The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has announced the winners of the AILA Western Australia 2018 Landscape Architecture Awards.
The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has announced the winners of the 2018 Western Australia Landscape Architecture Awards at an event where 120 of the industry’s professionals gathered to celebrate landscapes of all sizes across the state.
AILA Western Australia Awards Jury Chair, Walter Van Der Loo told WILLIAMS MEDIA, “the awards showcase the far-reaching benefits of Landscape Architecture to all West Australians. The awards are a timely reminder of how landscape architects have been at the core of making cities more liveable, greener and healthy.”
“Landscape architects represent a profession increasingly dominating the debates to lead policy making to deliver exemplary outcomes for our cities, towns, regions and their inhabitants.”
“Landscape Architecture has the potential to touch every person in their day-to-day lives. The awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the very spaces people use and love, whether in their local communities or on their way to work."
"The annual awards program acknowledges the growing impact of Landscape Architecture on the spaces we inhabit. It also recognises projects that stand out for their innovative approaches, that push the boundaries of design, or are considered to be of state significance," Van Der Loo said.
AILA WA President, Andrew Thomas, says the awards are an important reminder of how landscape architects are at the forefront of making our cities more liveable, green and healthy.
“With increasing densities in our residential areas and the pressure this can place on the quantity of private open space, it is becoming increasingly important that our public spaces respond to the needs of our communities and provide appropriate opportunities for social interaction, recreation and connection to nature that are inclusive and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.
"Quality design is critical in achieving these outcomes," he told WILLIAMS MEDIA.
Some of the winners include:
Civic Landscape Excellence Award - Railway Square, Place Laboratory
The project to transform the Midland Railway Workshops has opened up a part of the site that has been inaccessible to the public for over a hundred years.
Railway Square has synthesised heritage structures, history, art, events spaces and public amenity into a new civic heart in the workshop precinct.
It is a significant heritage project that is an accomplished adaptation of the site that elegantly resolves a range of technical and heritage issue and has created a landmark destination that raises awareness of this significant site.
The project is a new contemporary public space interpreting and celebrating the site's former use by transforming heavy rail infrastructure into new social infrastructure.
The aim is to develop the site into a vibrant public realm that will once again become the focus of the residents and workers of Midland and eastern region.
Parks and Open Space Excellence Award - Optus Stadium Park, HASSELL
Stadium Park on the Burswood Peninsula is home to the Perth’s new Optus Stadium. The 41-hectare precinct, designed by HASSELL, forms a gateway to the city and provides a stunning parkland setting for the world-class sports and entertainment events stadium; as well as an impressive array of casual recreational facilities for Perth’s community to enjoy 365 days a year.
Infrastructure Landscape Architecture Award - Mills Park, Cardno WA Pty Ltd
A popular sports park since the late 60's, the local council identified the need to re-establish the park as a community hub by creating a unique regional picnic ground and play space with sporting and community facilities that would service the growing population of the community.
Civic Landscape Architecture Award - Newman Town Square, UDLA Pty Ltd
Newman Town Square was the final stage of works in the Newman Town Centre revitalisation project, which has been implemented over seven years from 2010 to 2017.
The Town Square, which is a centre piece to the Town Centre redevelopment includes an oasis of large shade trees and turf to provide a cool respite to what was previously acres of asphalted car park and industrial hard stand.
The 2,600 sqm square incorporates shaded walkway, seating spine, sculptural water feature/artworks, a large media screen and a stage with AV infrastructure to support community performances and events. The landscape is supported with large shade structures, a business incubator, a commercial kitchen, public toilets and a mezzanine function space.
The open space supports many active community events, such as yoga, dog walking, as well as family events such as twilight movies.
Playspaces Landscape Architecture Award - Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park
"The Authority’s vision for Naturescape is to provide a highly interactive and engaging nature based environmental experience for the whole community that has a unique sense of place and, through fun, discovery, immersion and connection with nature is a catalyst for positive environmental interaction and learning," says the statement of achievement.
Excellence and Landscape Award winners will proceed to the National Landscape Architecture Awards which will be held at the Festival of Landscape Architecture on 11 October 2018.
Related reading:
Winners announced in the AILA Landscape Architecture Awards
Winners announced at 2018 Queensland Landscape Architecture Awards
Winners for the 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards announced