The master plan for Arc Polo Farm is informed by the Japanese concept of “shakkei” or “borrowed scenery”, framing views of the landscape with an arc-shaped trace around the central polo field. The arc ties facilities and installations around centennial oak trees, spanning from the existing stables to the east onto the edge of the open fields to the west.
At the centre of the route is the clubhouse, a single-storey structure that draws from the barns on the site. It has a gabled, spruce-framed structure clad in wooden shingles that have been charred using the Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban. The northern facade of the clubhouse is gently curved to hug the arc-shaped path, with a wood-decked veranda providing space for spectators to watch games on the polo field.
Inside, the glue-laminated timber (glulam) structure is left exposed. Spruce beams and oak panelling contrast an end wall of veined stone that frames a fireplace.
To maintain and irrigate the surrounding fields at Arc Polo Farm, the clubhouse funnels rainwater into collection pits that lead into a nearby lake.
In the existing barns, a gym and workout space for riders has been added, alongside improvements to drainage, water management and thermal performance.
