In the heart of this prestigious Methodist Ladies College school grounds lies a rectangular remnant of an old established neighbouring garden.
Amongst established trees and adjacent to the Junior School, this land was to become the main playground for girls aged between 7 and 12 years.
A school masterplan was developed to allocate areas of passive and active recreation, as well as outdoor teaching.
The proposals explored alternative forms of play whilst focusing on the imagination – and typical behaviour patterns – of young girls.
The final scheme, developed with teachers and parents, offers a timber stage for performance and teaching space under old protected elm trees; a green maze with colourful panels for privacy; a display of artwork; a main playground structure with crooked floors, see-through panels, a jail and a disabled ramp with an associated cluster of small cubby houses.
The design was inspired by the great Australian shed in keeping with the rustic character of the land.