Custom Indoor Playground Design At Playtec

Great playgrounds don’t happen by accident. They are designed to influence behaviour.

At Playtec, we design indoor playgrounds that attract families, increase dwell time and integrate seamlessly into your venue. Whether you operate a pub, club, shopping centre or community space, the objective is the same. Create an environment where children want to stay, and parents do too.

With over 30 years of experience and complete in-house capability, Playtec designs playgrounds that are not only safe and visually appealing, but commercially effective.

Our Design Process

Every project starts with understanding how your venue operates and what you are trying to achieve. The design process is structured to ensure the final result works in practice, not just on paper.

1. Site Consultation & Brief

We begin with your space. Dimensions, ceiling height, sightlines, access points and proximity to seating are all reviewed in detail.

For hospitality venues, this step is critical. The playground needs to be positioned where it supports dining and beverage areas, not compete with them. Visibility is key. Parents want to supervise children while remaining seated, so clear sightlines are built into the layout from the start.

We also define your objectives. This may include attracting new family customers, increasing dwell time or activating underutilised space.

2. Concept Design & 3D Visualisation

Once the brief is established, our industrial designers develop a concept supported by 3D renders.

This allows you to see exactly how the playground will look and function within your venue before committing to production. Layout, colours, features and overall structure are resolved at this stage.

For operators, this removes uncertainty and ensures the design aligns with both your brand and your operational requirements.

3. Multi-Age Zone Planning

A playground that only caters to one age group limits its effectiveness.

Playtec designs incorporate separate zones for different age groups within a single structure. Toddler areas are clearly defined and protected, while older children have more active elements.

This increases overall play capacity and makes the space more appealing to families with multiple children. The result is higher utilisation and longer visits.

4. Safety-First Design

All Playtec playgrounds are designed to comply with AS 4685 from the outset.

However, compliance is only the baseline. We design based on how equipment will actually be used in a commercial environment. This includes peak usage, varying supervision levels and real-world behaviour.

By addressing these factors early, we reduce risk and create a playground that remains safe under constant use.

5. Final Plans & Approval

Before manufacturing begins, you receive detailed production drawings and specifications.

This ensures complete clarity on what is being delivered. You approve the design at each stage, so the final outcome reflects exactly what was agreed.

Ashfield Mall

Designed for How Venues Actually Operate

A playground should not feel like an add-on. It needs to work with your venue.

Playtec designs consider:

How the playground connects to dining and seating areas
Where families will sit in relation to the play space
How staff can maintain visibility across the venue
How to maximise use of available floor space

In hospitality environments, the goal is simple. Keep families in the venue longer. The design is what enables that.

Cronulla Golf

Bespoke Themes & Brand Integration

Every playground can be tailored to suit your venue.

This might involve aligning colours with your fit-out, incorporating branded elements or developing a themed environment that becomes a feature of the space.

Options include:

Custom colour schemes to match your brand
Themed structures such as jungle, ocean, space or urban environments
Integrated signage and feature walls
Interactive panels and sensory elements

Because Playtec designs and manufactures in-house, these elements can be incorporated without the limitations of off-the-shelf products.

Soft Contained Play. Designed for Longer Stays

The type of playground you choose has a direct impact on how customers behave.

Hard play equipment, commonly used in quick service environments, is designed for short visits. It encourages turnover.

Soft contained play is different. It is designed for comfort and extended use. Children stay longer, which allows parents to remain seated and continue spending.

For pubs, clubs and hospitality venues, this is a key distinction. The objective is not to move customers through quickly. It is to encourage them to stay.

Soft contained play also offers practical benefits. There are no significant fall heights, and the enclosed structure makes supervision straightforward for both parents and staff.

Design for Every Venue Type

We have designed playgrounds for a wide range of venues across Australia:

Hotels, pubs and clubs seeking to attract and retain family customers
Shopping centres and retail environments driving foot traffic and dwell time
Indoor play centres requiring a commercially optimised, high-capacity layouts
Fitness and community centres, healthcare waiting areas and childcare facilities

While the objectives may vary, the design principles remain consistent. The playground needs to be safe, well-positioned and effective in its use of space.