Case Studies
NaturePlay at Royal Park
Design Feature
Type of Project
Playground
State
Victoria
Location
Urban
NaturePlay at Royal Park was a partnership project between the City of Melbourne (City) and the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services. Completed in early 2015, it aimed to re-establish parkland on the former Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) site.
The seven Wurundjeri seasons of Melbourne are central to the project landscape, informing the structure, planting and play experiences of the space. The playground offers new opportunities for challenging and explorative play, encouraging children of all ages to reconnect with nature and each other.
The seven Wurundjeri seasons of Melbourne are central to the project landscape, informing the structure, planting and play experiences of the space. The playground offers new opportunities for challenging and explorative play, encouraging children of all ages to reconnect with nature and each other.
The importance of the site and its development was recognised from the beginning of this project. The project team committed to maintaining the existing size of parkland on the site, ensuring no loss of green space through the development of the new hospital.
An extensive community engagement process encouraged input from locals, broader metropolitan Melbourne and across the state. This comprehensive process reflected the regional role of the park, and its important relationship to the RCH.
For example, engagement with Traditional Owners commenced in the early concept stage of the project. One key driver of this engagement was the design team’s desire to understand and identify opportunities to strengthen the experience of this new space and promote a broader understanding of it as a cultural landscape with a long and ongoing history. The Wurundjeri people gave permission to incorporate elements of the seven seasons in the space’s design. To understand which elements were most engaging to a younger demographic, the project team explored these stories with children.
An extensive community engagement process encouraged input from locals, broader metropolitan Melbourne and across the state. This comprehensive process reflected the regional role of the park, and its important relationship to the RCH.
For example, engagement with Traditional Owners commenced in the early concept stage of the project. One key driver of this engagement was the design team’s desire to understand and identify opportunities to strengthen the experience of this new space and promote a broader understanding of it as a cultural landscape with a long and ongoing history. The Wurundjeri people gave permission to incorporate elements of the seven seasons in the space’s design. To understand which elements were most engaging to a younger demographic, the project team explored these stories with children.
Engagement with children, young people, RCH patients and staff and child development and play specialists was also vital. Consultation sessions and expert workshops helped to build a comprehensive understanding of the elements to be integrated into the design. Extensive analysis of children’s developmental needs, and how these can be met through play with nature, were also incorporated into the project.
City landscape architects worked closely with open space managers and contractors throughout the development and implementation of the design. This team continues to meet to monitor how the space is being used and how it may need to adapt over time. The ongoing role of in-house designers enables considered responses to the site’s evolution, building on local and whole-of-project experience. In-house designers respond to maintenance issues and other requests; this helps to ensure a continuous process of learning and improvement.
The project has produced a high quality, engaging new corner of Royal Park that is rich in experience. The site offers winding paths; open and flexible lawn spaces; areas to gather, meet, reflect and retreat; and a connection to big skies. The site centres on active and imaginative play spaces built upon the new landform of hills, gullies, grasslands and creeks. These new landforms connect with the existing parkland in two ways: the grassy mound provides a backdrop to the new space, creating an invitation to explore the expanses of Royal Park; alternatively, it provides a fun-filled opportunity to roll down the hill.
City landscape architects worked closely with open space managers and contractors throughout the development and implementation of the design. This team continues to meet to monitor how the space is being used and how it may need to adapt over time. The ongoing role of in-house designers enables considered responses to the site’s evolution, building on local and whole-of-project experience. In-house designers respond to maintenance issues and other requests; this helps to ensure a continuous process of learning and improvement.
The project has produced a high quality, engaging new corner of Royal Park that is rich in experience. The site offers winding paths; open and flexible lawn spaces; areas to gather, meet, reflect and retreat; and a connection to big skies. The site centres on active and imaginative play spaces built upon the new landform of hills, gullies, grasslands and creeks. These new landforms connect with the existing parkland in two ways: the grassy mound provides a backdrop to the new space, creating an invitation to explore the expanses of Royal Park; alternatively, it provides a fun-filled opportunity to roll down the hill.
While there has been no formal project evaluation completed by the City, design professionals and students continue to engage with the project through lectures and site visits. The project has been recognised with industry and peer-based awards, including the AILA State and National Awards in 2015, Parks and Leisure Association Awards, and being recognised by industry experts and the public as Australia’s Best Playground in 2016. The site also received the Victorian Planning Institute’s Great Place award in 2020.
A key success of the design was balancing the limited tolerances of play safety parameters with the variability of natural materials. The project team worked closely with a play consultant to integrate slides into steep rocky embankments and develop birds’ nests, eel traps and interactive water features as key elements of play.
As such, NaturePlay at Royal Park has impacted the City’s approach to park projects by prompting an openness to challenge and water play and encouraging play spaces that are more responsive to their context.
A key success of the design was balancing the limited tolerances of play safety parameters with the variability of natural materials. The project team worked closely with a play consultant to integrate slides into steep rocky embankments and develop birds’ nests, eel traps and interactive water features as key elements of play.
As such, NaturePlay at Royal Park has impacted the City’s approach to park projects by prompting an openness to challenge and water play and encouraging play spaces that are more responsive to their context.
Project team
- City of Melbourne
- Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
Project Cost
$5.6 Million
Health Value
- NaturePlay has become a much-loved part of Royal Park, and an integral part of its immediate and broader communities.
- The important relationship of the space to the RCH cannot be understated: the park and its opportunities for play, gathering and respite helps to support the wellbeing of patients, family, staff and visitors.
Economic value
- Building upon the significance of Royal Park as central Melbourne’s largest parkland, Nature Play offers a new area of activity that draws people from Flemington Road and the central city. The new space provides an opportunity to connect with open space and the predominantly native landscapes of Royal Park.
- Through activating this unique landscape, Melbourne’s reputation as a liveable city and a travel destination continues to be strengthened.
Environmental Value
- From a strategic and horticultural perspective, building a resilient landscape was a priority, allowing the space to provide an open space legacy for current and future generations.
- The new space at NaturePlay connects inner city children with nature through play and education. Experiences of play and learning in NaturePlay foster an appreciation of the environment, build knowledge and ensure future generations are empowered as active stewards of the natural environment.
Social value
- Through ensuring access to open space and facilities that meet a broad range of community needs, NaturePlay directly responds to the densification and population growth in central Melbourne. The space helps to make Melbourne a city that is more resilient to the challenges of shifting demographics and urban structures.
Use value
- Spaces and experiences within the new park are designed to correlate with the specific developmental needs of children at key ages and stages.
- Three slides of varying steepness offer graduated challenges, where small children develop new abilities and build their confidence to head to the curvy slide at the top of the rocky embankment. By providing age-appropriate risk within a public space, the design seeks to provide children with essential skills.
- The project displays innovation through creating open ended opportunities for play that embrace challenge and messiness. This is not traditionally available within the central city and is being embraced by the community.
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