By Umbaco Landscape Architects
Sunbeam and Victa produced iconic Australian products at the Clemton Park site during the hey-day of Australian manufacturing. Umbaco LandscapeArchitects focused on celebration of this history with its generous open spacesand choice of materials reflecting its industrial past.
This site was carefully selected by former Australand with architecture being designed by the team of KannFinch Architects.
Towering Kentia palms mark the entrance to the entry piazza. A turfed detention basin appears as a mini soccer field enclosed by gentle terraced seating. The rain gardens planted out with native grasses are thriving. The small play area was inspired by the two manufacturing icons with reference to the design palette of the 1940s and 1950’s era.
The long coiling ‘electric’ cable complete with a black ‘plug’ stands proudly as a focal element and doubles up as a climbing play structure. The rotating ‘Roundanet’ resembles Sunbeam mix master ‘beaters’. The play-space and palm piazza are linked by narratives depicted onto chunky corten steel planters, referencing the historic use of the site. The inspiration here were the favourite Australian products produced by Sunbeam, Victa the lawnmower, Sunbeam Mixmaster and Sunbeam Iron. Artwork pictured below was designed in coordination with Celeste Coucke.
UmbaCo Landscape Architects is a creative and dynamic landscape design studio based in Sydney. Founded in 2001, we work across the Sydney region and New South Wales on a broad range of projects, including residential, commercial, educational, age care and public open spaces.
We are a small team known for big innovative design ideas and talents.
Clients tell us they are often impressed by how proactive, energetic and efficient we are and how we think outside of the square. We keep to timelines and pride ourselves on our quality and high standards.
And we love a challenge! We are not daunted by bigger and more complex projects and we’ve been successful in winning awards for our work, both nationally and in NSW