All Photos: Peter Smith
Permanent Public Artwork: Wellington Gardens, King Square Precinct, Perth CDB
Ripplescape centres in the belief that PLAY is far more than just a way to release energy—it can be both quiet and contemplative, as well as active and lively. People of all ages and abilities, who are children at heart, deserve access to play experiences that are vital to healthy development—not just physically, but socially and cognitively as well.
I believe that play spaces must offer:
•Movement and Physical Activity: Encouraging a range of energetic and strength-building experiences.
•Sensory Stimulation: Incorporating the five senses through music, sounds, textures, colorful and fragrant plants, and structures that can be used as props, change with the seasons, or even become edible landscapes.
•Social Interaction: Providing opportunities for solo or group play, fostering skills in negotiation, cooperation, competition, and conflict resolution.
•Challenges and Activities: Testing the limits of capabilities with rough and tumble play, sports and games, and opportunities to climb, ensuring a holistic and enriching experience for all.
Right: And instagram post of school kids interacting and PLAYing on ‘Ripplescape’
Play for All Ages reimagines what play and playgrounds can be in public spaces. My vision is to create the most uniquely different and experiential play zone in Australia—a space so inspiring, innovative, and exciting that it becomes a destination in its own right.
This artwork will be subtly woven into the natural landscape and built environment, forming a seamless, playful terrain where each element flows into the next. My “Mountain Ranges of Lounges,” affectionately known as Mounges, will serve as the foundation for this dynamic play environment. Their subtle integration will invite curiosity, leaving visitors to wonder: Is this real? Can we really play with and on this?
The result will be an immersive experience that challenges conventional ideas of play, transforming the landscape into a place of exploration and wonder for people of all ages.
