In early June 2012 JMDdesign's latest project, Blaxland Common Regional Playspace was officially opened. The new regional scale playground and associated kiosk, amenities block and car park were commissioned to expand the recreational opportunities of the Hargreaves and Associates masterplan designed for Blaxland Riverside Park. The park is one of a number of parks that make up Sydney Olympic Parklands.

Blaxland Riverside Park, image courtesy JMDdesign

JMDdesign conflated the dominant earthforms of cones, cuts and terraces, established by Hargreaves and Associates to design a distinctive new project that maintains a dialogue with its context. A 200m long 3m high earth berm with conical voids and angular slices is the armature for play. It runs parallel to the existing 3 terraces and inverts the language of the existing conical fig mounds. Custom designed and proprietary items are built into and around the dominant earthform and include; a double flying fox, tunnel slides, ground mounted slides, a giant swing, climbing walls, tunnels, a suspended climbing net, a 12m high tree house, a sand pit and a water plaza with 170 jets.

Blaxland Riverside Park, image courtesy JMDdesign

Play is organized to create a constant flow of play for children with the most active and high energy elements located at the eastern area of the playground and the more passive play at the western edge of the berm where the sand play and water plaza are located. The Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (TZG) designed kiosk and petal roof canopy are located overlooking the water and sand play.

Blaxland Riverside Park, image courtesy JMDdesign

The new carpark and amenities building are located along the southern edge of the park, on the far side of the large grass common. These are connected to the new kiosk and playspace by a newly constructed axial path as called up in the Hargreaves masterplan.

+ Project facts

Design Team
Principal James Mather Delaney design – Ingrid Mather, Anton James, Kathryn Stewart, Don Kirkegard & Nick Brown.

Sub Consultants
Northrop Consulting Engineers (Electrical, Hydraulic, Structural)
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (Architects)
Waterforms International
Consulting Coordination (Playground Certifiers)

Construction
Perfection Landscapes
Co-ordinated Landscapes

Total play corridor: 13,500m²
Kiosk building: 70m sq²,
Covered outdoor seating area: approx. 140m²sq
Car park: 142 space
Tree house height: 13.5m tall structure, Structure made from galvanized steel, FC sheeting & stainless steel mesh, sustainably certified hardwood timber
Water play area: 165m² wet disc, 170 water jets
Sand play area: 30m²

+ All images courtesy JMDdesign

This is the competition entry by HAO / Holm Architecture Office and Archiland Beijing for Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan.

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition, render courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition, render courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

The Dongjiang Master Plan site is situated within the Binhai area, 60 kilometers outside of the city of Tianjin in Northern China on a newly developed section of the coastline. The plan includes 280,000 square meters of residential development, with 40,000 square meters of mixed-use office, retail, and public space.

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition - Diagrams, drawing courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition, render courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition - MLP, drawing courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

The design evolves around the prime beach location with a central pedestrian boardwalk that services both the low and midrise residential housing blocks. The central boardwalk runs parallel to the beach, creating views of the water while taking the visitor through areas of gardens and retail within the new development.

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition, render courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition, render courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

The dune-shaped residential development is designed to maximize sunlight, assuring that each apartment receives a minimum of two hours of direct sunlight daily, while optimizing views from the individual apartments as well as natural ventilation.

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition, render courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

The western edge of the site provides vehicular access with drop offs as well as access to below-ground parking areas freeing up the interior of the site to pedestrians, while the northern part of the site is developed as a mixed-use office and retail development.

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan Competition, render courtesy Holm Architecture Office & Archiland Beijing

With the Dongjiang Masterplan we aimed to develop a housing typology that allows for high density while emulating the natural surroundings of the site. The dune shape buildings create unique apartment layouts, all with direct sunlight, natural cross ventilation and direct connections to the adjacent sea and beach.

Jens Holm, founder HAO / Holm Architecture Office.

+ Project facts

Dongjiang Harbor Master Plan
Tianjin, Binhai, China

Program: Residential, Office, Commercial and Landscape.
Type: Invited Competition.
Size: 280.000 M2 residential, 40.000 M2 Mixed Use Office & Retail.
Team: HAO/Holm Architecture Office and Archiland Beijing.

+ About HAO / Holm Architecture Office

HAO / Holm Architecture Office is an international design collective founded by Danish architect Jens Holm.