Our brief was to create a community hub and playground embedded in the landscape setting of the Olympic Park. We designed the landscape as continuation of the park with its large-scale buildings, powerful and fluid landforms, sweeps of planting and its focus on connectivity, fluidity of movement and ecology.
Architecture and Landscape Design
Tumbling Bay: Playground in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
'As designers, Erect are exceptionally understanding of the client, ask the right questions and are apt at communicating through high quality drawings and material both at early concept stages and for production information. On this project specifically they proved apt at meeting ambitious client requirements ... and confident negotiating the complex planning framework and site constraints.'
Esther Everett, Principal Designer, LLDC
LUC's landscape vision masterplan explores the ecology theme by containing a series of character areas, which tell plant life-cycle stories – from pioneer birch and hazel woodlands through to climax pine forests and the developmental stages in between. Interweaved with this is the play layer, which uses these stories to inspire bespoke play and potential event opportunities within each space.
Community lawn, Hazel Copse, Seed pod dens, Den making and Bug hotels
Movement, Sand and Water play, Timeline of the River Lea, Natural River, Industrial River, Dockyard
Scots Pine woodland represents the 'climax' of the succession planting narrative.
Intermingled with the pine, felled oaks were installed supporting an undulating net structure that spans a valley and allows easy access to canopy height. As the valley sides steepen the net gives way to tree houses, tunnels and bridges. The highest point, a giant 'hollow' tree allows a clambering route up within the thickness of the trunk to the loftiest perch. The scale, range and challenge of the structures leave plenty of scope for children to test limits of courage and ability.
'These practices (Erect Architecture and LUC) have been blazing a trail in play space design for a decade or more.'
'This was an excellent solution, innovative, engaging and responsive to its setting.'
Tim Gill, Childhood and play expert
Artworks and artist-led activities were integrated into the design process creating opportunities for participation in the arts and skills development, as well as expanding experiences and understanding of what is local and particular. Projects included Children's Legacy Poetry competitions, a year long learning project with Colegrave Primary School and others, a Club Collection with Lucy Harrison and others.
Artists were commissioned to produce works in line with key themes of the project; ecology, pioneering and industrial heritage. Works included Experiments in Household Knowledge by Public Works and Cross and Cave by Ivan and Heather Morison.
The building was designed as an extension of the landscape. It contains a cafe, multi-purpose room and park facilities. For more detail refer to Timber Lodge.