Play Space Archives - Greenedge Design

April 24, 2018

Kawana Waters State College Prep Playspace

The Kawana Waters State College Play Space is a large educational play space designed by Greenedge Design and separated into three stages for construction. The first stage was completed in early 2018 and boasts a variety of educational play elements. The central feature of the design is the mounded rock water channel. This area allows for the creation of a natural water play area, which incorporates a water pump, gates, plug, water falls and overflow channel which allows children to control the water levels. The continuation of the water channel along the flatter section contains a series of strategically placed coloured stones. With each colour placed in groups of 10, children are able to find and count these as they transition through the space. This is not only for the enjoyment of the students but gives the teachers the opportunity to extend their classrooms outdoors. The extension of the water channel wraps itself...

April 23, 2018

by Greg Thomas

Caloundra Christian College ELC

Caloundra Christian College Early Learning Centre is a small and intimate play space created as part of an ongoing relationship between Greenedge Design and Caloundra Christian College. The size of the space presented an unique opportunity to focus on a bespoke vertical play structure. This detailed timber structure contains a variety of play elements that would typically be spread throughout a larger play space. This multi-dimensional structure includes a musical wall, climbing ramp, tunnel structure, seating, underwater themed screens and a mud kitchen adjoining to the adjacent sand pit. The distinct light pattern that enters through the underwater themed screens, allowing for the children to feel submerged as they enter the space. The particular layout of the cut outs ensure that they cannot be climbed, simply enjoyed from within. Further to this the play space also contains a circuit path for wheeled toys, vegetable planters, sand pit with steppers and renovations to the...

August 25, 2017

by Greg Thomas

Peacehaven Botanical Park Nature Playground

The Peacehaven Botanical Park is a nature play playground designed by Greenedge Design in collaboration with Toowoomba Regional Council. Greenedge Design created a style guide for the Peacehaven Botanical Park prior to concept development which influenced the themes of the play space. The nature play design is focused around an existing Crow’s Ash (Flindersia australis) tree, which provides natural shade to the play space. Further to it’s physical presence within the space, the Crow’s Ash has influenced other play elements throughout the site. Including the seed pod climbing structure and the ‘star’ shaped concrete platforms inspired by the opening of the seed pod. The natural overland flow channel is embraced in the design through the introduction of a dry creek bed. This area allows for the creation of a natural water play area, incorporating a water pump, gates and overflow channel which allows children to control the water. Due to the sites topography, platforms...

August 25, 2017

by Greg Thomas

Pacific Lutheran Early Learning Centre

Through engagement with the client a natural theme for the play space was developed. This formed a palette of predominantly natural materials with a vision of timber forming a strong representation in the design due to its versatility and flexibility to create unique structures and play elements. The playspace included a man-made creek bed, sandpit, elevated timber viewing platform, timber mud kitchen, timber pergola, log bench seats, trees and shade structures, with the ‘hero’ of the project being a sculptural curved timber boundary fence. Greenedge Design grasped this opportunity to develop a design where natural materials dominate and manufactured or prefabricated play elements are limited. Greenedge also wanted to provide a totally bespoke design that provided an exciting, imaginative and somewhat physically challenging play space that balances risk taking and fine motor skill developmental milestones. The use of timber was critical in achieving these outcomes and featured heavily in the new play space,...

August 24, 2017

by Greg Thomas

Immanuel Early Learning Centre

Immanuel Early Learning Centre is an existing centre designed in 2005 with the existing play space located on a slope and divided by a retaining wall. The client was experiencing ongoing issues with the management and supervision of children because of the separated levels and thus sought a redesign of the play space. The existing space also lacked opportunities for core early childhood development. The new play space offers a nature-themed environment that connects with the natural backdrop. It offers better opportunities for early childhood development in gross motor skills, balance, coordination, upper body development, risk taking, confidence building, sensory development and learning through play (such as the water and mud play). This completely bespoke playground offers a unique solution that overcomes the challenging site conditions. Date 2016-2017 Location Immanuel Early Learning Centre, Buderim, Queensland Status Completed Project Phase Concept through to Construction Services Client Immanuel Early Learning Centre Collaborators TOD Consulting Engineers CCEP Contractors Boyds Bay Group Photograph Credit Greg Thomas ...

