2016 ACT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARDS

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ (AILA) ACT Landscape Architecture Awards 2016 have been announced, celebrating the very best of the Territory’s green, open and public spaces.

The annual awards recognise the leadership and innovation in landscape architecture projects that enrich the environments we inhabit and enhance Canberra’s liveability, economic development and global profile.

The prestigious awards were granted to projects that promote quality of design in and around urban environments and positively impact the community by realising the health, social and economic benefits of green, open and public space in our cities. 10 awards were given across 7 categories, including civic landscape, parks and open space, infrastructure, cultural heritage, urban design, research, policy and communication, and communities.

Some of the key winning projects include the Canberra Centenary Trail, a 145 kilometre walking and cycling path that captures the essence of Canberra’s relationship with the natural landscape and the city’s link to heritage through environmentally and ecologically responsible design; Campbell Section 5 Park, for its bold design approach that challenges conventional boundaries, whilst still integrating the community values; and New Acton Precinct, a creatively designed zone that integrates sustainable initiatives for both the landscape and the buildings and knits heritage and contemporary architecture together. These winning projects, along with many others, are best-practice design solutions that create vibrant and interesting areas, collectively providing greater social and economic benefits for Canberra and its surrounds.

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 the Territory. These projects illustrate the critical role of landscape planning, architecture and design as catalysts for fostering social cohesion, 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.

“Canberrans 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 Catherine Keirnan, ACT Chapter President, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

The ACT Landscape Architecture Awards 2016 took place at a cocktail event on Friday the 8th July in Burbury Hotel, Barton, 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.

Thank you for AILA’s principal corporate partner, Lappset Australia, major corporate partners, Austral Bricks and Austral Masonry, supporting corporate partners, Street Furniture Australia and Intergrain and ACT partners Andreasens Green and WE-EF Lighting. Programs like this would not be possible without the generous support of AILA’s corporate partners.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 2016

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Category 1: Civic Landscape
Precinct / Area: Barton, ACT
Civic Landscape Award of Excellence: 2-4 National Circuit
Entrant Practice: Oculus
Client: ISPT Super Property

Category 2: Parks and Open Space
Precinct / Area: Campbell, ACT
Parks and Open Space Award of Excellence: Campbell Section 5 Park
Entrant Practice: Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture
Client: Land Development Agency

Category 3: Infrastructure
Precinct / Area: Canberra, ACT
Infrastructure Award of Excellence: Bowen Place Crossing
Entrant Practice: Spackman Mossop Michaels Pty Ltd
Client: National Capital Authority

Category 3: Infrastructure
Precinct / Area: Gungahlin, ACT
Infrastructure Landscape Architecture Award: Gungahlin Valley Ponds and Outdoor Classroom
Entrant Practice: Enviro Links Design
Client: Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate

Category 4: Cultural Heritage
Precinct / Area: Canberra, ACT
Cultural Heritage Award of Excellence: Canberra Centenary Trail
Entrant Practice: Harris Hobbs Landscapes & Fresh Landscape Design
Client: Diana Hill and Daniel Iglesias, TaMS

Category 4: Cultural Heritage
Precinct / Area: Watson, ACT
Cultural Heritage Landscape Architecture Award: Valour Park
Entrant Practice: Enviro Links Design
Client: TaMS PACS Design and Development in conjunction with National Capital Authority

Category 4: Cultural Heritage
Precinct / Area: Canberra, ACT
Cultural Heritage Landscape Architecture Award: The Australian Centre on China in the World
Entrant Practice: Redbox Design Group
Client: Michael Wright Senior Project Coordinator Facilities & Services Division

Category 8: Urban Design
Precinct / Area: New Acton, ACT
Urban Design Award of Excellence: New Acton Precinct
Entrant Practice: Oculus
Client: Molonglo Group, James Bichard, Development Manager

Category 9: Research, Policy and Communications
Precinct / Area: Canberra, ACT
Research, Policy and Communications Award of Excellence: Bloom: Healthy Spaces Exhibition
Entrant Practice: Gwyneth Leigh

Category 10: Communities
Precinct / Area: Canberra, ACT
Communities Award of Excellence: Canberra College Cares
Entrant Practice: Redbox Design Group
Client: John Wynants Director, Infrastructure and Capital Works, Education Directorate

Images (top to bottom): Redbox Design Group, Canberra College Cares, Photograph: Ben Wrigley; Oculus, Time Thief Courtyard, New Acton Precinct, Photography: Simon Patching; Spackman Mossop Michaels Pty Ltd, Bowen Place Crossing, Photography: Brett Boardman; Oculus, Central Courtyard, 2-4 National Circuit, Image: Oculus; Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture, Campbell Section 5 Park, Photography: Dianna Snape.

About the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA)

AILA is the growing national advocacy body representing 2,500 active and engaged landscape architects, promoting the importance of the profession today and for the future. Committed to designing and creating a better Australia, landscape architects shape the world around us. aila.org.au