AILA awards highlight revival of public, private and community spaces

Some of Australia’s best landscape architecture works were recognised at the 2021 National Landscape Architecture Awards, with the winning projects also indicating a revival of public and private outdoor spaces following the pandemic.

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) recognised 47 projects across 17 different categories, with winners recognised for displaying an effort to facilitate environmental stewardship while striving for cultural sustainability, particularly in the Gardens, Health and Education Landscape, Parks, and Play Spaces categories.

AILA president Claire Martin observed that the past 18 months had highlighted the strengths and vulnerabilities of our cities, underlining the need for public spaces to deliver fundamental social, environmental, and economic change.

“This year’s diverse award entrants demonstrate the leading role that landscape architects play in delivering innovative responses to complex issues and making positive contributions to our regions and cities,” Martin said.

“Despite all the challenges the pandemic delivered, it presents a great opportunity for the industry to re-evaluate how we use these spaces,” she said.

AILA national jury chair Peta-Maree Ashford said the awards jury applauded this year’s winners for focusing on community involvement and the growing use of localised public and private spaces.

Noting how COVID has encouraged communities to make the most of their own backyard, be it their physical home, local park or community garden, Ashford said, “Growing use of these spaces means there is undoubtedly a need for thoughtfully landscaped, high-quality spaces that locals are genuinely excited to use.”

“Green spaces add this irrefutable value in strengthening community connectedness and maintaining mental and physical wellbeing,” she added.

Noteworthy projects

Three projects were recognised in the Parks and Open Space category for their consideration of community in all aspects of design. Queensland project, Riverside Green – South Bank Parklands by Hassell took home the Award of Excellence, while Western Australia project Bina Parkland and Victoria project Tullamore Southern Gully Reserve received Landscape Architecture Awards.

Winners in the Play Spaces category were noted for encouraging meaningful play and creative stimulation through design. Victoria project Deep Creek Eco Play by Playce Pty Ltd with Agency of Sculpture received the Award of Excellence for connecting sensory and tactile aspects of landscape in a fun and extremely playful way. Landscape Architecture Award winners included the Bradbury Park Scooter Track by Form Landscape Architects and Brisbane City Council, and New South Wales project The Sales Ring Playground by Arcadia Landscape Architecture.

The Gardens category saw some projects not traditionally associated with this category being considered. The Western Australian project Coogee Common by Seedesign Studio, for instance, took out the Landscape Architecture Award for its productive food garden, which provides fresh supplies for the new bar and restaurant of the historic Coogee hotel. South Australia project Salt Wind Garden by Oxigen was recognised with a Landscape Architecture Award for its deep connection to landscape and imperative to bring nature back into residential gardens.

In the current pandemic environment, health and education landscapes continue to shape Australia’s cities and regional towns, with four projects taking home awards in this category. The Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) and Public Realm, Herston Quarter was acknowledged with an Award of Excellence.

In what has been a challenging year for the service sector, Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre received the Tourism Landscape Architecture Award for providing an outstanding visitor experience to one of Tasmania’s most valued natural wilderness destinations.

AILA’s National Awards program was presented as part of the Festival of Landscape Architecture: Spectacle and Collapse, being held in Perth and online from 13-16 October 2021.

2021 National Landscape Architecture Awards - Winners

Award of Excellence | Infrastructure | Pacific Highway Upgrade | NSW | AECOM, ARUP, CM+, Context, Corkery Consulting with Studio Colin Polwarth, DEM, DesignInc, Environmental Partnership, HBO+EMTB, Hassell, Jackson Teece, KI Studio, Spackman Mossop Michaels, Tract and the Centre for Urban Design | Worimi, Biripi, Dainggatti, Gumbainggir

Landscape Architecture Award | Infrastructure | CBD and South East Light Rail – NSW | NSW | ASPECT Studios with Grimshaw and the City of Sydney, on behalf of Transport for NSW, supported by Randwick City Council | Bidjigal (Bedegal) and Gadigal People of Eora Nation

President's Award | President's Award | Pamela Conrad for Pathfinder

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