This joint project for the Victorian School Building Authority and local Council presented an opportunity to design two distinct landscape environments within a single site: a multi-level playspace for children and a small public open space for the surrounding community.
The playspace consisted of a groundfloor and rooftop playspace. As part of the rooftop playspace, we created a raised sandpit, surrounded by raised planters with an adjacent waterplay area to offer an active and physical play opportunity. A shade structure was installed above the sandpit, providing a covered area to shield children from the sun's rays, ensuring safe play even on hot summer days in Melbourne. There were also wicking gardens, and sensory garden areas included in the rooftop area, we incorporated a sensory pathway with four different paving options and a synthetic turf reading circle with a rock seat, catering to children with diverse preferences for play and rest. The raised planters in this project sustain the growth of larger plants, while lower wicking garden beds allow kids to indulge in vegetable planting and hands-on gardening experiences. Our early childhood landscape design is rooted in fostering childhood development and activating their senses.
The small public open space adjacent to the Childrens centre included seating and planting for the public, while the Primary School boundary was also incorporated.
This project demonstrates our ability to work within the specific technical and regulatory requirements of a government-delivered project, while producing spaces that are genuinely meaningful for the children and communities who use them.
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