Bond University architecture student Lara Damelian has designed a surf hire shop that can double as a drone access port, for surf lifesavers to store shark drones. PICTURE: Cavan Flynn
A local surfer wants to carve up a famous Gold Coast headland in a new way.
Bond University architecture student Lara Damelian - a former surfer on the World Surf League – has designed a multi-use building for Point Danger and hopes it will one day be brought to life.
“It’s a surf hire shop that could double as a drone access port so that surf lifesavers could store shark drones,” Ms Damelian said.
“I wanted to design something that would suit the environment.
“It’s nothing like the other buildings in Coolangatta but it references the surrounding natural landscape in a sculptural way, as well as remaining true to the neutral palette and lightweight timber framing of the beach side Gold Coast homes.
“The ceiling has a hole in it where the drones could come in and out of and the rooftop acts like a lookout for people to check the surf.
“The main attraction of Coolangatta is surfing and I thought the design would be great for the area.”
The design was inspired by the way an ocean carves away at a cliff.
“I toured the world trying to make the main surfing tour,” Ms Damelian said.
“I realised competitions weren’t really my thing, it was too stressful.
“I do it for fun and that’s why I started studying architecture at Bond University.
“I’ve been into architecture since I was really young and I’ve always been creative - arts and music.
“Architecture is one of those industries that you can carve a professional career but be creative too.”