AILA VIC LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARDS

The prestigious awards were granted to projects that promote quality of design and shape our cities and neighbourhoods by realising the health, social and economic benefits of green, open and public space in our cities. 13 awards were presented across 10 categories, and collectively these projects demonstrate the ability of landscape architecture to work across all scales and contexts to create innovative and diverse natural environments in the places we inhabit.

Some of the key winning projects include Victoria’s Desalination Plant and Ecological Reserve; a project of great significance that seamlessly integrates infrastructure and ecological restoration by folding a large desalination plant into the landscape to reflect the local coastal dune topography, Greening the West: A Brimbank Perspective; an impressive and ambitious approach to creating sustainable and liveable suburbs through urban greening, with the strategic planting of 1 million trees across the western suburbs; and Get Sunflowered; a community engagement project in the Latrobe Valley empowers local communities to transform under-loved, unused spaces into designed fields of bright sunflowers, with the aim of fostering social cohesion and inspiring the community to positively transform their own city.

This year’s awards saw a high calibre of entries as the expert jury comments, “It was uplifting to see the exceptional entrants and excellence in landscape architecture across a wide range of project typologies within Victoria. These projects illustrate the critical role of landscape planning, architecture and design as catalysts for creating a sense of place, and for energising local economies.

The 2016 jury applauds this demonstrated prominence of our profession, and urges Landscape Architects to intensify advocacy for the design of more vibrant, enriching and resilient landscapes, and to continue to give voice to communities and promote the work of landscape architects in creating innovative living places,” the expert jury continued.

“Victorians should be so proud of these projects that exemplify the importance of innovative, well planned spaces that allows for the outdoor lifestyle we all enjoy. With over 60% of Australia’s population now living in the major capitals, planning has never been more vital,” comments Felicity McGahan, VIC Chapter Manager, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.  

The Victorian State Landscape Architect Awards 2016 took place at a cocktail event on Thursday the 28th June at the Dulux Gallery, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, in the presence of industry heavyweights.

The projects awarded an Award of Excellence and a Landscape Architecture Award at state level proceed through to the national awards, to take place in the second half of the year, where one project will be awarded the best landscape architect project in the country.

AWARD WINNERS

CIVIC LANDSCAPE

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Junction Place
ASPECT Studios

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Windsor Plaza
ASPECT Studios

RMIT Bundoora Pedestrian Spine
Taylor Cullity Lethlean

PARKS & OPEN SPACE

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
McCulloch Avenue Boardwalk
Site Office

INFRASTRUCTURE

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Victorian Desalination Plant and Ecological Reserve
ASPECT Studios

CULTURAL HERITAGE

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Completion of the Courtyards at the Shrine of Remembrance
Rush Wright Associates

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Rosalind Park Recreation Reserve Precinct Master Plan & Management Framework
Fitzgerald Frisby Landscape Architecture

TOURISM

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Penguin Plus viewing area
Tract Consultants Pty Ltd

URBAN DESIGN

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Monash University 'Caulfield Campus Green'
Taylor Cullity Lethlean

RESEARCH, POLICY AND COMMUNICATION

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Landscape Architecture and Digital Technologies: Re-conceptualising Design and Making
Jillian Walliss and Heike Rahmann

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Greening The West: A Brimbank Perspective
Brimbank City Council

Nature's Cathedral
OUTR Research Lab, RMIT University

COMMUNITIES

COMMUNITIES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Get Sunflowered
OUTR Research Lab, RMIT University

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria

Citation | For their considerable contribution to improving understanding across the built environment professions about the importance of indigenous cultural heritage in design practice, and supporting AILA Victoria in its commitment to developing and delivering a Connection to Country strategy for its membership.

Images (top to bottom): Junction Place; McCulloch Avenue Boardwalk; Penguin Plus viewing area; Monash University 'Caulfield Campus Green’; Get Sunflowered.