City of Sydney launches new identity for reopened Prince Alfred Park Pool via Frost*

Frost* has created the identity, wayfinding system and signage for the newly reopened Prince Alfred Park Pool, part of one of the largest public works projects from the City of Sydney in recent years.

The work was unveiled with the recent opening of the refurbished pool, which is amongst the final stages of Council’s extensive, $20million upgrade to the parkland and sports facilities at the 7.5 hectare Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills’ largest open space. Frost* was engaged by award winning Neeson Murcutt Architects, the lead consultants overseeing the entire project.

Prince Alfred Park Pool, located next to Central railway station, is the city’s first pool that is fully trigeneration ready, has an accessible pool ramp and an accessible kids splash deck with water toys. The amenity incorporates the best in sustainable practices and is physically embedded into the park landscape by Sue Barnsley Design, under a green ‘meadow’ of native grasses.

The circular, azure-hued identity created for the pool by Frost*, references the heritage of the location, which is the former site of a seasonal circus once famous throughout Sydney. The mark and visual language is also a representation of the playfulness of water, realised through a series of dots and concentric bands of aquatic colour, with accents of red and yellow.

In keeping with the architectural language of integration, Frost* designed a minimal, unobtrusive signage and wayfinding system. Signage is in-ground and materials and colours were chosen that are sympathetic and complementary to the surrounding landscape. Statutory Royal Life Saving signage was applied to the concrete concourse or glazed onto tiles, whilst the site’s sustainable initiatives were communicated through a series of discs embedded around the site.

Creating environmental graphics that integrated seamlessly into the site was not always easy to achieve, and called for a diverse range of materials and techniques to be employed. The result is signage that ranges from traditional, hand-painted graphics on timber paneling, through to designs kiln-fired onto the pool’s tiled interiors and exteriors. All in-ground signage also underwent a rigorous testing process to ensure signage embedded into the new landscape was anti-slip and compliant for a high-profile public environment.

Says Vince Frost, founder and executive creative director of Frost: “Working as part of the team with the City of Sydney and Neeson Murcutt Architects on this project, has been incredibly stimulating.

There have been some challenges, but the commitment to creating a pool and park that is state-of-the-art and sets a new standard in urban design and planning, was unwavering. It’s exciting to work with a dedicated, inspiring group of practitioners, in reshaping Sydney for the future.”

Rachel Neeson, director at Neeson Murcutt Architects, said the graphic design is a key element of this project and not just an ‘add on’.

Says Neeson: “It was a very iterative process between the signage, identity and architecture. We’d already devised the colours of blue, for the concrete, and yellow, for the umbrellas. Frost* then came in and added to that palette and in turn, their influence further informed our elements of the project. Working with Frost* on the Prince Alfred Park Pool was really enjoyable and I think the graphics are beautiful.”

Frost* has also been responsible for the look and feel of the signage across the entire Prince Alfred Park site, from implementation of the studio’s city-wide parks signage system, through to fitness node signage and identification, and interpretive pieces for the park’s tennis and coronation centres.

Client: Neeson Murcutt Architects for the City of Sydney

Midweight Designer: Charlie Bromley