Golf clubhouse by Graham Baba nods to farm structures in rural Washington
US studio Graham Baba Architects used timber and board-formed concrete to create "warmth and depth" at the Westwood Golf clubhouse and driving range in an agricultural region.
The project completed a refresh of the nine-hole golf course in the central Washington town of Yakima.
The semi-arid region is known for its orchards and hop fields, which the architects drew upon while conceiving the clubhouse and driving range.
"The new facilities are designed as a minimalist nod to agrarian structures," said Graham Baba Architects, a Seattle studio.
The star element is the newly constructed, 12,000-square-foot (1,115-square-metre) clubhouse, which rises two levels and is L-shaped in plan.
It contains hospitality space and 28 driving-range stations, including high-tech ones that can simulate golf courses found across the world.
The roof and upper floor are made of mass timber panels, supported by steel and glued-laminated columns and beams.
There is a 20-foot (6-metre) clear span between columns, allowing for unencumbered golf swings.
The facility departs from the standard driving-range facility in terms of its materiality.
"In contrast to more typical pan-deck and painted concrete driving ranges, the exposed timber structure introduces warmth and depth, creating a space that is as much about experience as it is about performance," the team said.
Shade screens made of Corten steel wrap select areas of the building. Wooden boards were used to form the concrete walls, helping soften the building's expression.
"The texture breaks down the scale of the concrete and introduces a horizontal rhythm that reinforces the building's low profile across the flat site," the team said.
"As light rakes across the surface, the lines draw the eye toward framed views of the green beyond."
The ground level holds a restaurant, bar and pro shop, along with 14 driving range bays. The upper floor houses 14 additional bays, a second bar and an enclosed event space.
A broad terrace overlooks the golf course.
"The lower range is more protected and shaded, shielded from wind and direct sun," the team said.
"The upper level opens more fully to the air, capturing cross breezes and long views in both directions."
Below the building is a golf cart garage and a supplemental kitchen to support the restaurant.
The site also includes a green roof and an on-site stormwater management system, which channels rainwater to a pond. The water is used to irrigate the site during the summer months.
Other golf facilities include an indoor club in Montreal by Ivy Studio that features rich shades of green and burgundy, and a golf performance centre in Los Angeles by HA+MA that is made of Alaskan cedar and handmade Danish bricks.
The photography is by Kevin Scott.
Project credits:
Architect and interior designer: Graham Baba Architects
General contractor: Artisan Inc
Landscape architect: Berger Partnership
Structural engineer: Harriott Valentine
MEP: Routh Engineering
Civil engineer: Leslie Engineering
Lighting: Sparklab
Custom metal fabrication: Kareem Tai, Out of Round
Custom lighting and metalwork: Nate Monik
Sign painter: Gibbs Graphics
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