case study: natural play space at bellyett reserve

case study september 2016

Brilliant Play Innovations

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adventureplus.net.au

adventure+ partnered with City of Burnside’s Landscape Architect, Claire Bottrall to redevelop the play space at Bellyett Reserve. The recently completed upgrade is proving to be favourite with the Wattle Valley community.

adventure+ developed initial pen sketches and turned them into a working piece of equipment, compliant with Australian Standards.

The unique design utilises the spectrum+ hybrid system, which combines steel and timber and was key to ensuring that the desired rustic, natural look was achieved and that the playground blended in with the surrounding environment

Read the interview with Claire to discover the thought and methodology behind this creative space!

A+. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your current

role at City of Burnside.

CB. I have worked as a Landscape Architect for 7 years

in private practice before making the transition to

Council nearly 3 years ago. For the last 2 years I have

been working as a Landscape Architect for the City of

Burnside, doing various projects such as the design of

community gardens, roundabout islands, dog parks,

memorial landscapes, screening panels, DDA compliant

access to buildings and, of course, playgrounds.

A+. What were the key outcomes you wanted out of

this project and did you achieve them?

CB. The project needed to be site sensitive and

highlight the existing natural play elements already

existing within the reserve, but I also wanted to provide

some structured play that complemented this.

The idea behind the design was to create a series of

interconnecting rooms that could be used as whatever

the imagination inspired. With some strategic pruning,

the existing vegetation was able to be shaped into a

series of ‘rooms’ and the play structure was designed

to be an extension of this space. Emphasis was given

to providing a harmonious link between the natural and

the structural by the use of timber, organic mulch and

log steppers linking the two areas.

The playground is designed to not only promote

imagination play, but also to inspire investigation

of surrounding spaces and feel a connection to the

environment.

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Interview with Claire Bottrall Landscape Architect, City of Burnside

“harmonious link between the natural and the structural by the use of timber”

A+. What is your favourite part about the

playground or park you designed?

CB. I am really pleased with how the surrounding

garden areas all link together and my favourite place

to sit is at the round log table and chairs. I love the

height of the play structure and the different views

you can get from the platforms. The play structure

also has the excitement of the tunnel slide and the

challenges of the climbing elements that I think add

an element of challenge and bravery for the younger

kids.

A+. Have you received any feedback from the

community?

CB. I have received the following quote and someone

has kindly done a write up on the web.

“I love the new playground! My favourite bit was the

tunnel slide because it was nice and steep and a little

bit scary but not too much”

Charlotte, 8, Stonyfell

“Bellyett Reserve in Wattle Park is a small playground

but great space for imaginative play. My kids thrive

on that sort of space! The very recently updated

playground is a great little park located off Stonyfell

Road. The playground equipment is small but well

designed and includes slides, climbing nets and

two wooden forts. The most impressive part of

this playground however is the way it is set up for

imaginative and nature play. For starters, the ground

is mulched by pine bark chips, very refreshing in this

age of foam and plastic. Wooden stumps have been

cleverly used to create stepping stones, table and chairs

and nature play areas set among the trees. My kids

spent ages pretending this area was a gorilla grotto and

played gorilla families. The opportunities for role-play,

imaginative play and oral communication are endless.”

Mandy, Adelaide

A+. What were some of the key challenges faced when

designing this park?

CB. The key challenges when designing the park were

also some of the best assets that make this play area

the captivating place it is.

The reserve incorporates a creek line that is considered

a key biodiversity site and has existing vegetation

including many large indigenous trees. The design of

the play area needed to be respectful of these elements

and help to enhance the natural beauty of the site.

While the slope of the site caused some issues with

the drainage and the installation of the cubby houses,

it also added an extra element to the play experience

and allowed multiple different views to be had across

the site.

A+. Why did you choose to work with adventure+

on this project?

CB. I have worked with adventure+ before in the

past and knew that they not only sold off the shelf

items of play equipment, but have a lot of experience

and success in custom design. Because the idea I

had in my head of creating a series of cubby houses

both in the natural landscape and in built form was

something different I approached them to help me

with the design. They took my pen sketches on

yellow trace and made them into a working piece of

equipment compliant with the Australian Standard

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“the key challenges when designing the park were also some of the best assets”