Winners of the 2013 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards have been announced, with a book taking home the Medal for Landscape Architecture
Andrew Saniga’s ‘Making Landscape Architecture in Australia’ focuses on the history of landscape architecture in Australia.
According to the jury, it unravels the rich and complex story as a continuous, sequential and complete account, including the significant movements, people and events that contributed to the development of landscape architecture as an art and discipline.
“Dr Saniga deserves our highest recognition for this impressive and invaluable contribution to the academic and professional discourse on landscape architecture which will surely make an impact at both a national and international level,” praised the judges.
Making Landscape Architecture in Australia by Andrew Saniga: Escarpment Wall by Greg Clark
The second biggest prize of the night – the Design in Landscape Architecture Award for Excellence – went to Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Paul Thompson for The Australian Garden Completion.
Located in a former sand quarry, stage one of the Australian Garden Project in the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens was praised for leaving a “deep impact on Botanic Gardens around the world”.
The Australian Garden Completion by TCL and Paul Thompson. Image: Peter Hyatt
The integrated landscape brings together horticulture, architecture, ecology and art to create the largest botanic garden devoted to Australian flora.
Through the design of themed experiences, it seeks to inspire visitors to see the plants in new ways.
The State President’s Award for Landscape Architecture went to Urban Initiatives’ Strathewen Community Bushfire Memorial.
Strathewen Community Bushfire Memorial by Urban Initiatives. Image: Courtesy Urban Initiatives
Twenty-nine people of the town of Strathewen, which had a population of only 250, were lost in the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires. The intent of the memorial was to capture the varied effects of the Bushfires on the residents, as well as the surrounding environment.
“The courage of both the designers and the community members in beginning the journey of healing and then holding fast to create their memorial together is both inspiring and humbling,” said the judges.
On this year's jury panel were Liesl Malan, chair (Liesl Malan Landscape Architects), Geoffrey London (Victorian Government Architect), Pru Smith (City of Boroondara), hilip Coxall (McGregor Coxall), Lorrae Wild (VicRoads), and Mark Gillingham (glas Landscape Architects & Urban Design).
Full list of winners:
Medal for Landscape Architecture
Making Landscape Architecture in Australia – Andrew Saniga
Design in Landscape Architecture – Award for Excellence
The Australian Garden Completion – Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Paul Thompson
Awards
Box Hill Gardens Multi Use Purpose Area – Aspect Studios
Image: Andrew Lloyd
Pod Playground – Taylor Cullity Lethlean
Image: Brett Boardman
Rezza – Leamington Street Recycled Skate Park Upgrade – City of Darebin
Image: Nadia Combe
Urban Design in Landscape Architecture – Award
Halpin way, Settlers Square and Pop-up Park – Aspect Studios
Image: Andrew Lloyd
Planning in Landscape Architecture – Award
South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study – Planisphere
Land Management in Landscape Architecture – Award
Wanginu Park – GbLA
Image: Andrew Llyod
Research and Communication in Landscape Architecture – Award
Hassell Temporary Projects and Public Interventions – Hassell
Image: Bonnie Savage
State President’s Award for Landscape Architecture
Strathewen Community Bushfire Memories – Urban Initiatives