erskineville Public - senior playground
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects NSW - Landscape Architecture Award 2021
Sydney, Australia
As part of their ongoing contribution to Erskineville Public School, LSA Design have recently developed a concept masterplan for the senior student playground at the school.
Currently a large expanse of asphalt, highlighted by worn court markings and worn furniture, it sits between the wonderful, and newly renovated, original heritage schoolhouse, and busy Swanson Street. The edges simple areas, scattered with trees, that at least offer some respite from the otherwise tough environment. You put some kids in there with a ball or two and suddenly the space becomes chaotic with active play and passive play spaces colliding.
LSA Design undertook a workshop with senior students, gathering their thoughts, sketches and derived from them a wishlist of what the space should become. From this a masterplan was developed that creates zones that transition from heavily active play in the centre, to milder play next progressing through to passive play on the edges. Each of the zones will become the focus of further design work as each is developed. Some key prototype elements have already been added to give students a taster of what is to come including chalkboards and chill-out lounges. The lounges especially have been a hug hit.
The P+C Association facilitated the conception of a masterplan for the grounds. As areas within the masterplan become established LSA Design’s focus moves immediately to the next core area to develop.