More Than a Clubhouse: A Place to Belong, Built for the Next 50 Years

At RISE, we don’t just design buildings. We design catalysts. Spaces that unlock potential. Places that bring people together—across generations, backgrounds, and abilities. Our work with Sutton Churches Tennis Club is about more than bricks and timber. It’s about creating a legacy. A space that serves the community now, and protects the planet for the future.

From the start, this hasn’t been a project about scale. It’s been about soul. How do you design a clubhouse that holds the history of a much-loved club, while giving it the tools to grow into the next chapter with clarity, comfort, and resilience? The answer lies not in excess, but in thoughtful restraint. Not in spectacle, but in substance.

An early design option by RISE Design Studio for a low-energy, Passivhaus-inspired tennis pavilion—exploring how architecture can support sustainability, community and comfort for generations to come.

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Grounded in Purpose, Designed for Real Life

Too often, community spaces are designed for the camera rather than the people who’ll use them every day. Not here. The brief we’re working to is clear-eyed and future-focused: a highly functional, low-maintenance, welcoming space that’s built to last for at least 50 years.

At the core of the design is the desire to serve—players, parents, committee members, and future generations of club users. With flexible layouts, durable finishes, accessible routes, and just enough space to breathe, every element has been designed to work hard and wear well. The interior will comfortably host up to 50 people, with a 30-seat layout for events and finals days. The kitchen connects directly to outdoor social space, while changing rooms and WCs are independently accessed for maximum convenience.

The intention? Create a space that does the job—and does it beautifully. A place where people instinctively feel welcome. Where things are easy to find, easy to use, and easy to maintain.

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Community, Comfort and the Climate Crisis

Longevity isn’t just about structure. It’s about climate. And the climate is shifting. Every building we design now must not only meet today’s needs, but protect the comfort, health and wellbeing of those who’ll use it long into the future.

That’s why Passivhaus principles are being embedded from the beginning. Because energy efficiency isn’t a bolt-on—it’s a foundation. From the way the clubhouse is oriented, to the thickness of its insulation, to the positioning of each window and door, we’re making decisions that will quietly reduce the building’s energy demand while vastly increasing the comfort inside.

Natural light will be abundant, but carefully filtered. Air will be fresh and consistent, without draughts or noise. Internal temperatures will be stable year-round, with minimal mechanical intervention. And when we talk about low operational carbon, we mean it—potentially through the integration of solar panels and air source heat pumps, depending on the club’s energy profile and needs.

Passivhaus design isn’t just about numbers. It’s about experience. It’s the difference between a clubhouse you enjoy using—and one you never want to leave.

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Architecture That Holds History and Makes Room for Growth

A community club is more than its courts. It’s a living archive of memories. The smell of new balls in spring. The applause after a long rally. The quiet chats over tea after a winter session. This new building will be a backdrop to thousands of such moments—and it must carry the club’s story with care.

That’s why the architecture won’t erase the past. It will honour it. Historical items will be displayed proudly, not tucked away. And the palette of materials will take its cue from what’s already there—natural textures, gentle forms, and open, human-scaled spaces that feel like home from the first day.

At the same time, flexibility is woven into every choice. From pergolas that provide shelter to future-proofed storage areas, to the ability to scale amenities depending on funding, the design remains agile. Nothing is fixed unnecessarily. That’s how we protect buildings from obsolescence—by making them ready for change.

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A Strategy, Not Just a Structure

We know community projects live and die on budgets and timing. That’s why we’re working hand-in-hand with a Quantity Surveyor to ensure the vision is deliverable. With three design options in development to support funding applications and grant requirements, the club will have the clarity and confidence it needs to move forward.

From the site survey through to planning, feasibility, and delivery, this is not just design—it’s partnership. A process guided by transparency, sustainability, and collective ambition.

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Buildings That Serve People and the Planet

The world doesn’t need more short-term buildings. It needs architecture that serves its people without costing the Earth. That’s what we’re creating at Sutton Churches Tennis Club.

A building that keeps people warm without fossil fuels. That lights up with the sun and breathes with the wind. That welcomes everyone, from wheelchair users to wide-eyed juniors, and says: you belong here.

We’re not just designing for this season. We’re designing for the next 50 years—and more.

→ Looking to shape a space that serves your community and the climate?
→ Email us at architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ Or call the studio on 020 3947 5886

At RISE, we create buildings that are good for people—and even better for the planet.

Let’s build something that lasts.

RISE Design Studio Architects, Interior Designers + Sustainability Experts

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