Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 176 November 2022 i Landscape Architecture Australia

Aboriginal Nation Kaurna Client City of Mitcham Location Hawthorn, South Australia Jury comment The Mitcham Library and Hawthorn Reserve Upgrade in Adelaide is a wonderful demonstration of integrated civic design and environmental engineering. A key part of a citywide stormwater project, the reserve has been reimagined as a vibrant and active community hub, retaining the much loved character of the existing tree-studded lawns while enriching the park with a naturalized creek setting that has enhanced biodiversity and provided educational and play experiences. Coupled with the integrated public realm surrounding the library, this important civic asset has been transformed into a significant destination for the people of Mitcham and surrounds by the incorporation of nature. Landscape architect Aspect Studios Architect DesignInc Brownhill Creek stormwater and civil engineer Southfront Project manager Moto…

Aboriginal Nation Ngunnawal, Ngambri and Ngunawal Client National Museum of Australia Location Acton, Australian Capital Territory Jury comment The 2001 National Museum of Australia in Canberra is one of Australia’s most inventive, daring and controversial buildings. The Forecourt Garden finally realizes what was originally intended for this significant arrival space. Guided by the Museum’s original concept of the Boolean string in both form and layout, the design features a pentagonal extrusion that coils, folds and tangles in three dimensions all over the site. It is rare for a museum to have a strong, immersive green space, particularly as an arrival experience. The Forecourt Garden is beautifully detailed and executed and is of a standard that befits Australia’s National Museum. Landscape architect TCL Architect ARM Planting designer Paul Thompson Ngunnawal, Ngunawal…

Aboriginal Nation Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation Client Curtin University Location Bentley, Western Australia Jury comment The yarning circle is becoming ubiquitous across Australia, but many struggle to bring gravity to these cultural spaces. The Curtin University Indigenous Learning Circle, however, is layered and engaging, and it establishes a beautiful destination within the campus. Its location at the “front door” of the campus’s arrival sequence sets a tone of inclusion and embrace. A key focal point within a broader cultural trail, the Yarning Circle provides a lush, Indigenous landscape – soft, layered and textural – as a counterpoint to an integrated and charming ovaloid shelter, a place of pause and respite. Located adjacent to a remnant natural basin and sporting ovals, the scheme demonstrates a passion for detail and…

Aboriginal Nation Turrbal and Yuggera Client Aria Property Group Location West End, Queensland Jury comment Living up to its name, Tree House elevates the subtropical lifestyle of its residents beyond what is now expected of Brisbane apartments. RPS has shown strong leadership to ensure that the meaningful incorporation of advanced trees, plentiful planting, and climatically comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces were key drivers of the architectural form from early in the design process. The composition maximizes usable space, balancing functionality and luxury. Tranquil poolside seating, sophisticated entertaining zones, a clever bespoke play structure and considered balcony views are generously surrounded by verdant, layered planting. Tree House exemplifies the value of integrating quality green space in densifying cities for the symbiotic health and wellbeing of people and places. Landscape architect RPS…

Aboriginal Nation Biripi Client Bago Vineyards Location Herons Creek, New South Wales Jury comment Bago Maze is a whimsical hedge maze located in the grounds of Bago Winery in the New South Wales North Coast hinterland. It is remarkable in that since its inception in 2006, it has become a critical and successful landscape drawcard for visitors to this offthe-beaten-track location. The design incorporates a myriad of symbology inspired by the process of wine production, from vineyard to consumption. Progressively implemented on a minimal budget, Bago Maze has become an iconic destination, and it provides an exemplar of a small landscape architecture project that achieves a significant outcome for the client and the community. Entrant Bago Maze and Wine Client Bago Vineyards Landscape architect Ian Mobbs Constructor Bago Vineyards Photographer…

Client Urban Redevelopment Authority Location Esplanade Drive, Singapore Jury comment Empress Place and Esplanade Park has delivered verdant waterfront parklands in a prominent civic node in Singapore. Its welcoming landscapes, memorable avenues and generous pathways provide a safe, pedestrian-friendly environment and a vibrant place for promenading, celebrations, recreation, meeting friends, people-watching and relaxing under the shade of trees, as well as night-time activation. The work is thoughtfully and beautifully detailed and executed, and it provides another exemplar chapter in the landscape investment for a green Singapore. Landscape architect and urban designer Context Landscape Architecture Playground designer Fiona Robbé Urban designer and architect Cox Architecture Engineers Arup and Arcadis Architect Architects 61 Arboriculturist Arborculture Contractor Langdon and Seah Photographer Patrick Bingham-Hall…

