About the AILA Landscape Architecture Awards Program

The AILA Landscape Architecture Awards program provides a key vehicle for the promotion of the achievements and work of landscape architects in Australia.

The Awards process is an opportunity for public and peer recognition of landscape architect’s work, and demonstrates to industry, business, government and the wider community the positive impact the profession has on Australian lives through the planning and design of the built and natural environments.

For questions please contact your local Chapter for State Awards programs, and [email protected] for the National Awards program. 

Enter the Awards

$380 + GST
2024 entries open 6 February
Entries close at 11:59pm AEDT, 13 March 2024

Stage 2: National Awards

Winners of the Chapter awards programs will be proceeding to the National Awards program.

International entrants are announced in the national program.

2024 People's Choice Award

Voting open: 8 May - 18 May 5pm AWST 2024

 

The purpose of the People’s Choice Award is to further profile and promote the awards program and Landscape Architecture projects to the public through providing the opportunity to vote on a project. Winner announced on 31 May at the awards event. 

Awards Information

Enter the Awards

Entrants must complete an online entry form and pay the entry fee.  For full entry requirements view the Entry Guide.  Should your entry win at Chapter level, it will automatically progress to the National Awards. 

Key awards dates

Don’t miss an important upcoming Awards date. View all the Chapter and National important events: entries opening, entry deadlines, and Awards presentations.

WA Awards Jury

The Landscape Architecture Awards jury serves an important role in determining Awards in recognition of exceptional Landscape Architecture practice. The jury awards practices and members in confirmation of talent, commitment, and design excellence.

LEARN MORE

Awards Categories

16 National Awards categories across varying disciplines are awarded Landscape Architecture Awards and Awards of Excellence in recognition of outstanding work in these areas. The National Awards program includes a category of International.

Awards Guides & Policies

To assist in your preparation of your submission, please read important Landscape Architecture Awards program documents.

Past Landscape Architecture Awards

Reflect on historical Awards programs, listing all National and Chapter winners.

tooltip

2023 AILA WA ShadeSmart Award | NSW Urban Tree Canopy - targets and controls | Gallagher Studio with Studio Zanardo | On Country (All traditional owners in NSW) | Photo: Gallagher Studio

ShadeSmart Award: New AILA WA Landscape Architecture Award

We are delighted to announce a new State Award will be part of this year’s Awards program. AILA’s partnership with the Cancer Council NSW & Cancer Institute NSW to advance the ShadeSmart Program is an important opportunity for Landscape Architects to lead quality planning and design for Shade and UV skin cancer prevention in Australia through the delivery of sustainable public spaces and healthy communities.

 

LEARN MORE

View the 2024 WA Awards Press Release

Take a look at the official press release from this year’s WA Awards, link coming soon.

tooltip

2022 AILA WA Landscape Architecture Award for Cultural Heritage | Moort-ak Waddiny / Wellington Square | City of Perth | Whadjuk Nyoongar | Photo: City of Perth

Awards Categories

tooltip

2020 AILA SA Award of Excellence for Health and Education Landscape | 2020 Healthy Parks Healthy People SA Award Winner | Paringa Park Primary School | Peter Semple Landscape Architects | Kaurna | Photo: Jason Tyndall

Health and Education Landscape

Projects in this category are constructed landscape projects in and surrounding institutional spaces including educational, health or aged care facilities. Projects in this category demonstrate how the design contributes to the usability and operation of the facility and the wellbeing of the user.

tooltip

2022 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Civic Landscape | 2022 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Award for Civic Landscape | Mollison Park | RPS | Turrbal and Yuggera people | Photo: Scott Burrows

Civic Landscape

Projects in this category are constructed urban landscape projects that are public in nature and capture and contribute to the culture and amenity of the urban environment around them. Projects will demonstrate how the landscape architecture has contributed to the overall outcomes.

tooltip

2021 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Parks and Open Space | 2021 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Parks and Open Space | Bina Parkland | Ecoscape | Whadjuk Nyoongar | Photo: Michael Macaulay

Parks and Open Space

Projects in this category are constructed public parks and open space, or strategic open space projects that balance the demand for recreation, culture and the environment.

