Projects
Ghost Gums Reserve at The Rivergums
Client: Silhouette Properties Pty Ltd
Location: The Rivergums, Baldivis, Western Australia
Date: 2001 - ongoing
Category: Land Development
The Rivergums Estate is located off Safety Bay Road and is one of the first HIA Greensmart developments within Western Australia. This development focuses on the retention of natural vegetation, rejuvenation of existing wetlands and the use of sustainable and waterwise principles.
The landscape philosophy and design themes for the Ghost Gums Reserve draw inspiration from the strong ‘natural’ setting created through the retention of significant trees, and the local native flora and fauna of the site and surrounds.
A colourful and active landscape has been created in parkland setting through the use of coloured hard landscape elements and mass planting swathes of colourful local plant species. A dual use path which runs throughout the public open space meanders through and around these mass plantings of local plant species.
The park incorporates an adventure bicycle track which meanders through and around retained existing trees, a junior play space that celebrates the strong frog awareness within the community, and an interactive play wall element that can be used for both passive and active recreation. The lateritic wall was designed to reflect the Estate’s entry statement and provide continuity of materials and forms within the Estate. The wall was designed to create both a physical and visual interactive structure within the park, as well as providing a perforated edge to an open dished grassed space which can be used for informal active or passive recreation. A shade structure over a picnic table setting, and rammed earth seating have been provided as resting areas within the park overlooking these active spaces.
The Bikemania equipment installed in this park encourages children to develop their cycle skills. The items are on their own ‘yellow’ concrete circuit in the park, and meander through changing swathes of local native plantings. This facility has so far been very successful and used frequently.
The junior playground space near the bikemania track includes ‘green’ lily pad stepping stones, frog rockers and a moving boat. This space was designed to celebrate the ‘frog’ which is a very strong graphic of the Estate. There is a strong community awareness of how frogs are an important species in the wetland systems of the estate. Frog watching workshops occur as one of the Community initiatives borne by the Developer. A concrete frog sculpture by Tony Pankiw has been incorporated adjacent this playground, which helps create a strong sense of belonging and identity to this space. Public art has been incorporated into this and numerous other parks within the Estate.
Awards
-
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA)
2006 | Rivergums Stage 3, Baldivis - Award of Excellence
Public Open Space Design, Certificate of Commendation
Client: Cedar Woods Properties
Gallery
-
-
-
Shade Structure
A shade structure and seating area located overlooking active play spaces.
-
Rammed Earth Wall
Lateritic rammed earth wall structure with viewing portals.
-
Local native species
A dual use path meanders through swathes of local native plant species.
-
Bikemania
The Bikemania equipment installed in this park encourages children to develop their cycle skills.
-
Artwork
Artwork by Tony Pankiw celebrating the ‘frog’ which is an important species in the wetland systems of the estate.
-
