McKeon St - Maroubra

Randwick Council tendered to implement a trial project to improve access and increase the amount of public space in McKeon St under the NSW Governments Streets as Shared Spaces Round 2 Grant. The council closed McKeon Street to create a pedestrian area which can be used by the community to connect, gather, dine and be entertained. The tender was for the design, installation, maintenance and removal of a temporaty plaza.  The council wanted outdoor dining furniture, places to sit in the shade, a childrens space, temporary landscaping and a space for staged entertainment.

Rendered version for council to use in community feedback

 

For planting, we chose plants that are salt tolerant.  To bring more design elements into the area we also purchased a number of different GRC pots that we retrofitted with water reservoirs and wicking and painted that were placed with our larger planters.

TO visually cool the entire zone synthetic grass was added over all bitumen.  For small children we designed a climbing zone and provided outdoor games such as giant genga, connect four and coits.

We made a performance stage by combining raised decking.  For seating there are benches, outdoor chairs, standing tables and raised decking.  For eating we added a number of cafe tables.

 

Kids genga and raised stage and converted GRC pots behind

Top view of design showing central area layout

 

Council met with us to discuss design that their architects had envisioned.  We took these initial concepts and refined to help meet the brief and also be practical in what can be created and delivered. 

As McKeon st is directly across the road from Maroubra beach the area is prone to strong sea breezes that can damage umbrellas as well as bring sea salt into the planters and garden trays.

We use hurricane umbrellas that are rated up to 100km/hr but need to be secured to prevent theft and blowing away.  We developed raised decking trays that allowed for bolting the umbrella directly to the structure whilst providing surround seating.

Opening day. Standup tables, raised decking with umbrellas, garden trays, decking and synthetic grass.

 

For further landscaping we added a number of our Garden Trays planted out with natives to help green the surface.  Tree boxes with foam-core artwork made up the entrance ways and powder coated Small planters were placed in the surrounding street to help link the zone to the local club.

Installation took 5 days and the plaza opened in October 2022.

Native vegetation in Tree Planter and vinyl artwork

Small powder coated planter linking club to parklet

Ribbon Cutting at opening

Bike racks, stand up tables and GRC pots

Large planter with attached seat

Garden trays with natives

Dining zone with  benches and cafe tables