tooltip

2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Play Spaces | 2020 AILA SA Landscape Architecture Award for Play Spaces | Para Wirra Nature Playspace | TCL | Kaurna Nation | Photo: Emily Taylor

Play Spaces

Projects in this category are constructed play spaces or strategies which promote the notion of active play and embraces the temporal elements of the active play space.

tooltip

2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Infrastructure | 2020 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Award for Civic Landscape | Aerodrome Road Intersection | Hassell | Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi | Photo: Christopher Frederick Jones

Infrastructure

Projects in this category are constructed landscape infrastructure projects, landscape strategies or works associated with civil infrastructure that demonstrates the successful integration of landscape values and which contribute to a future sustainability.

tooltip

2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Cultural Heritage | 2020 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Cultural Heritage | UWA Cultural Heritage Mapping | UDLA | Whadjuk Nyoongar | Photo: Jason Thomas

Cultural Heritage

Projects in this category are constructed projects or strategies that demonstrate the restoration, conservation, enhancement, maintenance, or adaptive reuse of culturally significant sites.

tooltip

2022 AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Award for Land Management | University of Newcastle - Delprat Garden | University of Newcastle, School of Architecture & Built Environment | Awabakal Country | Photo: Miranda Cunningham

Land Management

Projects in this category are constructed projects or strategies for the restoration, conservation or management of significant landscapes that demonstrate a tangible physical outcome. The project may recognise and reconcile the natural and cultural values of communities and the landscape in which they are placed.

tooltip

2022 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Tourism | 2022 AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Award for Tourism | Lake Tyrrell Tourism Infrastructure Design | Thomson Hay Landscape Architects | Wergaia Peoples (Boorong clan) | Photo: Anne Morley

Tourism

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate excellence in landscape design and demonstrate a tangible contribution to tourism, either nationally or in the local region that significantly enhances the profile of the area.

tooltip

2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Urban Design | 2020 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Urban Design | The Rocks Laneway | UDLA | Yamatji | Photo: Josh Monagan

Urban Design

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate how the design, construction management and built outcome of the landscape, contributes to the wellbeing of the urban setting through the improvement of social interaction, economic activity, liveability, accessibility and safety. Projects will have a specific focus on how landscape architecture has contributed to the urban design outcome.

tooltip

2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Landscape Planning | 2020 AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Award for Infrastructure | Maribyrnong Waterfront IWM | REALMstudios | Kulin Nation | Photo: REALMstudios

Landscape Planning

Projects in this category are constructed or strategic projects and include strategic design and guiding policy documents and visual assessments for urban development, residential and planned communities, local community and rural or regional planning.

tooltip

2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Research, Policy and Communications | 2020 AILA QLD Landscape Architecture Award for Research, Policy and Communications | Sunshine Coast Design Strategy and Book | Sunshine Coast Council | Jinibara and Kabi Kabi people | Photo: Andrew Maccoll

Research, Policy and Communications

Projects in this category include published works in research and or practice that extend the knowledge base and advocacy of landscape architecture.

tooltip

2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Community Contribution | 2020 AILA WA Award of Excellence for Community Contribution | Saint Joseph’s Nature Play Master Plan | Ecoscape Australia Pty Ltd | Miriwoong | Photo: Nicole Croudace

Community Contribution

Projects in this category included constructed projects or strategies delivered either: As a pro bono service (or significantly reduced fee) to the community OR have positively impacted a disadvantaged individual or group of users who wouldn’t normally have access to design expertise Entrants should be able to clearly demonstrate the benefit provided by the project to the communities, cultural groups and/or neighbourhoods in which they are located in or serve (e.g. through client letters of support explicitly referring to benefits gained).

tooltip

2020 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Small Projects | System Garden Rainforest Walk | SBLA Studio | Wurundjeri | Photo: Wade Trevean

Small Projects

Projects in this category include those considered to be 'small' in terms of size or budget. Projects are recognised that have been constrained by size or budget restrictions but have achieved a level of invention and creativity beyond these constraints.

