Give you an idea of the reinforcing design that went into the roof to hold all that excess weight!!
Looking north, showing private lockers, textured wall-floor finishes and bespoke joinery items.
Main bar area, powdercoat aluminium tops, cast in-situ bar structure, HVAC outlets over bar within American oak feature fins.
Main entry door, European oak with powder coated bespoke handle, pre-cast radius panels with rough sawn finish.
Entry from main car park showing all the sand/dunes re-instated approx 30t(dry) of sand over concrete roof structure.
Waterproofing and reinforcing to base layer foundations.
Entry stairs and landscape retaining being installed.
Looking South, sunken lounge area, with view onto the 18th green.
External detail showing the in-outside flow of feature ceilings, window and HVAC inlet vents.
Main entry stairs, tapering in width, also some of the extensive radiused pre-cast panels forming the entry and retaining all in one, ramp entry to RHS.