News from AILA Victoria Chapter 16 May 2022
This month, as we do every year, we shine a light on design excellence with the Annual Landscape Architecture Awards (Victoria). The Awards eBook showcasing all 2022 entries will be launched 25 May and the winners will be announced via broadcast on Wednesday 22 June. The AILA Victoria Awards are an opportunity to showcase the best design thinking within our industry, from elegant details and intricate strategies to large-scale solutions to complex problems. We celebrate innovative solutions across a wide variety of market sectors and award categories that seek to better our environmental, cultural, and social challenges.
Design excellence in its most fundamental form isn't just the ability for our members to lift design quality within our industry, it goes that extra step and requires projects to demonstrate a high standard in landscape architecture measured by the functionality, sustainability, liveability, connectivity, and public contribution the design gives back to both the individual and the community at large.
I look forward to this time of year as I always find myself reflecting on the challenges we constantly face as an industry to (sometimes) only achieve baseline design response to meet a client’s budget.
The Awards are also an opportunity to look at this year’s industry best practice. It gives us the opportunity to celebrate those who have worked so hard to achieve amazing results above and beyond what we thought was possible, but it also gives us the opportunity to learn from these strategies, projects, and future leaders who deliver them to continue to lift-up the quality and representation of the industry and our members more broadly.
It also makes me think about some of the problems our industry faces more broadly where Landscape Architects can influence significantly now more than ever, especially in the market sectors such as policy, strategy, and infrastructure.
A current topic within our membership for instance is; what does Design Excellence look like for large grey infrastructure projects such as the transmission lines that support growth in renewable energy?
How do you define design excellence for projects that are near impossible to make aesthetically pleasing?... How can we deliver true design intelligence when the aesthetics of traditional design excellence are bound by devilishly tricky technical requirements?
Design intelligence is not an uncommon term on large infrastructure projects, but it is a term that has application across all aspects of design and a vast array of project. If we can better grasp the complexities of more far-reaching considerations beyond aesthetics, simple built outcome or immediate community considerations, we will continue to strive as an industry and as the profession showcase our understanding of the complex world in which we live.
Design intelligence that takes into consideration the complex aspects of the world in which we live which is important now more than ever. Macro-economic factors, visual impact, procurement strategy, public policy, generational liveability, urban connectivity and even property value, and insurance coverage are now considerations in everyday design.
Beyond this reflection and as the countdown is on to this year’s awards, we look forward to celebrating design excellence including new and emerging areas of design intelligence being incorporated in projects across all awards categories and market sectors.
On behalf of the Victorian Chapter and AILA, I would like to thank all those involved in the awards process and judging, it is no mean feat to review all the entries and it such short timeframes, prepare the eBook and winners broadcast. On behalf of the membership, I thank you!
Also, the Victorian Chapter is continuously seeking support RLA Panel Members – this is a great way to earn CPD points whilst contributing to the industry. All panel members receive ample support and work closely with other experienced RLA panel members. Email [email protected] if you’re interested.
Lastly, a final and important industry announcement:
AILA Victoria calls on the State Government to reinstate OVGA budget and supports the AIA’s call for a National Government Architect.
The recently announced funding cuts will significantly compromise Victoria’s reputation in design excellence. At a time when the state government is investing billions on state shaping projects the value of OVGA and the advisory panel’s strategic advice is critical.
State budget cuts will severely impact the OVGA’s ability to provide expert strategic advice and champion design excellence and integrity.
An independent economist’s review conducted in 2021 showed that the OVGA had delivered approximately $20 million dollars of savings in reducing risks on 187 significant projects valued at $25 billion.
USEFUL LINKS:
AIA Media release - https://www.architecture.com.au/archives/news_media_articles/cuts-to-government-architect-will-damage-victoria
OVGA link - https://www.ovga.vic.gov.au/value-and-benefits-ovga-sgs-report-2018-2021
James Millar, AILA Vic Secretary