Rooftop play garden at Fiona Stanley Hospital

1. Who is the play space designed for?
The rooftop play garden was designed for Patients, siblings and parents alike.

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  Demographic: All ages.


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  Special needs: The area needed to to be accessible for people having to use mobility aids and even to the extent of being bed ridden.


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  Cultural / Social: The playground was designed to invoke imaginative and interactive play with the use of sensory qualities and natural elements.


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  Others: With the potential of having a large number of occupants within the confined area, the area was designed to accommodate play therapy.

3. Key play features

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  Setting: Seating was all custom made to not only provide seating but to stimulate the mind by its individual design and construction, The raised planters in addition to providing a planting area also act as seating.


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  Land form: The Playground has all been built on top of a waterproofed surface, where loading issues and penetration risks were a concern.


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  Catalogue items: N/A


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  Purpose built: Several artists were engaged to construct a number of elements, such as the Boat, Swan, fish head bench.


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  Safety: The area has been designed and constructed to deliver a low quay area where mental and social stimulation are the focused interaction.

4. Specific nature play features

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  Purpose built: The wooden forest, Mushrooms and planted garden beds.


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  Naturally occurring: n/a

5. Other design elements incorporated

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  Hard landscape: A mixture of floor surfaces were used to provide both a varied texture and aesthetic view.


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  Soft landscape: The soft scapes used within the area are compact due to space however enough to soften the appearance and encourage interaction.


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  Artwork: The artwork used within the garden are interactive and double as play features and seating.


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  Cultural interpretation: The chosen features such as the swan boat and nest in addition to the fish head are meant to symbolise local fauna.


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  Fencing: The timber used for the fence was all reclaimed timber from the site when it was cleared, this was incorporated in the custom furniture in the concourse and the playground fence.


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  Shade: Shade was not seen to be a main concern in the garden as it is shaded naturally by the building in the afternoon, by the fence in the Early morning. It was perceived that during the morning hours of full sun most patients would involved with their morning check ups, test etc. the single shade structure was installed and this in its self had it challenges to comply with both wind loadings and the loading on the roof to which it sits.

6. Organised activities that use this space
The area is not currently active but is designed to accommodate groups engaging in play therapy.
7. Complimentary facilities

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  Car parking: n/a


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  Support facilities: n/a


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  Nearby facilities: All that the hospital has to offer.

8. Who was involved in design development?
Environmental Industries (EI) were  engaged by Brookfield Multiplex to  design and construct the playground. EI in turn engaged Jeavons Landscape Architects who were responsible for the design and specification of all details, products and materials.

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  Community consultation: Consultation was held with both Brookfield Multiplex and the State representatives.

9. Who was involved in construction?
Environmental Industries, its staff and its contractors (Living Iron, Raw Urban, Country Earth, Jark Developments, West Coast shade and local artist Ben Jones
10. Capital cost $378,151.00
11. Operational cost/annum
Nominal estimated to be less than $5,000.00 PA
12. What were the risks and how were they dealt with?
There was a risk in the structural loading of the roof, wind loading on the shade sail and damage to the waterproof membrane. The layout and volumes were manipulated to achieve engineering requirements. A large footing stab was installed to carry the loading of the umbrella and this was disguised by mounding the earth to give a natural look of a grass hill.
13. Community feedback None as yet that I am aware of.
14. What would you have done differently?
Not sure there is much that we would change or have done differently, handling of materials and logistics were difficult and would have room for improvement but this was always going to be difficulty access.
15. What is the next stage? Kids at play.