Image of the Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space, courtesy of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

The winners of the 2019 National Landscape Architecture Awards (NLA Awards) have been revealed by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA).

There were 32 winners across 14 categories, including 13 Awards of Excellence – which highlight the efforts of landscape architects that deliver above and beyond the sole purpose of the project.

President’s Awards were bestowed to two outstanding individual contributions, to both the profession and the AILA.

AILA CEO, Tim Arnold, said this year’s NLA Awards demonstrated the broad and innovative thinking of Australia’s best landscape architects to deliver projects that bring value to the lives of all who pass through these spaces.

“The modern world presents numerous challenges for landscape architects of today, but we are consistently seeing projects respond to common issues to create valuable contributions to our regions and cities.”

“The high calibre of projects entered highlights the beneficial role landscape architecture plays in the way we live, work and play,” Mr Arnold said.

One such great example of this was the Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space by Fiona Robbé Landscape Architects in collaboration with Earthcare Landscapes, Rotary Clubs of Nedlands, Subiaco & West Perth and the City of Nedlands – a Landscape Architecture Award winner in the ‘Play Spaces’ category.

The Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space is a place that fosters inclusive relationships between people of all ages, genders, cultures and abilities.

The jury believe that this play space has achieved an exceptionally high standard of universal and inclusive design principles, both in terms of accessibility and usability.

“The dedication Fiona Robbé Landscape Architects put into this project is evident in the extensive period of planning and advocacy including eight years of consultation, design and fundraising,” they said.

“Delivered together with the Rotary Clubs of Nedlands, Subiaco & West Perth, the realisation of this play space to such high levels of functionality and design quality is an exceptional effort by all.”

Overall the jury was particularly impressed with the entrants’ commitment to delivering projects that promote sustainability through green infrastructure, as well as the focus on Traditional Owners being central to the design ethos of many projects.

 

Mr Arnold was also pleased to see four projects awarded under the Civic Landscape category, representing the most awards presented under a single category.

“The future design and management of Civic Space is a very high priority for AILA and will be the focal point of this year’s International Landscape Architecture Festival, The Square and The Park.”

“Yagan Square is a shining example of a Civic project that creates a simulating new epicentre for Perth, whilst weaving together a captivating story of Western Australia’s history and respectfully telling the stories of the Whadjuk Noongar people.”

The collaborative effort of ASPECT Studios, Lyons and IPH to deliver Yagan Square saw it take out an Award of Excellence in the Tourism category, as well as a Landscape Architecture Award for Civic Landscape.

“This project, and the range of diverse projects awarded this evening, set an inspiring benchmark for landscape architecture and gives the industry inspiration to think bigger and broader into the future,” Mr Arnold commented.

AILA President, Shaun Walsh, presented the President’s Awards to the Queensland Guidance Note for Landscape and Visual Assessment and to AILA NSW Landscape Heritage Conservation Listing Project.

Co-authors of the guidance note, Wendy Davies, Suzie Rawlinson, Alayna Renata, Chris Madigan, Ata Tara and Alan Chenoweth, were highly commended for providing a practical framework for the industry to ensure work is completed to a consistently high standard.

The specialist heritage team, including Christine Hay, Colleen Morris and James Quoyle, have initiated the Landscape Heritage Conservation Listing Project which is highly replicable and serves as a model for 21st Century notions of heritage and cultural landscape.

Each award entrant has won an AILA state award in their respective state and category.

 

A full list of the 2019 AILA National Award Winners can be found below:

CIVIC LANDSCAPE

Projects in this category are constructed urban landscape projects that are public in nature and capture and contribute to the culture and amenity of the urban environment.

 

Award of Excellence

Bendigo Hospital Project (VIC) – OCULUS, Paul Thompson

Landscape Architecture Award

Yagan Square (WA) – ASPECT Studios, Lyons, IPH

Karratha Health Campus (WA) – HASSELL

Malop Street Green Spine (VIC) – Outlines

 

PARKS and OPEN SPACE

Projects in this category are constructed public parks and open space, or strategic open space projects that balance the demand for recreation, culture and the environment.

Award of Excellence

Southern Parklands Framework (NSW) – TYRRELLSTUDIO, Western Sydney Parklands Trust

Landscape Architecture Award

Felixstow Reserve (SA) – ASPECT Studios, Oxigen

Monash University Eastern Precinct Landscape (VIC) – Taylor Cullity Lethlean

 

PLAY SPACES

Projects in this category are constructed play spaces or strategies which promote the notion of active play and embraces the temporal elements of the active play space.