Aboriginal Nation Darug, Dharawal, Gundungurra and Darkinjung Location Western Sydney, New South Wales Client Infrastructure New South Wales Jury comment Imagine living in a city where the layout, form and character are encapsulated by the landscape and an understanding of the processes that have created that landscape. More importantly, imagine an urban planning process that would lead to this! Such a process has been realized in Tyrrellstudio’s proactive approach to making the spatial and temporal qualities of the natural systems central to planning decisions and actions for the Western Parkland City. The jury was impressed by how this work sidestepped yet another “planning report” and strove instead to create champions of various stakeholders for the South Creek catchment. To do this, the studio underscored the deep-time stories of the landscape…

Aboriginal Nation Yuin, Barkindji, Gadigal, Awabakal (NSW) and Ngati Tukurohe (Aotearoa) Location In New South Wales: Sydney White Bay Power Station; Delprat Garden, Newcastle; Rosedale; Culpra. Horowhenua, North Island Client 17th Venice Architecture Biennale Jury comment Congratulations to the Southern Resilience team for its evocative research project, which culminated in audiovisual displays at the Venice Biennale. The scale of thinking and level of detail brought to bear within this project are admirable, and the highly skilled way in which research, policy and communications have been intertwined is commendable. The jury was enthralled by the inventive use of video to help present complex information in a highly accessible way – and believes that this showcases, on the international stage, how diverse design and storytelling techniques can come together in a powerful…

Aboriginal Nation Whadjuk Noongar Client City of Canning Location Cannington, Western Australia Jury comment The outcome of a collaborative process, the Wharf Street Basin embodies innovation and environmental stewardship at a community scale. The project team repurposed a formerly fenced-off drainage basin into a publicly accessible open space that serves as a park while retaining its drainage function. This “smart park” incorporates a range of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to measure water quality, weather and power use in the park in real time. The data is available via an open data portal and park maintenance is tied to the monitoring system. The rill pump and wetland treatment system are triggered at certain water levels to reduce algal blooms and improve water health. Project lead and landscape architect City of…

Aboriginal Nation Eora Location Kensington, New South Wales Client UNSW Sydney Jury comment Stepping into tertiary studies presents different educational and social challenges for students. Being able to connect with other students and experience the university as a place, redolent of history and opportunity, is significant to how students meet those challenges. Alumni Park at UNSW Sydney, on the “cultural spine” of the Kensington Campus, affords students a myriad of chances to connect to place, peers and history. The space is diverse, richly detailed and carefully planted. The design seamlessly marks the site’s origins as part of the coastal dunes, provides for its function as a place for programmed events and ceremonies, and invites students to contemplate the success of past generations and their own aspirations for the future. The…

Aboriginal Nation Wiradjuri Client Albury City Location Albury, New South Wales Jury comment The Albury Skate and Active Recreation Precinct meets a growing demand for public spaces that enable all ages to meet, take risks, challenge themselves, and improve fitness and strength. As one of Australia’s leading skateparks, it presents a visually bold “street” aesthetic that blurs its skate function with a unique and highly contemporary theme. The facility brings together a range of activities, offering a separate vert ramp (half-pipe), a bespoke parkour area, bouldering, and ball sports areas, and a pump track. With sportslevel lighting enabling it to operate into the night, this is a truly special, integrated and vibrant space for people of all ages in the region. It sets a new national benchmark of what is…

Aboriginal Nation Yugambeh Client Gold Coast Waterways Authority Location Main Beach, Queensland Jury comment The Spit, on the Broadwater at Queensland’s Gold Coast, is a strong example of positive open space design within the context of foreshore infrastructure. The striking use of hard materials, the simplicity of design elements and the subtle use of colour bring a contemporary layer of thinking to an otherwise functional piece of engineering. The jury felt that the design insertions worked well within the coastal context and showed restraint in material choice to avoid overpowering the stunning landscape, while still providing clear accessibility and a variety of public viewing spaces. Landscape architect Place Design Group Masterplan implementation Gold Coast Waterways Authority Civil and structural engineer Michael Bale and Associates Architect Paul Ziukelis Architects Electrical and…

