Weston Park Picnic Shelter

Philip Leeson Architects collaborated with Red Box Design Group on the precinct upgrade to the Weston Park reserve on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. The existing barbecue shelter had very poor surveillance from many areas of the park and was an ongoing maintenance issue with the pine-log construction.

5 sites were proposed to the client, the ACT Government, for the new picnic shelter. The final location was selected for its broad 360-degree surveillance, and proximity to the carpark, water play area and existing toilet facilities. PLA designed a shelter that encourages interaction between picnicking groups, with the communally located barbecues, directly adjacent to 4 private seating bays. The front two seating bays also incorporate a timber deck, capturing the feel of a backyard deck instead of a traditional public picnic shelter.

Construction from RHS steel sections was preferred as a low-maintenance solution, which also meant that birds cannot roost in the exposed ceiling space.

The lower terrace to the picnic area creates a spill-over space for standing or sitting on the raised edge of the shelter. The picnic shelter has a high level of flexibility for use, and can