tooltip

2020 National Landscape Architecture Award for Gardens | 2020 QLD Award of Excellence for Gardens | Domic | James Birrell Design Lab | Kabi Kabi | Photo: Scott Burrows

Gardens

Projects in this category include constructed private and public gardens that contribute to the role and understanding of the garden in contemporary society and culture.

tooltip

2020 AILA National Award of Excellence for International | Feng River Park | GVL Gossamer | Sha'anxi Province, China | Photo: GVL Gossamer

International

Projects in this category include constructed or strategic projects that demonstrate a contribution to landscape architecture internationally. Please note the International Awards are part of the National Awards program and are not judged at the state level.

tooltip

2022 AILA National Award of Excellence for Tourism | 2022 AILA Victoria Award of Excellence for Tourism | 2022 AILA National Regional Achievement Award | Grampians Peaks Trail (Gariwerd) | McGregor Coxall, Noxon Giffen | Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation & Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation | Photo: Shannon McGrath

Regional Achievement

This is a cross category award given in recognition of landscape architecture that has made a significant difference to improving the healthy communities and/or built and natural environments of regional Australia. Chapter Executives in collaboration with the Chapter Jury will determine the eligible key regions for their Chapter program.

tooltip

2016 National Award of Excellence for Civic | 2015 QLD Award of Excellence for Civic | Lady Cilento Children's Hospital | Landscape Architect: Conrad Gargett | Turrbal | Photo: Christopher Frederick Jones

Climate Positive Design

This is a cross category Award given in recognition of landscape architecture projects that have shown significant contribution to climate positive design. Entrants may opt in to this award and provide additional documentation on how their project has shown a strong effort toward climate mitigation, climate adaptation while also contribution to social, environmental and or economic benefits. Refer to the entry guide (page 4) for additional documentation required to submit for this award.

Additional Award Categories

WA 2023 ShadeSmart Award

Projects in this category will be acknowledged for their contribution to  best practice Shade & UV planning, design, and innovative practice.  The award winners design will reinforce the pivotal role that LA’s play in the design of public spaces and advocating for sustainable and healthy communities and demonstrate leadership in sustainable and climate responsive practice at a time of national and international focus.

The judges will be looking at the following criteria :

• Demonstrated best practice in policy and planning for shade and UV effectiveness,
• Innovative design that delivers structured and natural shade outcomes to support healthy 
living, human wellbeing, and climate responsive solutions,
• Contribution by Landscape Architects to ‘ShadeSmart’ research, education and/or 
community engagement

Enter the AILA WA Awards and opt into the ShadeSmart Category. The ShadeSmart Award is a WA Award only that can be given in conjunction of one of the 15 main award category. 

ENTER MY PROJECT

tooltip

Image credit coming

WA Future Leaders Student Award and Graduate Award

These two awards recognise achievement in design, planning, communications and research that is based upon the development of innovative, creative and practical solutions to landscape architectural challenges. Know a student or graduate member that you’d like to nominate?

NOMINATE NOW

2024 WA Awards Jury

VIEW WA JURY

Terry Thompson

Terry is a recently retired landscape architect.  His 46 year career had two stints in government agencies bookending nearly 30 years in private practice.  Studying in the UK, he emigrated to Australia after 2 years in the public service in Northern Ireland.  The entirety of his time in Australia has been based in Perth, working in three iterations of a private practice and undertaking works in all parts of WA.  There were a half a dozen landscape architects in Perth in 1978 and he has seen the numbers grow into the hundreds and the with that the expansion and influence of their work become much more accepted and expected in the community. Terry is pleased to have been a part of that growth through mentoring and participation in Institute activities. He finished his working life as the Senior Landscape Architect at the City of Canning, growing a small team to integrate and imbed great environmental design outcomes throughout the City.  

 

Katy Svalbe

With a career in landscape spanning over 20 years and numerous continents, Katy has refined her sophisticated, eclectic aesthetic and collaborative approach to a wide range of residential, hospitality, commercial and community focused projects. At all scales and budgets the goal is essentially the same: to use good design to inspire and enrich people’s lives. Katy is currently learning and practicing on Wadandi Boodja, Quindalup, WA. 