Aboriginal Nation Bunurong Boon Wurrung Client Satterley Property Group Location Officer, Victoria Jury comment In Melbourne’s outer south-eastern suburbs, Arcadia Dragon Park creates an exciting and magical playground with a sculptural dragon at its centre. As children of different ages and abilities are enticed into the mouth of the giant dragon’s head, they are drawn into another world of both mythical creatures and Australian animal sculptures that appear to have crash-landed in the familiar park and suburban landscape. The project acts as a connection point for an emerging suburban community, providing instant identity and bringing joy to all users. The design’s exuberance is supported by quality execution and thoughtful details. Design practice Outlines Landscape Architecture Client Satterley Property Group Dragon sculpture Agency of Sculpture Stone and timber sculpture Glenn Romanis…

Aboriginal Nation Wiradjuri Client Albury City Location Albury, New South Wales Jury comment Speaking directly to the needs and desires of the local community, Albury Skate and Recreation Precinct has provided a widely popular active hub. With a focus on inclusive and flexible spaces for activation predominately by young people, the bold and exuberant design maximizes the opportunity for risky play in a safe environment. Strategic lighting, generous shade and the considered arrangement of passive and active zones and path networks provide optimal comfort throughout the day and evening as well as across seasons. These features also provide abundant intergenerational opportunities for recreation, promoting healthy lifestyles and community connection, and enticing visitors from the wider region. Design practice Playce Structural engineer KBI Contractor Precision Skate Parks Photographer Simon Dallinger…

Aboriginal Nation Turrbal and Yuggera Client West Village – Sekisui House Location West End, Queensland Jury comment The central feature of Brisbane’s Mollison Park, a reimagined civic plaza suited to the subtropics, is an urban forest. Presenting a new typology of town square and retail experience, the park places climate responsiveness and human comfort at the forefront. The shaded, verdant landscape responds to the challenges of raising families in the inner city, and it encourages community interaction and public ownership of space. With prospect and refuge, richness of detail, moments of discovery and joy, and connections to local ecology, place and Country, the park is now an exemplar of a high-quality urban human habitat. Landscape architect RPS Architects Nettleton Tribe and Bureau Proberts Builder Hutchinson Builders Project manager Savills Landscape…

Aboriginal Nation Whadjuk Noongar Location Victoria Park, Western Australia Client Vic Park Urban Foresters Jury comment The world’s climate crisis and loss of biodiversity are big, hairy problems that can feel overwhelming. But when problems are shared, the results can be immediate, effective and inspiring. The Town of Victoria Park, Western Australia, has seen such results in its Urban Forest Program. From its inception to its implementation and management, this program is driven by the steadfast collaboration of the community, local government and professional stakeholders. In two years, on a modest budget, the program has added 10,000 square metres of indigenous flora to the urban ecosystem and 140,000 square metres of canopy cover (3,921 trees). This physical improvement to the town’s green infrastructure is remarkable. However, the jury was even…

Christie manufactures the original Australian barbecue designed explicitly for cooking in shared public spaces. The company’s fixed electric grills offer a safe, sustainable alternative to open fires and disposable barbecue options. Since 1965, more than 50,000 of Christie’s durable, energy-efficient grills have been installed worldwide in parks and urban environments. Christie is a leader in barbecue technology and design innovation. The ICON Cabinet’s DDA-compliant design provides universal access, enabling seated and standing users to use the facility. The versatile design meets high regulatory standards for sustainability, inclusivity, and occupational health and safety, and is made of highly recyclable materials. ICON won a prestigious 2021 Good Design Award for outstanding design and innovation. The sleek sharknose design combines a small footprint with an extra-large benchtop to provide expansive individual food preparation…

