Out & About with de Fiddes. Read out reviews for outdoor spaces with purpose.
This month the weather in Perth has been extreme. It’s been beautiful and sunny one day, stormy and grey the next. We each took to the sunshine when it was out and ran to our cars when it wasn’t. At de Fiddes, we have been doing more audits, more consultations and more fitouts. We celebrated two birthdays, Vanessa becoming a grandmother, and prepping for Kat leaving to Scotland. We love to hear stories from our suppliers. Tammy is currently gallivanting in the UK and we know she will be taking many more pics like these of herself in Children’s Playgrounds! Hilarious! We expect new photos soon Tammy!
Whilst on the topic of holidays, Terri on behalf of the DSDC as just finished her trip up the east coast. It seems that Keith the Koala had a great time with her. Terri was visiting Aged Care providers to introduce the Dementia Services Development Centre range of services.
Since our theme this month is outdoor spaces with purpose, we asked the de Fiddes team what their favourites were and why. Read our reviews and recommendations straight from our design team below.
Kat: An outdoor space I absolutely adore is the Water Park at Elizabeth Quay. There is an interactive water artwork that shoots jets of water up. The grandkids love playing in it and it’s great because they don’t have to get wet. They can spend ages entertained with other children, while we relax and have coffee. The area is beautifully decorated with sculptures and mosaics. Spending the day here with the family is always going to be a lovely time.
Mollie: One of my favourite outdoor spaces is the Quarry Amphitheatre in City Beach. I have gone every year for either the opera or the ballet with my family. We take a picnic, have a wine, and enjoy each other’s company and the clear nights. You end up chatting to the people around you while the dancers warm up. There was one year that the SAS was doing dusk training in their blackhawks. It is such a vivid memory, watching the single dancer with the classical music and the chopper overhead. The juxtaposition was striking.
Deb: There are a couple of standouts for me:
Sculptures by the Sea at Cottesloe are, of course, wonderful. It is different every year and many of the art pieces are interactive so something to enjoy for everyone. The exhibition is featured from the sea wall all the way along the sand toward North Cottesloe and on the surrounding grassed areas so it does allow people with disabilities or the elderly to participate. The pieces are so varied and interesting that it is a conversation starter. I have found I end up talking to all different people I don’t even know about the pieces so it has a lovely community feel.
Another stand out outdoor space for me is the Djiljit Mia Park in Dunsborough. It was a true community project and the idea was to create a gathering place. Repurposed and recycled materials were used throughout and it includes a performance area which is a natural amphitheatre with seating. Wonderful examples of aboriginal art and sculpture are throughout the park. It highlights the cultural significance of the Dugulup Brook area to the Wadandi people and explains heritage and history. It is a wonderful place for children to play and for everyone to enjoy. It is a stand out example of true community involvement.
Christine: An example that comes to mind is the Vivid Sydney festival - I was lucky to be in Sydney a few years ago at the same time the festival was on – it was great to see how the meeting of multimedia art and architecture transformed the everyday public spaces into huge canvases for moving artwork and enormous stages for theatre and music. From the Opera House to the Botanic gardens to the sidewalks - the whole city became an exciting multisensory public art experience! It was a lot of fun and a great example of a festival of public art where the ordinary can become extra-ordinary and there is something for everyone to enjoy
Vanessa: I am fortunate enough to live close to Lake Joondalup and spend many hours walking the dog through this wonderful landscape. A path has been built around the Lake to accommodate walkers and cyclists, playgrounds for children and even a permanent table tennis table at Picnic Cove were added. Families constantly use the space and there is always a birthday party underway.
The whole design has been completed sympathetically to the surroundings and once away from the grassed areas the natural feel of the landscape is amazing. Every Australian native tree is included and the wild life is prolific - a twitchers paradise. Lots to sniff for Otis too, would be his most favourite walkies!
Sam: I quite like the live music and picnic space they have at Freo art centre on Sundays in summer, super chill and good vibes. It got cancelled due to Covid, but Freo Arts Centre is slowly starting back up with new events being added all the time.