CREATING EXCELLENCE

Armstrong Creek Rejuvenation (with Waralily), GbLA 

Announced at a gala evening on 21 July 2017, the annual Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards recognise the leadership and innovation that landscape architects bring to projects to enhance Victoria’s liveability, economic development and global profile.

Adam Nitschke, Awards Jury Committee Chair, AILA Victoria said, “Participants are to be commended for the impressive quality of projects, which, drawn together, highlight the breadth of influence that landscape architecture exerts across our built and natural environment. This collection of projects makes a significant contribution to the future health, livability and resilience of our cities, suburbs and regional centres.”

Rosebud Foreshore Playspace, HASSELL 

In Victoria, 11 entries were submitted for the possible 13 award categories including the recognition of two graduates for the Future Leaders award. The jury noted strong competition in the categories of play spaces, infrastructure and urban design, with overlap between civil landscape and urban design categories.

Community engagement featured strongly with many projects reflecting how landscape architects have provided communities with genuine opportunities to participate and contribute to a dialogue on projects.

Wooten Road Reserve Interpretation Space, GLAS Landscape Architects 

Building on recent years, green infrastructure was also a prominent theme which permeated many categories, with landscape architects demonstrating strong leadership to influence major projects. Commenting on the characteristics of successful projects, Adam Nitschke said, “they are often a collaboration across all aspects of the project’s life from inception to delivery by the client, designer, project manager and contractor. The landscape architect’s role across the full spectrum of these tasks is manifold and multifaceted, providing a rich opportunity for our future leaders.”

Valley Reserve SPARC, Playce 

The projects awarded an Award of Excellence and a Landscape Architecture Award at the Victorian level will proceed to the national awards, which are to take place in October in Sydney as part of the 2017 International Festival of Landscape Architecture.

THE WINNERS ARE:

PARKS AND OPEN SPACE
Wooten Road Reserve Interpretation Space
GLAS Landscape Architects 

PLAY SPACES LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Valley Reserve SPARC
Playce 

PLAY SPACES LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Rosebud Foreshore Playspace
HASSELL 

INFRASTRUCTURE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Remembrance Drive Interchange
OCULUS in collaboration with VicRoads and Paul Thompson 

INFRASTRUCTURE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Jock Marshall Nature Reserve Walk
Urban Initiatives 

LAND MANAGEMENT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Armstrong Creek Rejuvenation (with Waralily)
GbLA 

URBAN DESIGN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Hawthorn Arts Centre Civic Space
Site Office 

LANDSCAPE PLANNING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
University Square Master Plan
City of Melbourne, City Design Studio 

RESEARCH, POLICY AND COMMUNICATION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Book | Landscape Architecture and Environmental Sustainability: Creating Positive Change Through Design
Joshua Zeunert 

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
The Journey Interactive Map
Tract Consultants 

SMALL PROJECTS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Marnebek Sensory Courtyard
Jeavons Landscape Architects 

GARDENS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
NGV Grollo Equiset Garden
OCULUS

GARDENS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD 
Towers Road Residence
TCL 

FUTURE LEADER AWARD GRADUATES
Georgia Chisolm
Nathan Collins

Book: Landscape Architecture and Environmental Sustainability: Creating Positive Change Through Design, Joshua Zeunert