Play Spaces and Playgrounds
Play spaces and playgrounds
Play has the ability to create open-ended fun and challenging experiences that can evoke the imagination and encourage shared experiences. Our play space designs express conceptual and cultural narratives and are developed through interactive workshops with the users and community.
Play design for schools
The most important thing about play spaces is that they are fun! Providing a space that inspires children to explore their world in a playful and safe environment is key to their developmental journey. In schools, learning can extend externally through outdoor lessons and performance, physical challenges and encouraging imaginary, open-ended play.
Botanic’s collaborative design workshops with school communities, have emphasised the need to provide for both ‘active’ and ‘passive’ play equally. Alcoves and hangout spots are necessary for those children who prefer to watch or simply socialise. By integrating a variety of play with biodiverse plantings, you have some key ingredients for a well balanced campus landscape for everyone.
How to design a play space
A key design principle that Botanic considers is maximising the ‘play value’ of a space. This is where the highest amount of play is achieved for the most efficient cost. We look to squeeze in play potential everywhere. This has seen hoops installed under platform decks, climbing grips fixed to blank walls and interactive graphics added to ground surfaces. Sometimes the smallest and simplest play features are the most popular.
Botanic design play spaces from a user-centred perspective, and we often facilitate design workshops using hand sketching and fun activities to draw out creative ideas. Play comes in many forms from the physically challenging, to socially interactive, to people just wanting to watch from the edges. A successful outcome has a range of play types and challenges for everyone.
Our recent work
The concept for Te Arawai playground at St Albans Primary integrates the schools cultural narrative
Te Raekura Redcliffs School uses pathways that double as scooter tracks on the weekend
A central mound at Shirley Primary is used for play, socialising and outdoor classes
Nature play and circulation tracks are nestled in nature at Shirley Primary School
Interactive play workshops are a fun way for communities to share their ideas
The Te Arawai playground at St Albans School includes a variety of accessible and adventurous play elements
Some of the things we can help you with
When considering the first design steps for your play space or playground design, considerations could include:
Creating an expressive concept or theme that gives it a fun identity.
Engaging with mana whenua to integrate cultural narratives.
Undertaking collaborative workshops to develop the play design ideas with your tamariki and community.
Using a combination of playground equipment, bespoke elements and nature play.
Creating accessible play for the inclusion of all users including neurodiversity.
Ensuring compliance with playground standards and regulations.
Exploring how to maximise your ‘play value’ to get the most play for your budget.