Caine Holdsworth 

Caine is passionate about green infrastructure’s multi-layered role in improving public space. As a Registered Landscape Architect with broad-ranging experience including several large-scale masterplans, public realm, heritage, transport, education and cultural projects. Caine complements his Landscape Architectural expertise with significant experience in the retention, management, and technical parameters for designing with trees in the urban landscape – knowledge that he formalised via recently completing a Graduate Certificate in Arboriculture.  

Melinda Payne 

Melinda is the Director of Design and the Built Environment at the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage, where she leads a multidisciplinary team comprising urban designers, architects, planners and landscape architects. She is an awarded designer with broad experience across architectural practice, the public sector and the academy. Melinda is an expert strategic design advisor, skilled in leading project, policy and advocacy initiatives to improve the design of the built environment. A dedicated advocate for the value of good design, she is also a respected design reviewer and design competition juror. A persuasive communicator, she is keen to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration in developing robust strategies to improve the design of housing, parks, streets and public spaces. 

Elisha Jacobs-Smith 

Elisha is a Whadjuk person, also with connections to Ballardong, Wilman, Menang, Goreng and Wudjari Countries within the Southwest of Western Australia in the Noongar language group. Elisha is a well-known, respected and heavily involved member of the Noongar community through personal connections and his work. His passion is platforming environmental knowledge and cultural education, while taking pride in upholding his caring for everything responsibilities that has been instilled on him by his mother from childhood and Elders who continue as his cultural teachers. Elisha works at Curtin University in the position of Cultural Immersion Facilitator, delivering and designing cultural educational experiences based around connection to Country. Elisha also works for an Aboriginal owned company called Indigenous Economic Solutions as a Cultural Educator and Aboriginal Land Management Specialist. He helps deliver high quality project outcomes for clients whilst creating economic opportunities and employment for Aboriginal people. 

Emma Carr RLA

Emma is a passionate landscape architect who has been practicing since 2000. Emma has experience working in New York City, and Western Australia. Working in New York City broadened her skills and enabled her to be adaptive and approach challenges creatively. Emma’s project experience includes schools, major parks and sporting grounds, roof top gardens, residential and commercial land development, university campuses, regional health facilities, high end private residences and Visual Impact Assessments. Emma has worked in her current role at Emerge Associates for 7 + years and her role within the office covers all aspects of Landscape Architecture from Concept through to overseeing Construction. Emma is a Team Lead within the office, managing staff internally as the main contact for the Landscape Architectural scope within the broader consultant team and a supervisor for Landscape Construction. Emma is client-focused on ensuring an excellent outcome through team work and collaboration. Her can-do attitude and attention to detail has enabled her to positively input into multidisciplinary teams to navigate potentially difficult projects to great outcomes.

Entry Process

Entry into the AILA Landscape Architecture Awards program is limited to a person, or a team where the landscape architectural component is under the substantive control or direction of a person, who is a Registered Landscape Architect or Member (financial) and principal of the practice (who is an owner or formal licensee of the copyright in the work being entered).

To be eligible for entry, projects (where applicable) must have at least reached practical completion and be in all other respects complete to the point of enabling proper assessment by the Jury, no later than 31 December 2023. Entries will be considered in the Chapter in which the project is located, regardless of the business address of the entrant. Any project located outside Australia will only be eligible for an award in the International category.

Your entry into the awards is completed by our online platform, Awards Force. Entrants are able to start their entry as in progress before submitting. To assist in your preparation of your submission, please read the important documents

For questions please contact your local Chapter for State Awards programs, and [email protected] for the National Awards program.

Enter the Awards

$380 + GST
2024 entries open 6 February
Entries close at 11:59pm AEDT, 13 March 2024

Entry fee

To enter the Awards you must complete an online entry and pay the entry fee. Should your entry win at Chapter level, it will automatically progress to the National Award and no further fee is required.

Chapter

Fee per entry

ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA & International

$380 + GST

Key dates

Small Chapters ACT, NT, TAS run awards programs once every two years. These programs may be held in collaboration with other States.

VIEW AWARDS DATES NOW