 

Award of Excellence

Sea Play on the Bay (WA) – PLAN E

Landscape Architecture Award

Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space (WA) – Fiona Robbé Landscape Architects, Earthcare Landscapes, Rotary Clubs of Nedlands, Subiaco & West Perth, City of Nedlands

Hobart Legacy Park Community Hub (TAS) – Playce Pty Ltd

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

Projects in this category are constructed landscape infrastructure projects, landscape strategies or works associated with civil infrastructure that demonstrates the successful integration of landscape values and which contracture to a future sustainability.

 

Award of Excellence

City Bikeways – North-South (SA) – City of Adelaide

Landscape Architecture Award

Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing (VIC) – ASPECT Studios, Cox Architecture

 

CULTURAL HERITAGE

Projects in this category are constructed projects or strategies that demonstrate the restoration, conservation, enhancement, maintenance, or adaptive reuse of culturally significant sites.

 

Landscape Architecture Award

Sunset Heritage Precinct (WA) – HASSELL

 

LAND MANAGEMENT

Projects in this category are constructed projects or strategies for the restoration, conservation or management of significant landscapes that demonstrate a tangible physical outcome. The project may recognise and reconcile the natural and cultural values of communities and the landscape in which they are placed.

 

Award of Excellence

Oxley Creek Transformation Master Plan (QLD) – Lat27, Oxley Creek Transformation Pty Ltd

Landscape Architecture Award

20-year Delivery of Waverton Penninsula Masterplan (NSW) – CLOUSTON Associates, McGregor Coxall, HASSELL, CAB Consulting, North Sydney Council

 

TOURISM

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate excellence in landscape design and demonstrate a tangible contribution to tourism, either nationally or in the local region that significantly enhances the profile of the area.

 

Award of Excellence

Yagan Square (WA) – ASPECT Studios, Lyons, IPH

 

URBAN DESIGN

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate how the design, construction management and built outcome contributes to the wellbeing of the urban setting through the improvement of social interaction, economic activity, liveability, accessibility and safety.

 

Award of Excellence

James Cook University, Verandah Walk (QLD) – Wilson Architects

Landscape Architecture Award

Cooks to Cove GreenWay (NSW) – McGregor Coxall

 

LANDSCAPE PLANNING

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects and include strategic design and guiding policy documents and visual assessments for urban development, residential and planned communities, local community and rural or regional planning.

 

Award of Excellence

Moonee Ponds Creek Opportunities Plan (VIC) – Moonee Ponds Creek Opportunities Plan

Landscape Architecture Award

Logan River Acessibility and Connectivity Plan (QLD) – Tract Consultants, Logan City Council

Western Sydney Parklands Plan of Management 2030 (NSW) – Western Sydney Parklands Trust

 

RESEARCH, POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Projects in this category include published works in research and or practice that extend the knowledge base and advocacy of landscape architecture.

 

Award of Excellence

ReCasting Terra Nullius Blindness (AUS) – Deakin Uni, Griffith Uni, Uni of Canberra, The Uni of Western Australia, Central Queensland Uni

Landscape Architecture Award

Collaboration towards Cities that Thrive (QLD) – Conrad Gargett

 

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION

Projects in this category included constructed projects or strategies delivered either:
a) As a pro bono service (or significantly reduced fee) to the community or
b) Projects that have positively impacted a disadvantaged individual or group of users who wouldn’t normally have access to design expertise.

 

Award of Excellence
Acknowledgement of Aboriginal Country Signage (SA) – Department of Planning Transport & Infrastructure

Landscape Architecture Award

Everyone Can Play Guideline (NSW) – Office of Open Space & Parklands, Department of Planning and Environment

 

SMALL PROJECTS

Projects in this category include those considered to be ‘small’ in terms of size or budget. Projects are recognised that have been constrained by size or budget restrictions, but have achieved a level of invention and creativity beyond these constraints.

 

Award of Excellence

The Lily Pads (TAS) – Inspiring Place

Landscape Architecture Award

Eden Lane (QLD) – RPS

 

GARDENS

Projects in this category include constructed private and public gardens that contribute to the role and understanding of the garden in contemporary society and culture.

 

Award of Excellence

Jones Residence (SA) – Taylor Cullity Lethlean

Landscape Architecture Award

Twig House (VIC) – Taylor Cullity Lethlean

INTERNATIONAL

Projects in this category include constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate a contribution to landscape architecture internationally.

 

Award of Excellence

Collect and Connect – Resilient South City (USA) – HASSELL+

Landscape Architecture Award

Cultivated by Fire (GERMANY) – Taylor Cullity Lethlean, K1 Landscaftsarchitekten

Swan Lake Park (CHINA) – Johnson Pilton Walker

 

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Guidance Note for Landscape and Visual Assessment (QLD) – Wendy Davies, Suzie Rawlinson, Alayna Renata, Chris Madigan, Ata Tara, Alan Chenoweth

Landscape Heritage Conservation Listing Project (NSW) – Christine Hay, Colleen Morris, James Quoyle