Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village
The Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village is a unique holiday destination located on Fraser Island, a World Heritage National Park. The Resort is positioned in a natural amphitheatre overlooking the Great Sandy Strait and is designed to minimise any impact on the natural environment.
The main Hotel is constructed of hardwood and steel with corrugated steel roofing and clad with hardwood weatherboards. The two-storey building features 152 rooms that are arranged into two arc-shaped wings, accessed by suspended corridors between rainforest gardens. The forms of the buildings reinforce the location with curved roof shapes mirroring the vegetated, rolling sand dunes. This is reiterated in the freeform swimming pools representing the suspended sand lakes found on the Island.
A shopping village, art photography gallery, day spa, beach bar and restaurant, as well as tennis courts and various private villas and residences,surround the Hotel. Staff accommodation, maintenance buildings and a nursery that supplies the restaurant are located over the ridge. In keeping with the Resort’s sustainability premise, the main Hotel utilises thermosyphonic natural air cooling to deal with the tropical environment. Water is sourced from the site, and the sewerage treatment system treats grey and black water from the Resort and Village.
Stage A works included the refurbishment and extension of an existing two-storey classroom block as well as the construction of a new covered walkway through the centre of the school.
PROCESS
The main Hotel is constructed of hardwood and steel with corrugated steel roofing and clad with hardwood weatherboards. The two-storey building features 152 rooms that are arranged into two arc-shaped wings, accessed by suspended corridors between rainforest gardens. The forms of the buildings reinforce the location with curved roof shapes mirroring the vegetated, rolling sand dunes. This is reiterated in the freeform swimming pools representing the suspended sand lakes found on the Island.
METHODOLOGY
A shopping village, art photography gallery, day spa, beach bar and restaurant, as well as tennis courts and various private villas and residences,surround the Hotel. Staff accommodation, maintenance buildings and a nursery that supplies the restaurant are located over the ridge. In keeping with the Resort’s sustainability premise, the main Hotel utilises thermosyphonic natural air cooling to deal with the tropical environment. Water is sourced from the site, and the sewerage treatment system treats grey and black water from the Resort and Village.
AWARDS
1994
Pacific Asia Travel Association
Environmental Category – Gold Award
1994
Australian Tourism Alliance National Tourism Award
Best Environmental Tourism Project – Winner
1994
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
National Award – Best Commercial Building – Winner
1993
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
FDG Stanley Award Public Buildings – Medal Winner
1993
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
QLD – Best Non-residential Building – Winner
1993
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
QLD – Best Tourism Building – Winner
1993
Fraser Coast Tourism Association
Environmental Tourism Award – Winner
1993
Queensland Pool and Spa Association
Swimming Pools – Silver Award
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND
The Badtjala People
COMPLETION
1992 (further works since)
LOCATION
Fraser Island, Queensland
CLIENT
Tourism Leisure Corporation
PROJECT CONTACT
PHOTOGRAPHY
KingfisherBayResort - High Aspect Media - Dean Saffron
AWARDS
Environmental Category – Gold Award
Best Environmental Tourism Project – Winner
National Award – Best Commercial Building – Winner
FDG Stanley Award Public Buildings – Medal Winner
QLD – Best Non-residential Building – Winner
QLD – Best Tourism Building – Winner
Environmental Tourism Award – Winner
Swimming Pools – Silver Award
VALUE OUTCOMES
“GB-A were an absolute pleasure to work with. The team on site and in the office never cut corners and were committed to delivering a very high quality project.”
Jim Spainard, Golburn Enterprise
Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy. Drawing on the knowledge from our Greenstar accredited team members and specialist consultants in environmentally sustainable design, we ensure our project teams integrate creativity with scientific rigour, to create designs that are conscientious of the natural environment and local ecology. Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy.
PRINCIPLES OF PASSION
During the design process, our project team not only considers the physical context of the designs but also examines the social and cultural context. Through every design, we look for ways to inspire positive attitudes, behaviours and emotional responses in people to encourage the responsible use of resources, increase cooperation among occupants, and communicate the values of society and cultural diversity.
Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy. Drawing on the knowledge from our Greenstar accredited team members and specialist consultants in environmentally sustainable design, we ensure our project teams integrate creativity with scientific rigour, to create designs that are conscientious of the natural environment and local ecology.
We design built environments from a holistic, sustainable perspective: each project reconciles ecological and social impacts within the current economic climate. We holistically evaluate environmental, cultural and financial sustainability in every task we undertake.