Project: Leamington Domain
Client: Waipā District Council

The Ground
Leamington Domain is a popular green space for residents of this Cambridge suburb, but the Waipā District Council wanted to ensure the area met the needs of those in the neighbourhood. Without encroaching on the space of existing playing fields, playground designer Brodie Hailwood worked in partnership with Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā to develop a playground design inspired by the vegetables grown in the mara kai gardens of a pā settlement. The vegetables, stems, leaves and flowers of the hue (gourd), rīwai (potato) and kūmara are reflected across the playground.

The Creation
Drawing inspiration from Leamington’s rich cultural and horticultural heritage, the Domain’s new play space has brought together a range of apparatus: double bay swings, a sand digger, percussion play instruments, and water weirs.

Mana whenua artists Kauri Winikerei and Te Aroha Tauroa developed the artwork designs, which were adapted by playground designers Brodie Hailwood and brought to life by artist Jeremy Shirley. Winikerei and Tauroa’s work is woven throughout – from the rubber surfacing and swing frames to playful steel vegetable sculptures and painted marker posts.

Children can enjoy the feeling of freedom on both the embankment slide and stainless-steel slide, while the set of spinning equipment including the carousel, spinning sit, and spinning aero tilt will ensure laughter radiates from the play space.

A Spaghetti Crinkle also adds to the excitement this playground creates.  

The Play
Leamington Domain is now home to a bright and vibrant play space suited to little adventurers of all ages. Colourful plant designs bring through a spring-like vibe to the ground with plenty of shade cover from the summer sun.

Encouraging movement, activity, collaboration and imaginative play, the design of this playground was high on the list of those our team loved bringing to life.