Hillarys Boat Harbour – Breakwater Bowl, Perth, WA

Breakwater Bowl is a 660 m² tenpin bowling alley located at Hillarys Breakwater. The new venue offers waterfront views out to Hillarys Boat Harbour, 7 bowling lanes and a lively bar.

Designed with a focus on lighting, NightOwl Entertainment’s vision is to create an energetic hub injecting fun into Perth’s northern suburbs nightlife.

NDY worked with NightOwl to tailor a lighting design to suit their needs. Our electrical team included specialised solutions to complement lighting sourced from the US. We also worked with a lighting expert to integrate our services with the architecture, highlighting functionality while maintaining aesthetic appeal. We used linear fixtures that matched the architectural style, creating a clean, modern finish. Flush-mounted LEDs were also incorporated, offering practical lighting while accentuating the architectural features.

A key challenge for our electrical design was integrating the specialist lighting with the bowling lanes and pin setters. We worked closely with the lighting consultant to mitigate glare over the lanes, achieved through location and direction of lights alongside the selection of appropriate fixtures.

Our mechanical design included ducted variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems to provide climate control across the space. These systems reuse heat from the cooling process, redirecting it to areas that require warming, making this solution energy efficient. Ventilation systems were also carefully placed to maintain air quality, particularly in busy areas such as restrooms. To provide the public with outdoor comfort during the cooler months, our design allowed for heating to be placed along the building facade. We chose bromic heating systems for their ability to warm targeted areas in outdoor seating spaces.

The hydraulics design was simplified to address the needs of supplying water to the bar and bathroom facilities. We chose localised hot water units for their practicality, which provided an instant supply of hot water.

Addressing the 3 zone fire protection strategy was important, especially with the inclusion of dropped acoustic panels above the bowling lanes. We improved the sprinkler coverage and considered ease of maintenance. With sprinklers under the raised bowling alleys, an advanced solution for detecting smoke quickly was needed. This led to the installation of a very early smoke detection system (VESDA). This system makes maintenance easier and provides quicker response times to potential fire risks.

Designed as a gathering place for community and fun, the venue offers the excitement of bowling alongside relaxed ocean views. Breakwater Bowl will bring a fresh vibrancy to Hillarys Boat Harbour, creating a welcoming destination for visitors of all ages.