The Australian
Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has announced the winners of the 2023
Qld State Awards at an event held in Brisbane. The jury, made up of academics,
landscape architects and renowned experts in their fields, honoured 20 winners
for their strong creativity and innovation.
Jury Chair Dr Mimi Tsai
says the winners showcase a dedication to First Nations engagement and the
critical role of landscape architects in responding to climate change.
“With landscape
architects at the forefront working with the land, there is an increasing
strong awareness in designing with Country and embedding Indigenous
perspectives in projects,” she says.
“We’ve seen more projects engaging with climate and biodiversity positive
design in the planning, design or methods. This shows landscape architects’
determination to lead and advocate for climate resilience and sustainability.”
Parks
& play spaces honoured, embrace designing with Country
Tract won the Award of
Excellence prize in the Parks and Open Spaces category for its Hanlon Park / Bur’uda Waterway Rejuvenation
project. The park has returned nature to inner-city Brisbane, following an
ambitious council program to holistically rethink the Norman Creek catchment.
What was previously an underutilised space with a concrete-lined channel is now
a naturalised creek that’s become a thriving place for people, with a design
that responds to Country, community and ecology. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian
Schrinner noted the importance of the project in rewilding our cities and
giving kids a local creek to connect to. Meanwhile, the awards jury said “this
project showcases an exceptional concept of natural play, expertly integrated
into the local environment and community. It demonstrates a climate-positive
approach to both process and outcomes, emphasising climate mitigation and
adaptation.” The project also won an Award of Excellence for Land Management.
Hinterland
Adventure Playground, designed by Urbis, took out the top
Award of Excellence honour in the Play Spaces category. The playground, located
in Cooroy, has become a destination play experience for Noosa Council and the
greater Sunshine Coast region, delivering an immersive, all-abilities nature
play zone traversing the site’s natural and industrial heritage. Children and
adults alike are inspired by a variety of play areas ranging from quiet
reflective spaces to highly active adventure play zones. The jury says ”this
project has not only delivered a valuable regional asset, but also an outcome
that drives a higher standard of play strategy, experience and outcome.” The
project also won a Regional Achievement Award for the Sunshine Coast.
Arcadia’s University of Queensland Reconciliation
Garden won a Landscape Architecture Award in the Health and Education Landscape
category. The project embraces and celebrates Indigenous culture and place,
fostering cultural exchange and learning while respecting and aligning within
its context of health and higher education. As an educational environment,
there are opportunities to foster understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal
culture, history and modes of learning. The jury said “the garden respectfully
balances the colonial heritage and Indigenous knowledge for the physical,
mental and cultural well-being of both site users and the Country.”
All winners at the
State Awards level proceed to the National Landscape Architecture Awards held
later this year.
AILA is the peak body for Landscape Architecture
in Australia, championing quality design for public open spaces, stronger
communities, and greater environmental stewardship.
Image: Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation – Northern Parkland (Photo credit: Chris Peckham)
Discover the photos from the Awards Ceremony