The Verandah Cafe
Hamilton Lake
Completion: 2009
‘Design a unique and contemporary new cafe and function facility for one of Hamilton’s most
valuable urban locations’
This was the challenge given in mid 2007 when invited to design ‘The Verandah’ on the site of the
old cafe building at Hamilton Lake.
The building is planned so that all cafe & function room spaces have panoramic views and
direct access to the lake and playgrounds. Existing pathways, crossings and circulation routes
are maintained and connected successfully with the new building.
The immediate context also provides other design cues. The exposed and expressive curved steel
and timber structure of the canopy is inspired by the playground equipment. The white membrane
of the ‘verandah’ canopy by the boats and balloons that grace the lake, and the simple palette
of grey concrete and timber decking reference the rock boulders and timber boardwalks at the
lake edge.
An equally important part of the buildings character is its environmental sustainable design
(ESD) features. Floors, walls and ceilings are highly insulated, all windows and doors are
double glazed for thermal comfort, the cafe has a passive ventilation system and its floor is
heated by water supplied from solar panels on the roof. Rainwater is collected and used for
flushing of toilets, energy efficient lighting is fitted throughout and the verandah membrane
canopy provides sun and glare control to the cafe and function rooms. At night low powered
LED lights illuminate the canopy to give the building an ethereal presence at the edge of the lake
and provide a subtle backdrop to the activity within.
The finished building has been well received by the client and operator, but perhaps more
importantly as a piece of civic architecture, The Verandah has quickly become a vibrant and
well patronized facility by the people of Hamilton and their visitors.
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