Aboriginal Nation Eora Location Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales Client Sydney Harbour Trust Jury comment The jury was impressed with the comprehensive vision for this important island in Sydney Harbour. Once a convict prison, school and naval shipbuilding yard, the site is being re-envisioned as a major public gathering place. The jury appreciated the understanding of history, both colonial and precolonial, and the infused cultural dimensions displayed by the work. The clear graphics and rich programmatic layout help to inform the public in reimagining the island as a series of unique and colourful spaces. The site holds a significant geographic position at the mouth of the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers, intersecting with multiple First Nations. To manage time constraints, an iterative design process was adopted, allowing for…

Location City of Kunshan, China Client Kunshan Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, City of Kunshan Jury comment The Kunshan Demonstration Park provides a functional and aesthetic parkland that integrates urban water management and public access. Located along the Yangtze River Delta megalopolis in eastern China, the newly constructed ecological park reframes a formerly neglected and polluted infrastructure corridor and canal into a carefully articulated contemporary landscape. The project reconstructs ecological communities alongside recreation, bringing exercise and play together with a “waterscape” that is overlaid by richly textured, quilt-like plantings. The project exemplifies skill in bringing materiality and grading together to craft the land–water interface. The focus on clean water and the development process have enriched the lives of local inhabitants, who have incorporated the parkland into their routines. The project…

Client Construction Bureau of Fen Lake High-tech Industrial Development Zone Location Qingpu, Shanghai, China Jury comment Yuandang Bridge, a 586-metre-long structure, links Shanghai and Jiangsu across Yuandang Lake. The bridge, which poetically resembles a twisting ribbon and echoes water ripples on the lake below, incorporates trees and shrubs, giving the appearance of a floating garden. As well as providing for cycling and walking, the structure incorporates sections for resting, with pavilions inspired by local sculptural traditions and contemporary mathematics modelling. Yuandang Bridge is a remarkable, dynamic ensemble, with the end product matching the dream to integrate ecology, transportation, landscape and culture. Design practice Brearley Landscape, Architecture and Urbanism Structural engineer Shanghai Investigation Design and Research Institute Builder CCCC Shanghai Dredging Co Ltd Photographer Rhu Zhunzi…

Aboriginal Nation All Traditional Custodians in New South Wales Client Green and Resilient Places Division, NSW Department of Planning and Environment Location New South Wales Jury comment “One size does not fit all.” This work on achieving the targets for tree canopy cover in cities clearly demonstrates that one policy does not address all land use situations. This simple project showed that to increase urban tree canopy cover, a nuanced approach is required that respects some key factors, such as the nature of the place and space for soil. By going beyond an analysis of the problem and testing the design solutions, the landscape architects took on the statutory planning to show how the planting could be more effectively codified. The jury considered this an accomplished example of landscape planning.…

Aboriginal Nations Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, Jupagulk, Eastern Maar, Gunditjmara Location Grampians National Park, Victoria Client Parks Victoria Jury comment The Grampians Peaks Trail in Gariwerd is an exemplar of design constraint that carefully contributes to, rather than dominates, its context. How designers navigate sensitive landscape ecologies and our desire to access the Australian bush is answered by the considered work and leadership of McGregor Coxall (with Noxon Giffen and OPS Engineers). With a deft hand, the team has created a world-class hiking experience along an iconic trail across a vast landscape. A rich contextual palette of timber and metal enhances the work’s various settings – a series of subtle platforms, pause points, seating elements and shelters that carefully groom the landscape for the needs of people, while preserving all…

Aboriginal Nation Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation Client Curtin University Location Bentley, Western Australia Jury comment Understanding the responsibility and obligations that come with knowledge should be the objective of all learning. Curtin University’s Yarning Circle is an excellent reminder of this for three reasons: first, because this was a student project created through an integrated and collaborative design approach; second, because of its siting along the Djiridji trail, which marks the physical and cultural entry to Curtin University’s Bentley Campus; and third, because in its design, its siting and its pedagogical function, it centres First Nation peoples’ knowledge. The Yarning Circle is exquisitely formed and detailed, with the planting based on the original vegetation complexes of the site. It is a simple place that asks people to respectfully…

