BLENNZ Homai Campus- Outdoor Learning Environment by Get Outside

ArchiPro Project Summary - Innovative outdoor learning environment designed for blind and partially sighted students, featuring a central walking path, diverse play areas, and sensory elements that promote independence, exploration, and physical activity.

Title:: BLENNZ Homai Campus- Outdoor Learning Environment
Landscape Architect:: Get Outside
Category:: Community/; Playgrounds and Recreation Spaces

The vision for this large outdoor area was to provide the opportunity for blind and partially sighted students, aged 0-21, to maximise their independence and participation in the world. In this place, both tamariki and rangatahi would experience what every other child enjoys outside - the chance to walk, run, ride, explore, be physically challenged, take risks and build self-confidence through play, in a supported environment. To that end the brief included the provision of areas for physical play and fitness, bike riding, ball sports, walking, gardening and exploring.

The design by Get Outside is based around a 100m long walking path as a central spine. This path is intersected every 10m by trails that lead through natural areas to various engaging play destinations; from play areas to fitness machines, from fire pit to sound and water features, from vege gardens to quiet areas for contemplation; in order to encourage the students to be mobile and expand their capabilities and experiences. A 200m long one-way bike trail extends around the perimeter of the fields for blind students to explore with wheels, at speed, to encounter risk and adventure.

Designer Jill Rice worked closely with BLENNZ staff to incorporate “way-finders” such as changes of texture, strong contrasts, bright yellow posts and a regular layout of paths to ensure students could successfully navigate the large area. The concept for the design is also informed by the natural features and local stories of the environment such as the presence of Pukeko, and two nearby maunga that are of significance to the local iwi. Large sculptured eggs, pebble mosaics, a terraced mound and a grassy amphitheatre bring these unseen treasures to life for the visually impaired students.

Open since 2015, BLENNZ staff tell us that every little bit of the park is well-used and enjoyed by the students!

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Professionals used

Get OutsideLandscape Architects

Get Outside

Landscape Architects

Tairua, Tairua, Waikato • Waikato • Auckland

getoutside.co.nz

Get Outside. Get Outside is a multi-award-winning landscape architectural practice, specialising since 2004 in landscape design of outdoor play and learning environments for children and their whānau. We enjoy designing landscapes for people of all ages to enjoy living and playing in, including residential design. The environments we live in hugely impact on the quality of our life experiences, our well-being, and our delight in and connection with the world around us. We believe all children need the opportunity to explore natural environments and to simultaneously encounter acceptable risk in order to realise their own potential and confidently engage with the world around them. What is good for children is good for all of us! We work with schools, early childhood centres, local authorities, businesses, private clients, iwi and whānau to revitalise and develop beautiful, nature-rich play spaces and gardens that support physical activity and learning outdoors. All our designs respond thoughtfully to the unique attributes and stories of a place and the aspirations of local communities to achieve the best outcomes for our tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau. We are happy to work at any scale and offer a fully professional landscape architectural service from concept design through detailed documentation and planting design to contract management and overseeing the implementation of our plans to ensure a good outcome.