Southport Broadwater Parklands Play Attractor

Background

The original design team consisted of POMO, Simone Eisler Artist and the landscape design team from AECOM. Working together we were tasked with conceptualising an iconic playground and defining the approach for an invitational pitch to the client, City of Gold Coast led by AECOM.

The approach that we collectively arrived at was a homage to the place in which the playground was to sit, the Broadwater Estuary at the Gold Coast. This is an area rich with migratory birds, sea life and environmental importance. This place-led approach helped define our concepts for the playground which featured a spiral play tower whose form was influenced by shells found in the area, and a range of custom learning and play experiences all linked back to the surrounding estuary.

The pitch won and we were lucky enough to be awarded the contract to carry out the placemaking design process through schematic and detailed design phases, working alongside and embedded within the larger design being led by AECOM.

The Design

The design process continued to stay true to the place based principles themed around the natural environment of the surrounding estuary. Ideas which evolved into the final design package included:

• climb in concrete eggs which were based on the precise shell patterns of locally found migratory birds some of which are vulnerable
• birds, nests and eggs, made of bronze, also sculpted to match those birds found locally
• climb on concrete soldier crabs, made from concrete traffic bollards and made for small children featuring custom brass eyes
• a piece of public art being a bird sculpture which rotated and moved with the wind
• sandblasts in the concrete surfaces featuring a range of local information about the animals and environment of the estuary
• small bronze estuary animals fixed in locations to invite surprise throughout the playground. Animals featured were the estuary stingray, flathead fish, starfish, mud crab and turtle
• CNC routed timbers which reflected the tidal patterns of the surrounding foreshore
• interpretative garden signs which told stories of environmental responsibility
• concrete impressions that featured rubbish shapes like plastic bottles, with information telling the story of human impact of the oceans
• a play table, designed for children with disabilities, allowing them to play in sand and emulating a fish and chip shop
• climb in pipes featuring locally found estuary water animals painted on the pipes to represent swimming/schooling patterns
• custom garbage bin panels with marine animal designs and environmental messaging
• a kids quizz game in the footpaths that posed questions and gave answers about the environment
• a glockenspiel that plays musical notes which match the notes of local estuary birds
• a hand drawn underwater game for kids that allows them to find objects underwater that don’t belong there such as rubbish

Not all design work made it through to delivery.

Project Partners

Projects of this size are delivered by large teams, this project was a successful collaboration between a number of key players at the design and delivery stages. As mentioned, POMO worked with Simone Eisler Artist and AECOM, together we conceived the playground concepts, documented by AECOM for the winning pitch. Simone Eisler Artist was involved in the evolution of the design thinking process as a close team member with us during the design development. AECOM led the overall process, incorporating POMO technical drawings and detailed design work into their larger set of drawing packages. POMO managed technical inputs including engineering and disability compliance. Many ideas that have found expression in the final playground have come to fruition through the evolution of the project and through the collective collaboration between these partners.

POMO was then contractually responsible for the delivery of a range of items for the final playground. POMO worked with a number of professionals to achieve detailed bespoke outcomes which were successfully installed. Our project delivery partners included Simone Eisler Artist, David White Artist, Boyd Built Constructions and David Houghton Artist.