Aboriginal Nation Whadjuk Noongar Client Cedar Woods Properties Location Fortitude Vista, Bushmead, Western Australia Jury comment Archerfield Park lives up to the overarching aim of its landscape design as a “community shaped by nature.” Surrounded by residential development, this is a special park with a real point of difference and a direct connection with a walking and cycling trail. It has a distinctive aesthetic and uses contemporary design language and natural materials to provide a range of opportunities for exploratory play, health and fitness, and nature escape for community members of all ages. It is a gathering place for picnics, pump track adventures and bushland contemplation. The versatility of the spaces demonstrates the design’s creativity; for example, a beautiful white hit-up wall at the multi-court play space also serves as…

Aboriginal Nation Darkinjung Location Gosford, New South Wales Client Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation Jury comment Gosford Leagues Club Park in the New South Wales Central Coast is a critical large-scale project that reconnects the city gateway with its waterfront through the notion of community at play. The design embraces historical patterns and uses of the space, and it serves as a reminder of the role of the past in shaping the present. The embedded cultural narrative and influence of the Traditional Custodians – the Darkinjung people – is compelling, telling stories of local aquatic life, pre-European history and early contact. A remarkable underlying theme for the project was to reimagine the site’s connection with Brisbane Waters. The brilliantly conceived Tidal Terrace fills with seawater every high tide, creating…

Aboriginal Nation Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Client City of Melbourne Location City of Melbourne, Victoria Jury comment The Green Factor Tool is a free, online, evidencebased green infrastructure assessment tool. The tool provides meaningful guidance to landscape architects, designers, planners and developers and helps benchmark and optimize greening concepts in new developments. The project delivers on City of Melbourne’s ambition to encourage a greater quantity and quality of greening in the private realm and ensure that development responds to the climate and biodiversity emergency. The tool prompts users to consider green roofs, green walls, vertical greening, vegetation retention, rain gardens, canopy and biodiversity as part of their design response. The jury commends the intellectual leadership and generosity of the project in assisting the landscape architecture profession to…

Aboriginal Nation Djab Wurrung and the Jardwadjali peoples Client Parks Victoria Location Grampians National Park, Victoria Jury comment The sensitive and sublime ecologies of Gariwerd have been reverentially complemented by the landscape-led design of the Grampians Peaks Trail. Traversing the lands of three Traditional Custodians, the landscape architecture expertly considers the environmental and cultural uniqueness of each of the 11 hiker campsites. The deft placement, restrained and rhythmic detailing and subtle materiality of the camp amenities, structures and furniture carefully curate the visitors’ experience for optimal balance of immersion in the wilderness and appropriate comfort. Extending the influence of the eco-tourism industry of the region, the project provides beautiful infrastructure for a world-class hiking experience while encouraging respectful and meaningful interaction with this iconic environment. Land consultant and landscape architect…

Aboriginal Nation Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Country Client Charter Hall and Lendlease Location Melbourne, Victoria Jury comment Wesley Place, surrounding a prominent church in the centre of Melbourne, complements and enhances surrounding heritage buildings while carefully negotiating existing vegetation and a contemporary office tower. Most importantly, the project manages to create a quality civic space that offers a refuge from the adjoining city streets and a new pedestrian connection through the site. The restrained detailing and execution are superb and skilfully assert a new, quality public green space for Melbourne’s CBD. Design practice Oculus Client Charter Hall Architect Cox Architecture Builder Lendlease Landscape contractor Ace Contractors Project manager Armitage Jones Access consultant Morris Goding Access Consulting Planner Urbis Wayfinding and signage consultant Studio Ongarato Civil and structural engineer AECOM Archaeologist Vincent Clark…

Aboriginal Nation Kaurna Location Evanston South, South Australia Client South Australian Museum Jury comment Undoubtedly, Wangayarta will become a seminal piece of landscape design in Australia. Navigating the sensibilities of the repatriation of 134 Kaurna remains, the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation, the Kaurna Community and Oxigen have illustrated the power of true co-design and the value of meaningful and extensive consultation. The scheme creates a series of burial mounds that envelop a grassed gathering space, supported by carefully choreographed journey lines that draw people toward this highly charged site. Nestled within a bushland setting, key markers support the process of repatriation: a firepit, shelters and carefully organized planting. This highly tuned response meets the needs of Community while reinforcing the primacy of Country. A considered, understated, yet powerfully evocative project,…

