Page 21 - Landscape SA 98

RECREATION FEATURE

MALL OF TEMBISA

PLAY AREA

The Mall of Tembisa is a regional shopping centre located
in Tembisa, Gauteng, and a children’s play area has been
created in the outdoor space directly adjacent to the
main food court. The shopping centre design, by MDS
Architecture, features steel structures that resemble tree
trunks and several design elements evoke the shape,
colour and detail of leaves, which are also referenced in

Steel tunnels cutting through the the colour palette and internal murals of the mall. This is
mounds provide a sense of fun and appropriate for the landscaping aspects of the project, but
intrigue in the play park perhaps not intentional.

he brief from the client was to design nests and the higher rings narrow to form arch is closest to the building and the
a children’s play area to enhance a more pointed head area. smallest one is at the furthest end, when
Tthe food court of the new mall. It viewed from the food court.
had to match the quality standards of The nests are linked with spiral steel
two other shopping malls, whose play tunnels and fitted with internal netting to Extra-large Quercus nigra (Water Oak) trees
areas were also designed and installed by allow children to climb through rounded give shade to the play area and a sense of
Bertha Wium Landscape Development. A openings to various levels inside the nests. enclosure to the inside spaces is provided
custom-designed main element, unique A slide and ‘fire poles’ allow for sliding by overlapping triangular shade nets
to this mall, was requested by the client down from the nests, and custom-made which have been added to the top of the
as a strong visual and focal point in the nest swings add a further play aspect for larger, closed birds’ nests.
play space. Designed by BWLD, the main smaller children.
element took the form of birds’ nests Technical approach
at various levels, within the undulating A 3D steel rainbow has a depth perspective
landscape of striking colours. created through the use of shaped, double Within such a restricted space, a detailed
piping for individual arches and painted and technical approach was necessary
Other requirements of the brief in the colours of the rainbow.The biggest and each element was strategically placed,
were to:

• custom design all play elements and
place them within the allocated space,
allowing for the functional use of each
one;
• the vivid colours of the rubber safety
flooring were to be the final finish of the
play area surface;
• extra large trees were to provide shade
for the play area;
• create a “sense of magic”, whilst at
the same time keeping safety and
functionality of the play space in mind.
This is a key aspect to the success of the
project.

The main element of the play space is the
above-mentioned composition of birds’
nests of various heights and sizes, with
the smaller, open nest protruding from
the mounded structure and forming the
entrance point into the larger, closed
nests. The closed nests are wedged on
angled steel posts and are made up of
cylindrical steel rings, giving the nests an The focal element in the play park is a combination of egg-shaped
egg-type shape. The smaller nest floor ring birds’ nests, wedged onto angled steel posts
element widens to the centre ring of the

Landscape SA • Issue 98 2021 19