Project Profile
Tweed City Shopping Centre
From Quiet Thoroughfare to Family Favourite
Inspired by the laid-back spirit of the Tweed Coast, this custom play space brings the nostalgia of classic Australian beach culture into the heart of one of the region’s most visited retail destinations — turning an underutilised corner of the centre into a vibrant family moment that invites people to stay and play.
Project Overview
Lendlease engaged Third Place Design to activate an underutilised space within Tweed City Shopping Centre. Positioned adjacent to the interior food court and major retailers, the space also sits alongside a key pedestrian connection between the outdoor dining precinct and the internal mall.
The brief was to create an engaging family destination that would draw visitors in, encourage dwell time and add genuine character to the centre, all while maintaining the sightlines and circulation flow that a busy retail environment demands. Drawing inspiration from the Tweed region’s coastal identity, the concept evoked the nostalgia of classic Australian beach culture.
Design Process
From the outset, the design process was one of genuine collaboration. The centrepiece of the design, an iconic Beach Kombi play structure, was an immediate point of connection. Paired with a large-scale photographic mural of Cabarita Beach — one of the Tweed Coast’s most beloved destinations — the concept offers a sense of arrival, place and story that resonates immediately with locals and visitors alike.
Colour was explored thoroughly, with the team working through the full classic Kombi palette for inspiration before landing on a warm, contemporary orange for a modern take on the Australian icon.
The site layout evolved in step with the concept, with circulation for children and parents carefully considered throughout, keeping the play space open, safe and visually connected to the broader retail environment.
The Finished Space
The result is a highly photogenic family destination that feels genuinely connected to place. Kids Cove becomes a world of its own; a surf break, a headland, open water. Immersive by nature, the space brings the coast inside and with it the freedom and imagination that comes with a day at the beach. Surfboard-shaped seats keep parents close while children explore freely, and the organic beach-themed softfall ties it all together into a space that feels complete from every angle.
Impossible to miss, the Beach Kombi sits as a centrepiece and open invitation children can’t resist. As they climb in, take the wheel and set course for adventure, the open roof design means that every seat becomes a vantage point. When passengers reach their destination, a slide offers the perfect exit — fast, fun and guaranteed to delight. Nearby, a surfboard-shaped play panel adds a quieter layer of sensory play and variety, giving children another reason to stay and explore.
From quiet thoroughfare to family favourite, Kids Cove and its iconic Beach Kombi has transformed an underutilised space into one of the centre’s most compelling reasons to visit.
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