One of Queensland’s most beloved seaside precincts now offers another reason to visit: an innovative and irresistibly fun Coromesh play net, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Project: Mooloolaba Northern Parkland, QLD
Delivered to: Sunshine Coast Council
Featured item: Custom Coromesh Net play structure
Key Stakeholders:
Landscape Architect: Place Design Group
Playground Design: Urban Play
Custom Structure Design and Supply: KOMPAN Design Studio
Contracted Design and Construction: Murphy’s Builders
Concept, Masterplan and Engineering: AECOM
Photography: Sunshine Coast Council, Greg Allis (Place Design Group)
Mooloolaba’s stunning coastline is now home to the southern hemisphere’s first Coromesh play net by KOMPAN. The architectural, 360-degrees installation adds a level of play value and fun for children and has become an instant landmark for visitors and locals alike.
The net and renewed play area come with the completion of Stage 1 of the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project, endorsed in 2015.
The project, which aims to celebrate the natural and inclusive Sunshine Coast lifestyle, adds 40 per cent more beachfront parkland, a substantial amount of family-focused and accessible facilities, and revegetation and protective landscaping.
The playground forms the heart of the Northern Parkland (Stage 1) and reacts to the community’s request for more exciting parks, entertainment areas and open spaces.
The 22m-wide custom structure was designed as an ode to the ocean, with gentle angles mimicking the calm waves that surround the site and offer a world of opportunity below the surface.
All ages and abilities can take advantage of the multi-dimensional structure, with accesses, egresses and play elements available on every edge, corner and pocket of the net.
While eager adventurers make their way to the top of the net, younger children or little ones seeking rest can venture below, where gentle swinging and intriguing sensory elements are waiting to be discovered.
Once the challenging climb has been conquered, children of all ages (and children-at-heart) can perch atop the net to gaze at the ocean nearby.
Retaining the views of the beach from all angles of the playspace was a key consideration when designing the Coromesh structure, and its transparent nature made it perfect for the net’s integration into the natural landscape of Mooloolaba.
The play net is not only an architectural statement piece for the park, it was designed with thoughtfulness and attention to key learning objectives of children.
As they play, kids unknowingly develop important physical, cognitive, social-emotional and creative skills through cleverly designed play elements.
The first-of-its-kind net offers a gentle, yet fun challenge as it bounces and sways with every movement, boosting children’s balance, muscle strength and hand-eye coordination.
The rope tunnels that surround the support beams add an extra level of strength training and concentration to the climb, which is rewarded with informal seating areas at the top that encourage socialisation and competitive play.
The Coromesh net at Mooloolaba Northern Parkland is accompanied by a nature-inspired sky walk, eight-seater swing set and sheltered barbecue area for parents, making it a destination playground that caters to every member of the family.
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