Terra Australis is a story born from the need to reconnect with nature in a way that is both sustainable and accessible to all. A collection of designed spaces, stunning bespoke equipment and human-centred themes around belonging, imagination and connection, Playscape Creations seeks to create recreational spaces that consider every individual element and how they enhance holistic site design.
The trend towards higher density living places even more emphasis on parks and green spaces as areas of natural refuge; where people feel a sense of belonging, a reconnection with themselves, with nature and the wider community. Looking at whole-of-space integration for all users, Playscape Creations’ evolving recreational designs offer both active and passive environments, space for rest and socialisation, places for discovery and wonder; Terra Australis delivers inclusion for people of all-ages and abilities.
Sustainability has been a huge design focus for the Terra Australis story, with the integration of a number of quality, durable, aesthetically pleasing materials delivering a nature-inspired experience without compromising on material longevity or increasing asset maintenance. Australian hardwood timber is used in selected Playscape Creations’ designs; both as a structural as well as an aesthetic element. Delivering a warm tactile experience, the hardwood timber has been enhanced to reduce the risk of cracking and pest onslaught while minimising maintenance.
The Importance of Unstructured Play
There has been a trend over recent years to try and quantify the ‘play value of a piece of equipment or a play environment. Essentially, this is a simple matter of adding up the number of activities you can undertake on a single play structure; the entire playground is then simply the sum of its parts.
As a design company that specialises in play, Playscape Creations has recognised that this way of thinking completely overlooks the value of a child’s imagination.
As a result, the company’s design teams use unstructured, continuous play as their benchmark for product and place design. Non-prescribed entry and exit routes mean there is no ‘right way to play’, allowing children to discover their own route through the system, inventing games and engaging their peers as they play. It encourages inclusion for all-ages and abilities as children build their physical skills and confidence in their own time.
Continuous play opportunities mean that children can move from one activity to the next within the same system; preventing traffic jams on the equipment and encouraging children to find the path that best suits their needs. This shifts the value of the play from simply the number of activities to the infinite value of the child’s imagination.
CLICK HERE to read more about unstructured play.
Join the Playscape Creations’ team on this journey as they expand the boundaries and definitions of nature play, exploring a multitude of materials and sustainable options with the view to reconnect people and recreational spaces with nature.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Terra Australis.
Find out more about Playscape Creations via the links below.