Aboriginal Nation Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Location Fitzroy, Victoria Jury comment The delightful courtyards and roof garden of Fitzroy Bridge House conscientiously address the small, constrained spaces of this inner-city terrace dwelling with a view toward wider environmental benefits. Beautiful and multifunctional garden rooms have been artfully shaped and detailed for a result that is both playful and sophisticated. The jury found the sunken pond particularly successful, with its alluring use of depth and consistent application of bluestone merging the inside with the out and inspiring interaction with the water and plants. The clever and textural selection of plants also promotes biodiversity, exemplifying how gardens can enrich people’s lives while giving back to neighbourhood ecosystems. Landscape architect Robyn Barlow Design Landscape contractor Bespoke Landscapes Architect Matt Gibson Architecture and Design Photographer Derek…

Aboriginal Nation Larrakia Country (Gulumoerrgin Language Group) Client Northern Territory Government (Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics) and City of Darwin Location Darwin, Northern Territory Jury comment Cooling Darwin builds on an understanding of microclimate and urban heat with landscape architectural responses. It is a pilot project that represents a meaningful way to transform the city centre by improving the quality of its streetscapes and the comfort level of pedestrians. While the project works at an urban district scale, the jury saw opportunities to intervene across more levels to achieve better cooling measures for difficult spaces. The jury is keen to see how this design approach might expand over time and would like to see further research and longer-term explorations. Design practice Clouston Associates Collaborators Northern Territory Government (Department of…

Client Beijing Investment Group Co Ltd Location Tongzhou, Beijing, China Jury comment Beijing Central Green Forest Park is an urban forest habitat achieving 85 percent forest coverage and a self-sustaining stormwater management system on a former industrial site. Described as a “designed forest,” the project celebrates the value of time and the heritage of culture and ecological restoration. The core concept draws on the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese calendar, which resonate with everyday users. Remarkably, this rich and diverse landscape has been achieved in three years, and has delivered great ecological and cultural value for its locality. Landscape architect Hassell Overall design coordinator Beijing Institute of Landscape and Traditional Architectural Design and Research Co Ltd LDI Landscape Architecture Corporation of China Photographer Nancy Studio…

Aboriginal Nation Krauatungalung Location Bung Yarnda, East Gippsland, Victoria Client Parks Victoria and Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation Jury comment Managing access to places of cultural meaning is often a delicate balance. The access strategy for Lake Tyers (Bung Yarnda) demonstrates the importance of collaborative knowledge exchange, the value in understanding a site deeply and the significance of embedding self determination as a principle in decision-making. The Lake Tyers (Bung Yarnda) Camping and Access Strategy is a thorough document that provides the foundations and mechanisms to support implementation. Underpinned by a clear focus on authentic engagement, it also emphasizes the need to embed mutual benefit for the Community. The Country-focused approach provides a useful model for engagement. It is enhanced using precedents and case studies that illustrate the opportunities…

Aboriginal Nation Darug Client Penrith City Council Location City of Penrith, New South Wales Jury comment Penrith is Greater Sydney’s hottest urban area. On a day in January 2020, it was the hottest place on the planet, with a temperature of 48.9 degrees Celsius. It acutely suffers the effects of global warming and is in dire need of actions to ameliorate the impacts. The Penrith Green Grid Strategy provides the spatial, economic and social scaffolding to plan and build a “greener,” cooler and more equitable city. This scaffolding is underpinned by a detailed understanding of the local “green grid” to identify missing connections, a pragmatic program of projects to catalyze change, and a commitment to canvassing the community to “map the strategy into reality.” The principles established by the Sydney…

Aboriginal Nation Darug Client Transport for NSW Location City of Parramatta, New South Wales Jury comment The Parramatta Light Rail involved the installation of more than 1.3 kilometres of “green track” (a design that features grass and vegetation between and along the tracks). It is New South Wales’s first green track and the longest stretch in the nation. For Australia, the significance of this project lies in its championing of change and its demonstration that more sustainable infrastructure projects can have tangible benefits. It recognizes and builds on many international precedents, beginning in Germany in the 1990s. These precedent projects have distinct climatic conditions, including temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean. The jury commended the project on setting a benchmark for Australian light rail and highlighted the importance of developing green tracks…

