THE PLAY REVOLUTION

Hyperdome Early Education Centre. Shailer Park QLD

Wearthy is a Queensland-based company that creates bespoke play environments that ignites creativity and curiosity in children. Dedicated to ensuring they deliver playspaces that are inclusive and support a “happy, memorable and adventurous childhood filled with imagination, excitement and play,” the team at Wearthy operates under five core beliefs that serve as their daily inspiration and motivation: integrity, ecology, education, children’s development and innovation.

Understanding that today’s children operate under a different imperative to those of generations past, one that is more sedentary and technology base, Wearthy strives to “encourage and celebrate outdoor exploration in order to rescue and nurture children’s connection with nature and with themselves.”

Working with a team of dedicated professionals, from landscape architects to educators, designers and construction specialists, Wearthy has produced a number of spectacular natural playspaces that develop strength and resilience in children, along with a connection to their environment.

Dan Rimes

Playground designer and landscape architect, Dan Rimes, recently joined the team at Wearthy to help them achieve its goal of nurturing through play. Having worked and studied in the UK, USA and the Middle East, Dan brings a global point of view to the team that enhances his understanding of how to get the best out of a landscape.

ODS sat down with Dan to get his insights into his philosophies on play and design in the Australian playspace arena.

ODS   What type of projects did you work on before you came to Wearthy?

DR   I worked as a landscape architect in the Middle East for over a decade across a range of projects. These included many private gardens and palaces across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as public realm projects such as streetscapes, urban placemaking and parks. I was fortunate to design the Queen Alia memorial for the Jordanian Royal Family in 2016. In 2017, when we relocated to Southeast Queensland, I continued in the public space arena in addition to private gardens.

ODS   How do you define the importance of play as it relates to landscape architecture?

DR   Play has such a broad meaning for me. We can consider play to be an innate aspect of being human. As we grow older the type of play changes, though we always keep a sense of curiosity and a desire to understand place. Perhaps this is our inbuilt survival mode; the need to identify with our environment and our sense of belonging.

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) readily recognises playscapes as part of the profession: Wearthy’s POD Newmarket won the Playscape category in the Queensland chapter at the 2022 AILA National awards.

POD Early School, Newmarket QLD

ODS   What are the key factors you look to when designing a playspace from Wearthy?

DR   Just like any design discipline, the process is to understand constraints and opportunities. These may be technical aspects, such as the levels and drainage and site orientation. If redesigning an existing space, we want to understand how the space is currently being used by the children. Where they congregate and how long they spend there.

The big thing we want to promote is diversity of play and inclusivity. There is evidence to support that environment influences behaviour. We want to support children’s learning and development through calm and engaging spaces.

ODS   Beyond the imaginative, what safety aspects or innovations are most important
to incorporate into a playground design?

DR   Working within the framework of the Australian Standards for playgrounds, but not being governed by rules when there are alternative ways to support amazing play.

Good spatial planning for supervision is important, thereby supporting educators to do what they do best!

Inclusivity and consideration of accessibility. We completed the QCCS Hyperdome project with this front-of-mind, and were endorsed by the children’s charity Variety.

The Nest Early Education Centre of Excellence, Southport QLD

ODS   What sparks your imagination when you design a new playscape?

DR   We work in a realm of play, so naturally there should be an open, fluid and unprescribed approach to design. Thinking outside the box with an element of curiosity is a great place to start.

Acknowledging the original custodians of the land is really important and significant, as we are modifying and impacting the landscape. Attending the AILA festival of Country in 2022 created a deeper awareness in this regard.

We value the opportunity to engage with the local indigenous community on our projects. Incorporating native flora as well as bush foods are an important component of embracing Country in the work we do.

Storytelling is also important. We ask ourselves, what is the significance of the area and how can children relate to this?

To find out more about Wearthy, the team and the amazing work they do, visit the company website at wearthy.co