AILA SA AWARDS ANNOUNCED

East End Creative Lighting Plan | TCL

14 outstanding projects were awarded across 11 categories, recognising design quality and innovation across South Australia.

Jury Chair and AILA SA President, Daniel Bennett, says the projects showcased in this year’s awards demonstrate how the work of landscape architects contributes to creating a better South Australia.

This year’s winning projects range from a primate exhibit at Adelaide Zoo by WAX Design; to a climate resilient school landscape at Paringa Park Primary School by Peter Semple Landscape Architect; to a pedestrian and cyclist connection through the coastal dunes of North Brighton by Oxigen; to a master plan to guide the creation of 1500 hectares of new national parkland in Adelaide’s southern suburbs by ASPECT Studios.

Darwin Civic and State Square Masterplan | TCL

“Successful landscape architecture projects are those that find the balance between community and stakeholder aspirations, environmental objectives and economic sustainability,” says Bennett. “This year’s top landscapes showcase the inherent value that collaboration brings to the process of delivering holistic outcomes.”

At the Paringa Park Primary School project, a series of outdoor play and learning spaces promote health and well-being while increasing the biodiversity of the neighbourhood. The project took out two awards – an Award of Excellence in the Health and Education category and the 2020 Healthy Parks Healthy People SA Award.

“The Paringa Park Primary School project exemplifies how a collaborative design process leads to terrific outcomes. The combination of nature play design principles with biophilic and sustainable design best practice has delivered a play environment that is child-centric, site specific and reflective of the needs of the school now and into the future,” says Bennett.

Colobus Sky Trail | WAX Design

For the Glenthorne National Park Master Plan, ASPECT Studios led a multi-disciplinary team. Through collaboration with the Traditional Owners, the Kaurna people, the team developed a master plan to preserve and revitalise a large area of existing open space in Adelaide’s southern suburbs. The plan will guide the transformation of this area into a thriving environmental and recreational precinct for the whole community. This project took out an Award of Excellence in the Landscape Management category.

“Defining, let alone creating, new urban national parks anywhere is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Bennett. “With an authentic and extensive co-design process which balanced community aspirations with environmental objectives and economic sustainability, Glenthorne National Park Master Plan sets a benchmark that will inform the coordinated approach to park planning and management for years to come.”

“Amidst the challenges of 2020, South Australia’s stonkingly good award-winning projects prove, yet again, that landscape architects can be resilient, respectful, inclusive, authentic, playful and visionary,” says Bennett.

Glenthorne National Park Master Plan | ASPECT Studios

“The 2020 South Australian Landscape Architecture Awards celebrate the projects that make positive contributions to the culture, legacy and liveability of their respective settings.”

The awards celebrate the achievements of landscape architects in South Australia. They acknowledge the crucial role that landscape architects play in the planning and design of the built and natural environments.

The winners of the 2020 South Australia Landscape Architecture Awards were selected from 23 entries and were announced on Friday 24 July via a livestreamed event.

Military Road and Main Street Precinct | JPE Design Studio