A zoo exhibit that encourages visitors to mimic the play of the animals on display has been named NSW’s most popular new public space by taking the People’s Choice Award at the 2014 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects NSW Awards.

Taronga Zoo’s Lemur Forest Adventure by Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture (JILA) and Hill Thalis Architecture & Urban Projects brings together play, education, interpretation and animal care by encouraging visitors to interact with animals in an immersed manner.

The project received 51 per cent of the 17, 533 total votes that were polled by the Sydney Morning Herald, narrowly edging out the Inner West Light Rail Link which received 45 per cent of the votes.

Also announced on the night was the coveted Medal for Landscape Architecture which was awarded to renowned landscape architect Sue Barnsley for her Jubilee Playground upgrade in Sydney’s Bayside town of Glebe.

Barnsley continues her massively successful year at the realms of her firm which also received the Landscape Design prize at the 2014 Sustainability Awards, as well as the Urban Design Award at the 2014 Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) National Architecture Awards—both for her hand in the Prince Alfred Park + Pool Upgrade in Sydney.

It was also a great year for OCULUS who received a total of six prizes including all three of the Awards For Design In Landscape Architecture.

Full list of Awards:

AILA NSW 2014 MEDAL FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Recipient: Sue Barnsley Design

Project: Jubilee Playground
Client: City of Sydney

AWARD FOR DESIGN IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Recipient: ASPECT | OCULUS

Project: One Central Park
Client: Frasers Property Australia & Sekisui House Australia
Photos: Simon Wood

Recipient: OCULUS

Project: John Whitton Bridge Open Space
Client: City of Canada Bay
Photos: Simon Patching

Recipient: OCULUS

Project: Napier Street Closure
Client: City of Sydney
Photos: Simon Wood

AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Recipient: Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture (JILA)

Project: Forest Edge Garden
Client: Private
Photos: Dianna Snape

AWARD FOR URBAN DESIGN

Recipient: OCULUS

Project: New Acton Precinct
Client: Molonglo Group
Photos: Simon Patching

AWARD FOR PLANNING

AWARD FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE

Recipient: OCULUS

Project: Shiralee Masterplan & DCP
Client: Western Sydney Parklands Trust

Recipient: JMD Design in collaboration with WSPT

Project: Bungarribee Master Plan
Client: Orange City Council

Recipient: McGregor Coxall

Project: West Belconnen
Client: Riverview Projects (ACT) and ACT Land Development Agency

LAND MANAGEMENT AWARD

Recipient: Environmental Partnership

Project: Edmondson Park Vegetation Rehabilitation and
Landscape Management Plan
Client: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

RESEARCH & COMMUNICATION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Recipient: Elke Landscape Architect & Consulting Arborist
Project: Soils for Landscape Development: Selection, Specification and Validation
Client: SESL Australia and CSIRO Publishing

PUBLIC PRACTICE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Recipient: Orange City Council and OCULUS
Project: Shiralee Masterplan & DCP
Client: Orange City Council

AILA NSW PRESIDENTS AWARD

Recipient: 202020 Vision

FUTURE LEADERS – GRADUATE AWARD

Recipient: April Ye, David Moir Landscape Architecture

FUTURE LEADERS – STUDENT AWARD

Recipient: Jessica Lock 1ST PRIZE

Recipient: Sarah Fayad 2ND PRIZE

Nathan Johnson

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