Aboriginal Nation Wergaia Peoples (Boorong clan) Client Buloke Shire Council Location Sea Lake, Victoria Jury comment The new infrastructure for Lake Tyrrell is a series of clever yet elegantly simple interventions that enhance the experience of place. Located on the edge of Victoria’s largest salt lake, the design offers a unique relationship to the pink lake and the ability to view the expansive night sky. Providing safety and comfort while protecting the fragile environment, the work offers interpretation and that much sought-after Instagram moment. Sophisticated thinking has unlocked the opportunities available through inventively scaled design moves that graphically celebrate the site’s vastness. These include supersized signage, an elevated shelter and a circular, lay-down viewing circle. The work has solved a series of pragmatic challenges, including integrated parking and the need…

Aboriginal Nation Wadawurrung Client Parks Victoria Location Canadian, Victoria Jury comment When one’s ability to navigate through space and time is impaired by memory loss, attempting to get out to enjoy the subtle beauty of the Australian bush could well be a nightmare. In such a case, the memory loss is compounded by the loss of being able to enjoy the healing power of nature. The jury was profoundly moved by the spirit and humility of the design and its impact on people who have dementia and those who care for them. Acknowledging the project’s limited budget, they were impressed by the “ground-truthing” the design evidences – that is, the giving of attention to both the sensory enjoyment of the users and the pragmatic requirements of equitable access. The Woowookarung…

Aboriginal Nation Whadjuk Nyoongar Client City of Perth Location East Perth, Western Australia Jury comment The recent enhancement of Moort-ak Waadiny/Wellington Square in East Perth, Western Australia is a significant step forward in promoting a more proactive, strategic and sustainable future for this park. The jury was compelled by the strong use of colour, the exuberant variety of spaces and the proactive integration of local Whadjuk stories in this valuable recreational reserve. Combined, these elements celebrate the site’s importance as a meeting place and its strong cultural connection to play. The park’s successful revitalization provides an essential green space in the heart of a growing residential area, delicately weaving together the program of play and the fabric of place in a way that has built strong community connection and local…

Aboriginal Nation Whadjuk Nyoongar Client City of Perth Location East Perth, Western Australia Jury comment Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny is a new, inclusive, intergenerational “landscape of play” that demonstrates a commitment to health and sustainability for the growing city of Perth. Banksia play towers and natural stone frame the different zones as well as form the backbone of much of the adventure play, with dramatic climbing walls, parkour vaults and a water play zone being popular features. Imaginative and bold, the space is clearly loved by the community. The striking use of colour and sense of busyness heightens the energy and intersection of the different play elements. Woven into the experience and interpretation of the play space is a focus on the rich and unbroken Whadjuk connection to place. Design practice…

Aboriginal Nation Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Client City of Melbourne Location City of Melbourne, Victoria Jury comment The Green Our City Action Plan was commissioned by City of Melbourne to explore how standards might enable development to meaningfully contribute to achieving sustainability and urban green infrastructure goals and what the socio-economic benefits of implementing such standards might be for residents, workers and visitors. Focusing on regulatory provisions, the study provides high quality technical information that assists councils, developers, landscape architects and other designers to incorporate urban green infrastructure into their projects. The jury commends the design team’s detailed work which will be of great use to the landscape architecture profession in their work on inner-city environments. Collaborating partners Arup, Oculus, Hill PDA Consulting and Junglefy Photographers Alison…

Jury comment Martin O’Dea is the recipient of the 2022 President’s Award in recognition of his leadership of AILA’s Climate Positive Design Working Group (CPDWG) and his contribution to the development of a series of Climate Positive Design resources that can guide future design projects, landscape architecture organizations and AILA. The trio of documents produced by the CPDWG has been internationally peer-reviewed and includes the Landscape Architects’ Action Plan for Climate Positive Design that provides clear, simple advice on what Australian landscape architects can do to understand and deliver climatepositive design through good planning, design, documentation and construction; the Organisation Guide to Climate Positive that outlines the steps practices, businesses and organizations can take to achieve carbon-neutral certification and beyond; and the AILA Roadmap to Delivering Climate Positive Design that…