Seamlessly integrated, creative, safe, and durable play space serves the ever-growing population of...
- Client
- Perfection Landscapes and Sydney Olympic Park Authority
- Project Partners
- JMD Design
- State
- New South Wales
A striking centrepiece at one of Sydney’s favourite play spaces.
Blaxland Riverside Park is a unique and innovative play space, set on three hectares overlooking the Parramatta River at Homebush Bay, adjacent to Sydney Olympic Park.
FORGE (formerly Fleetwood Urban) was contracted to deliver several key elements of the award-winning site, including its iconic Giant Swing.
Our involvement.
With the architects genuinely concerned about the swing’s feasibility, a proven track record in delivering complex play spaces saw FORGE (formerly Fleetwood Urban) chosen to help bring the design to life.
After extensive consultation between the design and engineering teams, we constructed the main curving beam from heavy gauge pipe, which we rolled using specialist equipment.
We then formed and detailed the column-top ‘springs’ by hand, and craned and installed the entire structure. This included site welding the columns to main beam (the design specified no visible bolts) and a final layer of paint on-site.
The structure was completed successfully and in a timely manner, and JMD Design have expressed great admiration for the outcome.
Design Challenge
From a design perspective, the Giant Swing was created to be the focal point of the entire playground – a sweeping framework for six swings and a climbing apparatus. Envisioned by landscape architecture firm, JMD Design, the vision was for a single, grand curving beam, supported by creative columns, each topped by spring-like spirals.
Construction Challenge
As much sculptural as structural, the Giant Swing presented significant mechanical and construction challenges. In fact, initially JMD Design were concerned it couldn’t actually be built.
With its long sweeping shape, the balancing motion of each individual swing presented numerous difficulties, compounded even further by the site’s unstable ground.
Innovations
As an unprecedented piece of play equipment, both in nature and scale, it’s fair to say delivering the Giant Swing required innovative thinking from start to finish. The materials and construction techniques had to be adapted especially for this highly bespoke project.
Features
- Main curving beam
- Six individual giant swings
- Support legs made from steel pipe, with fabricated ‘springs’ attaching them to the main beam
Safety and Risk Considerations
Blaxland Common is one of Sydney’s busiest children’s adventure playgrounds, something that brings with it all manner of risks and responsibilities.
Whilst unquestionably an exciting engineering challenge, the complex and highly innovative nature of the Giant Swing structure meant considerable planning and testing needed to be undertaken to ensure it could safely withstand intense daily usage by hundreds, if not thousands, of families.
