Joyce Fisher Play Space

The Joyce Fisher Centre caters for a maximum of 20 children, some of whom are hearing impaired and have language difficulties. The brief from our clients for this play space was inspired by Cornwall Park, where teachers noticed the children deeply engaged with play and communication in a natural environment. They requested to have no plastic or artificial materials at all, but instead to use only natural materials including water, logs, boulders, sand and mud to provide a stimulating play environment that explores both the physical dimensions and the rich language of the outdoors. The concept was to create different outdoor play “rooms” in this small area, interconnected with stepping paths through planted areas using different natural materials so that there is a journey of challenge and discovery to engage children with all of the available space. Elements such as a mud kitchen, stepping blocks and logs, a mound with a whare on the top, a boulder water play area running down into the sand area, a water pump and a wobbly log bridge, were incorporated. The large interesting logs for the children to climb on are a special feature of the play space. The fact that there is no prescribed way to use this playground encourages and promotes conversation, teamwork, interaction and imagination.