Nature-themed dioramas for Central Park, Malvern East, Vic
Natureworks created a range of educational discovery nodes (play cloches) for an exciting new all-ability playground in Victoria. The new playground at Central Park, designed by SBLA Studio and developed by Terraform Civil for City of Stonnington Council, included a variety of custom play equipment and tactile elements. Our brief was to create play items that encouraged kids and adults to discover the natural world in an accessible, engaging way.
What's a playground cloche?
The term cloche is derived from the French word for bell, reflecting its typical bell-like shape. A cloche is a dome cover traditionally used to provide protection for plants or create a specific environment. We’ve taken that concept further, using the cloche shape to hold intriguing mini-environments for children to explore. That’s why the play cloches and other interactive features are referred to as ‘discovery nodes’.
In the Central Park playground at Malvern East, the cloches are mounted on poles of different heights so children (or adults) of all ages and abilities can access them. The dome-shaped cloches have holes children can look through or reach into. Children are free to touch the items inside but can’t remove them.
What’s inside the play cloches?
Each cloche houses a microcosm of life – a tiny representation of the natural world to reflect a specific theme, habitat or ecosystem. They are miniature dioramas (three-dimensional models representing a scene).
When children peer into the cloche, they see micro habitats teeming with miniature animals and vibrant details. This fires their imagination and encourages curiosity about the natural world.
Photo gallery – Natural dioramas inside the play cloches
Themed scenes to reflect habitats and ecosystems
The discovery nodes or cloches for Central Park Playground include a variety of themed dioramas. Here are some of the exciting scenes children can discover:
- Farm animals: See miniature cows, sheep, and chickens grazing in a pastoral farm setting.
- Ocean floor: Explore a marine world with stingrays, dugongs, and colourful fish.
- Waterways: Watch frogs hopping and water plants swaying in an aquatic environment.
- Domestic animals: Discover horses, bulls and cows, dogs, and pigs with piglets in various lifelike scenarios.
- Prehistoric world: Encounter miniature dinosaurs roaming a land of rocks and ferns.
- Mountainous terrain: Spot mountain goats climbing rocky landscapes.
- Reptilian wonders: Observe lizards, snakes, and crocodiles basking under the sun.
- Marine invertebrates: Watch squids, jellyfish, and horseshoe crabs floating in an underwater scene.
- Creepy crawlies: Find insects like spiders and beetles crawling up the inside walls.
Play cloches encourage curiosity and creative play
How suitable are the cloches for playground use?
The cloche dome cover is made from sturdy fibreglass with a waterproof finish, to withstand repeated usage and adverse weather. Inside the cloches, the diorama models are waterproof, strong and firmly held down. The scenes are securely enclosed within the cloche cover, which shields them from excess sunlight.
In summary, the cloches are designed to be accessible, engaging and able to cope with the demands of excited young children!
The secure, enclosed design ensures that the miniature scenes remain intact and protected, making them ideal for outdoor installations.
Key facts about the discovery play cloches
- Sturdy: Made from durable fibreglass, built to withstand outdoor conditions
- Unique: Each cloche is hand-painted, ensuring a personalised touch
- Accessible: Installed at child height on steel posts
- Interactive: Rounded access holes allow sunlight to illuminate the dioramas, and side holes encourage children to touch the scene within
- Funny: Some cloches feature playful details such as eyes, beaks, or crawling insects
- Practical: Colourful handles enhance the design and make the cloches easy to interact with
- Compact: Height and diameter 30cm (tapers to 16cm at the top), making the cloches easy to transport and install.
Giant Banksia seed pod climb and play sculpture
Natureworks also created a unique nature play item for the Central Park playground – a giant Banksia seed pod. Based on the Australian Banksia, the climb and play structure is designed for safe, tactile play in the sandpit area of the playground.
Project details
| Client | Terraform Civil and SBLA Studio for City of Stonnington |
| Project | Central Park all abilities playground |
| Audience | Families with children, local residents |
| Location | Central Park, 13 Kingston St, Malvern East, VIC 3145 (see map) |
| Date | December 2023 |
| Related products | Play & Discover Cloches |
| Related catalogues | Childs Play |
| Similar projects | Caterpillar play sculpture, Water play at Broadwater Parklands |
“Since opening in late 2023, the Central Park all abilities playground has been delighting everyone with its fun and interactive play experiences.”
Inclusive, educational themed play experiences
At Natureworks, we are committed to creating high-quality themed elements that connect people (especially kids) to the natural world. Our discovery cloches do that in a fun, inclusive way! They can be installed at a playground, park, school, childcare facility or educational centre. We’d love to create custom cloche covers and internal dioramas to suit your purpose – just ask us!
If you’re keen to create immersive, accessible learning experiences for children and adults, contact Natureworks to enquire about cloches and other quality playground theming products.
