COMMUNAL BACKYARD WINS AT AILA AWARDS

The playground, in Glebe’s Bicentennial Park overlooking Blackwattle Bay, encompasses cubby spaces and a room for fantasy and exploration nestled in the shade of an established fig grove, and is much more than just a park as James Grant, AILA NSW President explains: “With more and more children growing up in high-density housing and without the benefit of a backyard to call their own, the local park and playground has become an important focus for inner city families.

“Jubilee Playground has become a vibrant place for play and community gatherings, with its sheer beauty and delight making this parkland play space magical and uplifting for children and adults alike.”

Announced on Friday, November 7, The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects NSW 2014 Awards recognise the best projects in design, planning and delivery of parks, greenlinks and urban spaces across NSW and promote the work of landscape architects in creating living places.

The Awards also included the 3rd annual Premier’s People’s Choice Award for Public Space which attracted 17,533 votes through The Sydney Morning Herald website.

Following a successful exhibition on George Street, through The Rocks Pop-Up program, the award was presented by NSW Government Architect Peter Poulet.

“The Premier’s People’s Choice Award has certainly captured the public’s imagination and with increasing densities occurring in our cities, the value of parks and green space only increases. From big moves such as the light rail and Barangaroo Headland Park through to tiny interventions in our cities such as rain gardens and greening initiatives, landscape architects are playing the key role in creating connected, liveable cities,” commented James.

AILA is a proud partner of the 202020 Vision, an initiative which is a growing collaboration of over 30 advocates who are leaders within their fields - 150 partner organisations committed to the vision of 20% more green space in cities by 2020. OCULUS, ASPECT Studios, McGregor Coxall and Elke Landscape Architect + Consulting Arborist were amongst the 202020 Vision partners awarded at the event across design, planning and research categories.

“Public spaces, streets and parks are our life support systems for our cities. 202020 Vision is a fantastic initiative that brings awareness of and promotes the critical role of public domain and open space in creating living places, which is what landscape architecture is all about.” concluded James. 

WinnersAILA NSW 2014 MEDAL FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Recipient: Sue Barnsley Design
Project: Jubilee Playground
Client: City of Sydney
Photo: Brett Boardman 

AWARD FOR DESIGN IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Recipient: ASPECT | OCULUS
Project: One Central Park
Client: Frasers Property Australia & Sekisui House Australia
Photos: Simon Wood 

Recipient: OCULUS
Project: John Whitton Bridge Open Space
Client: City of Canada Bay
Photos: Simon Patching 

Recipient: OCULUS
Project: Napier Street Closure
Client: City of Sydney
Photos: Simon Wood 

AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Recipient: Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture (JILA)
Project: Forest Edge Garden
Client: Private
Photos: Dianna Snape 

AWARD FOR URBAN DESIGN

Recipient: OCULUS
Project: New Acton Precinct
Client: Molonglo Group
Photos: Simon Patching 

AWARD FOR PLANNING
AWARD FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE

Recipient: OCULUS
Project: Shiralee Masterplan & DCP
Client: Orange City CouncilWestern Sydney Parklands Trust
Photos: OCULUS 

Recipient: JMD Design in collaboration with WSPT
Project: Bungarribee Master Plan
Client: Western Sydney Parklands Trust
Orange City Council
Photos: JMD Design 

Recipient: McGregor Coxall
Project: West Belconnen
Client: Riverview Projects (ACT) and ACT Land Development Agency 

LAND MANAGEMENT AWARD

Recipient: Environmental Partnership
Project: Edmondson Park Vegetation Rehabilitation and Landscape Management Plan
Client: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 

RESEARCH & COMMUNICATION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Recipient: Elke Landscape Architect & Consulting Arborist
Project: Soils for Landscape Development: Selection, Specification and Validation
Client: SESL Australia and CSIRO Publishing

PUBLIC PRACTICE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 

Recipient: Orange City Council and OCULUS
Project: Shiralee Masterplan & DCP
Client: Orange City Council
Images: OCULUS 

AILA NSW PRESIDENTS AWARD

Recipient: 202020 Vision

FUTURE LEADERS – GRADUATE AWARD

Recipient: April Ye, David Moir Landscape Architecture
Photos: April Ye 

FUTURE LEADERS – STUDENT AWARD

Recipient: Jessica Lock 1ST PRIZE
Recipient: Sarah Fayad 2ND PRIZE 

PREMIER’S PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FOR PUBLIC SPACE

Recipient: Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture (JILA)
Project: Lemur Forest Adventure
Client: Taronga Conservation Society Australia 

More information on AILA NSW

Images (top to bottom): Medal for Landscape Architecture; Award for Urban Design; Award for Planning Excellence; Award for Design (One Central Park); and the NSW President’s Award.