Aquatic Game-changer

The H2Oasis design team conceptualised an undersea wonderland of epic proportions, where children can play among huge, imagined sea creatures and let their imaginations run wild. Image shows Atlantis Liquid Dynamics equipment and Life Floor surfacing.

James Croll discovers how H2Oasis, Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast’s new aquatic play zone, has not only taken the design and architecture of splash parks to a whole new level but is also inspiring active adult interaction

Few destinations in Australia got hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent border closures and travel restrictions than the Gold Coast.

Prior to the pandemic, Destination Gold Coast advise that in 2019 the tourism industry welcomed 14.2 million guests annually, contributing $5.9 billion into the local economy and being responsible for more than 44,000 jobs across more than 4,600 tourism businesses.

However, in 2020 the pandemic resulted in the loss of 5.5 million visitors and $3 billion in expenditure.

The impact was devastating but in a highly strategic move Village Roadshow, Australia’s largest theme park operator, used the closure of its attractions during the pandemic to their advantage, investing $70 million in a bid to revive tourism once borders reopened.

A substantial part of this investment was at the Wet’n’Wild waterpark on an initiative sought to diversify from its abundance of huge thrill-seeking features and waterslides, all of which catered to older users. Management recognised the need to have an attraction in a new section of the park that catered more specifically for families and toddlers.

The Village Roadshow team had a vision for an aquatic play zone which would sit next to Australia’s tallest water park slide tower and would include activities for all ages, with picnic facilities available for families who wanted to take some relaxing time out during the day.

Wanting something that would prove truly breathtaking and game-changing, the team engaged Atlantis Liquid Dynamics, a company that has for some time been building a reputation for taking water features and play spaces to a whole new level.

The appointment of Atlantis Liquid Dynamics resulted in Wet’n’Wild’s H2Oasis splash park and what many are calling a breathtaking game-changer in the water theme park space. Bringing water’s sensory experience to all facets of placemaking Brisbane-based Atlantis Liquid Dynamics was born from the desire to reintroduce water elements to the public realm in endlessly innovative ways.

Atlantis Managing Director, Marcel Veraart explains “our aim is to elevate water features from functional or playable pieces to elements of stunning architecture.

“By integrating aesthetics with the latest sustainable technologies, the result is a sense of grand scale and opulence coupled with water’s power to soothe and calm the senses in an immersive experience that is completely customisable to the spaces we work with.”

Atlantis work across all genres of recreation and leisure, from urban plazas to retail environments as well as more traditional recreational spaces such as splash parks. The products have been created as sculptural features to engage people of all ages, cultures and abilities in any recreational

setting with the results ranging from beautiful indoor features to breathtaking urban plazas and retail environments, as well as highly innovative and grand aquatic splash parks. Designs are stylish, modern, timeless, and classic in style while being bold and innovative.

Veraart notes “most of the equipment previously available for aquatic play spaces has been designed and targeted at younger children.

“Our goal at Atlantis is to span a broader demographic, with the ability to straddle both architecture and play functions and become a multi-generational, multi-functional piece.”

The sheer scale of the products in the Atlantis range is staggering, with some features standing up to eight metres high. These have been designed for active adult interaction while also appealing to children. Spherical forms, fluid lines and fantastical creations are the hallmarks of the collection. The products are more than just play equipment. They are highly versatile with design sculptures ranging from oversized jellyfish to sinuous seahorses and interactive water blasters.

Sustainable and Australian made In addition to using the best quality materials, the products are also Australian made. With the pandemic causing havoc with supply in many sectors, it is also interesting that Atlantis have a secured local supply chain. Delivery across Australia is also supported by specification and installation documentation. All measurements are in metric units and flow rates provided in litres per minute, making it easier to work within design software and marry into construction infrastructure on the job site.

Atlantis have also been cautious about overusing resources such as water and power. An innovative use of plantroom equipment and proprietary smart controllers with remote telemetry reduce overall energy and water use, ensuring ongoing cost and resource savings for the asset owner.

Activation systems and wind sensors are also available, so features are only in use during peak periods or when the audience is available, saving water and electricity. Materials have been chosen that meet the demands of the environments in which they have to function while leaving as light a footprint as possible on the natural environment.

The products are fabricated in an array of materials ranging from stainless steel, copper and brass to heat formed acrylics, fibreglass, manufactured stone and medium and high-density Polyethylene. Essentially the range is built to thrive within the Australian climate while the use of recyclable and durable materials assists in ensuring longevity for projects, as well as lowering maintenance and replacement costs.

Wet’n’Wild – a wonderland of epic proportions With a tight project delivery lead time, the Project Managers of the H2Oasis project wanted to collaborate with an Australian business that could circumvent any potentially supply chain or shipping issues and Atlantis’ track record and reputation for meeting deadlines appealed immensely. The vision that the design team conceptualised also ticked all the right boxes, as it promised an undersea wonderland of epic proportions, where children could play among huge, imagined sea creatures and let their imaginations run wild.

Towering jellyfish are the focus on the north-west side of the splash pad, an impressive counterpoint to the slide tower behind it. The jelly fish are supported by architecturally curved tentacles and an open plan design at ground level. Differing slightly in orientation, the jelly fish appear to be swimming away from each other.

A huge tipping bucket and palm trees at the centre of the splash pad meanwhile have been placed to create pockets of intense water flows, where hundreds of litres of water are dumped onto thrilled participants below. Despite the significant volume of water in play, the entire splash park has been designed as zero depth and single level, making it accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Wheelchair accessible fish ball water blasters carry on the under-the-sea theming, their directional spray allowing users to interact and socialise with others on the splash pad.

Duelling water archways create an immersive spray and misting experience, conceptualised, and coloured as sea grasses and coral gracing the sea floor. There are endless ways children can travel through, under and around the archways, enabling them to engage in a multitude of ways with each other and create their own games.

Adjacent to the included seating options, giant seahorses stand sentinel on the edge of the splash pad, delineating the space between rest and play. Each seahorse features an acrylic panel that diffuses light and colour as the sun moves through the day, the surface reflections delighting people of all ages. Around the splash pad meanwhile, a multitude of water sprays and flooding water features, which have been designed to increase interactivity, extend the play experience even for the youngest users.

Finally, the whole splash park is complemented by a huge custom shade structure and surrounded by shaded seating and picnic tables, making it a delightful aquatic sanctuary and place of rest for parents who might want to relax and simply watch their children at play safely shaded from the sun.

H2Oasis has already begun to make its mark with Wet ‘n’ Wild visitors with Village Roadshow Chief Executive, Clark Kirby stating that the concept has created some wonderful joy and memories for guests, commenting “this new attraction has been a game-changer for Wet’n’Wild providing plenty of new thrills and spills for our guests and the tallest waterslide tower in Australia featuring three slides has been extremely popular.

“The H2Oasis splash zone has also been welcomed as the perfect precinct for families visiting with younger guests and ideally provides something on offer for the whole family.” James Croll is Partnerships Manager at Australasian Leisure Management. With thanks to Dani Eastbrook, Sales and Marketing Manager at Atlantis Liquid Dynamics.