PROJECT: HAYS PADDOCK PLAYGROUND
LOCATION: KEW, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
CLIENT: CITY OF BOROONDARA
COLLABORATION: HAYS PADDOCK DISABILITY MENTORS, VILLA MARIA/ ST PAULS COLLEGE, BLIND INSTITUTE OF VICTORIA, COMPIC, PECO CONSTRUCTION
AWARDS: AIILA MERIT AWARD
The project was designed in collaboration with a few absolutely dedicated parents, both with able bodied children and children with disabilities. An attempt to cater for as wide range of disabilities as possible was explored, while maintaining the objective that it should always provide creative play for children of all abilities. Yarra floodplain billabong creatures was the unifying theme, with a central Bunyip red gum sculpture welcoming children into the adventure playground. Elements included a slide structure as a giant mosquito; a frog sculpture drinking fountain; a red back spiders climbing web; butterfly shade sails; and a bird hide and lookout extended out over a reedy billabong, containing a ‘tic-tac-toe’ with brail and pictograms identifying the various local water birds.
