Barker College Prep School
LOCATION
Hornsby
YEAR
2018
CLIENT
Barker College
TEAM
Umbaco Landscape Architects | PMDL Architecture | Gardenmakers, Prime Construction, Dekker Landscapes | Photography : Brett Boardman Photography
Barker College Prep School
We designed the new Kurrajong Prep School playspace for junior pupils aged five to eight as part of the grand masterplan at Barker College. The brief was to create a unique playspace, with a flexibility providing for outdoor classroom and encouraging children to play and learn. We worked closely with the junior school staff and architects to achieve this; it was a truly enjoyable process for the Umbaco team.
We took the opportunity to custom design all key play elements. A large cubby house commands a central location with a slide, a challenging climbing wall, rope vortex and fire pole connecting level 1 with a cool rope bridge. An “Aussie cubby’ has a wrap-around veranda with a little shop front and a colorbond roof. Miniature play houses in pre-kindergarten area have blackboards; there is a tunnel with crawling lizards, and “walking clouds” where children can climb up and sit snugly, designed to fit just the little ones.
A highlight of the play space is a water play element winding through gardens, bound by rocks leading into more climbing activities. All this is built over a new carpark. Trouble is – kids don’t want to leave.
