Canoe Lake Leisure Tennis Pavilion
The vision for Canoe Lake Leisure
Tennis Pavilion was to create a
truly public building as part of a
substantial regeneration project for
Southsea Common, a historic part of
Portsmouth. A group of individuals
formed Canoe Lake Leisure (CLL)
to safeguard the future of the grass
tennis courts, when Council funding
cuts resulted in an uncertain future.
The existing clubhouse was the target
for vandalism and unsafe. CCL heavily
invested private funding to restore
the 12 grass courts, 4 artificial courts
and 2 hard courts, as well as provide
a new purpose built pavilion with
provision to host community events
and children’s indoor tennis.
The Pavilion has a great vantage
point enabling both sets of courts
to be viewed as well as the Common
and boating lake beyond, a key
requirement was a two-storey building
to maximize this amazing position.
The building is orientated on a north
south axis taking advantage of the
views. The ground floor, formed
from brick provides a solid base
which asserts itself on the site. Large
openings are carved away to reveal
views into the building and activity
on the courts beyond, inviting the
community to engage with tennis and
the activities within.
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