LAVS Studios has recently completed an outdoor renovation project for an early learning centre in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, and we’d love to share it with you. The children’s outdoor environment has been completely transformed.

The original site was heavily worn and no longer fit for purpose. Facilities were outdated, with scattered sandpits, stacked rubber tyres that were difficult for children to climb in and out of, patchy and worn turf, sharp edges, and limited separation from the street beyond the boundary fence. Children often struggled to fully enjoy their outdoor play, while educators had to remain constantly vigilant throughout the day.
Our key focus for this project was clear: to significantly improve overall safety and to create age-appropriate play environments tailored to different stages of early childhood development.

🌱 Infant Area
The existing lawn was replaced with soft artificial turf combined with impact-absorbing safety surfacing, allowing babies to crawl and take their first steps with confidence. A mini sandpit and shade structure were introduced so even in summer, outdoor play remains comfortable and safe.

🏃‍♂️ Toddler Area
The old rubber tyre sandpit was removed and replaced with a generous timber hexagonal sandpit, complete with safe step-up edges for easy access. Adjacent to this, a medium-scale “outdoor adventure pit” was designed, offering opportunities for rolling, climbing and physical challenge in a controlled and secure setting. The existing bike track was also refurbished and brought back to life.

🚴 Preschool Area
For older children, we created a continuous circular bike track to support higher levels of physical activity for children aged three and above. The track incorporates both concrete and gravel surfaces, encouraging exploration, imagination and varied sensory experiences as children ride and play.

🌳 Planting
The landscape is enriched with carefully selected, non-toxic Australian native fruit trees and grasses, providing shade while allowing children to safely engage with nature through touch, observation and seasonal change.

Since completion, the response from both children and educators has been overwhelmingly positive. One educator shared with us how much she loves the new design—she feels more at ease and can now step back and watch the children confidently engage in self-directed play.