August 22, 2017

by Greg Thomas

Goodstart Early Learning Centre Adelaide Street

This ground-breaking 207 place early learning centre located in the heart of Brisbane demonstrates a successful collaboration between Architect, Landscape Architect and Engineer to overcome various technical challenges. An operational requirement to provide an ‘outdoor’ space inside the building influenced the layout of learning spaces and the provision of a central indoor play space that incorporates natural planting, timber, stone and artificial turf to provide a space that is symbolic to the outdoors. The indoor play area (approximately 1,000m2) offers a multitude of activity areas in a 'sub-tropical rainforest' setting with raised floors and undulating turf mounds. Catering for children from 6 weeks to 5 years the play space design ensures a safe and welcoming environment for all. Each learning space flows directly from large door openings into the elongated play space. The design of the play environment drew upon Greenedge Design’s creative thinking and collaboration with Goodstart’s early learning experts....

August 18, 2017

by Greg Thomas

Goodstart Early Learning Centre Ann Street

Goodstart's Brisbane (Ann Street) Early Learning Centre underwent a refurbishment in early 2017 in which Greenedge Design prepared a nature-themed 'outdoor' play space design for the two indoor play areas. A strong design element is the 'indoor trees' which offer visual delight and the ability for the children to interact with real timber. To touch, or even hug, what seems like a living tree is important for the children's awareness with nature, even when located in a highly urban environment. The laser cut ply sheets provide an impression of the tree canopy and were developed from detailed cad drawings provided directly to the manufacturer. Cushioned turf areas, suitable for compliance with soft fall requirements, provides open areas for running, locating mobile equipment, or even tennis games (which was one of the client's requirements). A circuit path surrounding a sand pit controls wheeled movement activity whilst a slide and lookout deck spans...

April 15, 2016

by Greg Thomas

Green Beginnings Child Care Centre

The design process drew upon a collaborative partnership between Greg Thomas and the Green Beginnings Team. Central to the design concept is a ‘landscape dragon’, with its body parts providing a variety of nature themed play elements and opportunities: a fort representing the head enables a lookout over the entire landscape, while a bespoke slide is the dragon’s tongue. The ramp and the path depict the dragon’s curved body with a bamboo grove as the tail. Grouped oval platforms represent dragon ‘claws’ which children use as enormous jumping stones, art canvases, construction tables and islands for socialising. Triangular shade sails provide an impression of the dragon’s wings. Additional shade trees and a vegetated arbor provide a sun safe environment. Due to its size a 6 metre high Port Jackson Fig tree was the first element brought to site prior to the construction of the centre. A seating deck added beneath provides...

April 15, 2016

by Greg Thomas

New Leaf Early Learning Centre

The outdoor play space at New Leaf Early Learning Centre captures a ‘sense of place’ within the surrounding natural environment. Located within a few hundred metres of the beach and framed by natural bushland on two sides, the space retains existing trees and existing topography to provide a simple, low tech, low cost, sustainable playground. The undulating landform creates an experience of connected spaces that inspire adventure and exploration. Stone, sand, timber and native vegetation feature prominently in the overall nature-themed design. Recycled trees harvested from the site were reused for short and tall stepping stumps, benches, a carved log ladder and a timber forest maze. Additionally, a dragonfly hewn from site timber by a local chainsaw artist, invites clambering, sitting, gathering and socialising. The retention of the existing trees contributes to comprehensive shade cover when combined with a larger bespoke shelter and shade sails. The design is highly inventive, maximising opportunities...

Archive

Kawana Waters State College Prep Playspace

Caloundra Christian College ELC

Peacehaven Botanical Park Nature Playground

Pacific Lutheran Early Learning Centre

Immanuel Early Learning Centre

Goodstart Early Learning Centre Adelaide Street

Goodstart Early Learning Centre Ann Street

Green Beginnings Child Care Centre

New Leaf Early Learning Centre

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