A strategic project to improve the water quality, safety and public realm of Queensland’s (QLD) Southbank Parklands has received top honours at the 2015 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ (AILA) QLD Awards.

A collaborative effort led by City Parklands Transitions Services with JFP, PLACE Design Group and Vee Design, the Southbank Parklands Waterway Management project won the Land Management in Landscape Architecture award before going on to take home the 2015 QLD Medal for Landscape Architecture.

“This project has both successfully improved the water quality and safety of the lagoon, which now hosts over half a million swimmers per year, and through careful intervention, creative problem solving and exemplary coordination, added further value to the visitor experience,” the judges praised.

“This reworking and adaptation has been achieved through a comprehensive approach by the landscape architects who have embraced a full understanding of the spectrum of operational and design issues, boldly reinventing a much used asset and thereby avoiding the need to create a new standalone object.”

According to AILA QLD Awards Judging Chair, Mark Fuller, this year’s program highlighted the new benchmarks being set across the state, with the work produced being “nothing short of remarkable” given the challenges the landscape industry has faced in recent times, including a volatile economy, changing political landscape, and an uncertain policy framework in areas that influence the natural and built environment.

He adds that the overriding themes that have stood out in all 14 winners – such as the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital by Conrad Gargett, Gladstone’s East Shores Development Master Plan by Urbis, and Brisbane City Council’s Vibrant laneways program – are “bold, strategic and imaginative”.

“There have been exceptional examples of planning principles, cutting-edge research, and innovative design approaches being applied to our community assets including outdoor public areas, landmarks and structures,” Fuller says.

“We’re seeing leading approaches being researched and adopted to tackle urbanisation, climate change and to assist communities’ preparedness for the future.”

The AILA QLD Awards recognise outstanding achievements by landscape architects that promote excellence in landscape planning, design and research. This year’s jury panel consisted of Fuller, Ashley Carey, Greg Grabasch, Malcolm Middleton, Suzie Rawlinson, Tom Lenigas and Wes Mortensen.

Full list of winners:

DESIGN CATEGORY

AILA 2015 Queensland Landscape Architecture Award:

Forest of Memories by Logan City Council

Photography: Carla Priestley

Jury citation: This installation project demonstrates what can be achieved by landscape architects with imagination and creative flair on a relatively limited budget and a small, transitional site. The vivid impact of the project derives from its strong engagement with and connections to, the local community and its stories, articulated in a simple yet imaginative resolution. Whilst acknowledging that there may have been further opportunities to improve upon the resolution of some details of the design, layers of richness have been achieved in an unselfconscious celebration of this project’s ephemeral nature.

Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital by Conrad Gargett

Photography: Christopher Frederick Jones

Jury citation: The Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital project has taken landscape design beyond the conventional 2 dimensional realm and showed that innovation in landscape design can lead to tangible benefits to health and wellbeing. The roof top sub-tropical landscapes, community spaces and vertical gardens are evidence of effective design collaboration between project partners in what was a complex and challenging site.

These micro-landscapes allow an accessible form of relief and escape for seriously ill and infirm patients and offer immense benefits in sustainability and building efficiency. At a national level AILA is driving Green Infrastructure discussions and it is exciting to see a genuine commitment to this emerging area in landscape practice in Brisbane.

Frew Park by Brisbane City Council

Photography: Scott Burrows

Jury citation: The designers of Frew Park have demonstrated the value of a close collaboration between design professions, which has enabled an integrated resolution of a range of design challenges and constraints. In this context some elements of the design, most notably the play elements, have achieved notable excellence, whilst all aspects have come together to form a successful and coherent whole. Brisbane City Council is to be congratulated on the commitment shown in returning this site to active use, and in the addition of new parkland with significant amenity in such a rapidly changing inner city environment.

The Queensland Award for Residential Designed Landscapes:

Garland Garden by Landscapology

Photography: Christopher Frederick Jones

Jury citation: The Garland Garden is a refreshing design which escapes from traditional approaches to private garden design in association with character housing, yet accommodates a range of uses and activities in a tightly resolved design structure. The designer has created an elegant and functional space with a thoughtful and restrained palette of materials and plants. The garden encourages exploration and welcomes users through a range of different moods and spaces, yet in its attention to detail and form retains an overall coherency which has the strength to sit within the context of more traditional housing forms.

PLANNING CATEGORY

AILA Queensland Landscape Architecture Awards of Excellence:

Gold Coast Landscape Character Study by Cardno and Catherine Brouwer Landscape Architects

Image: HASSELL/Doug and Wolf

Jury citation: This study identifies the landscape character of the City of Gold Coast, using an approach which draws together contemporary interpretations of landscape character and landscape heritage. The study identifies elements for protection and enhancement through Council’s new City Plan, and has been wholly adopted by Council. This thoroughly researched and comprehensive study exemplifies the role of Landscape Architects in understanding, defining and protecting the inherent character and attributes of place and informing strategic thinking at a city–wide scale. This project was led by landscape architects collaborating across multiple practices create a single defining guideline for managing landscape character and protecting the core landscape and unique heritage values of the Gold Coast.

The GCCC should be commended on this study, which builds upon a number of landscape character, amenity and heritage studies undertaken over many years, demonstrating the value the Gold Coast community place on their landscape character and heritage. The jury noted the exclusion of indigenous cultural heritage in the study and sees this area as an opportunity for the future development of this field into the future.

AILA 2015 Queensland Landscape Architecture Award:

Brisbane City Centre Masterplan by Urbis

Image: Urbis

Jury citation: This is a vitally important contribution to the continuing dialogue of the shape and make up of our rapidly growing capital city, and provides the necessary strategic design vision and guidance for the future of Brisbane City Centre.

The leadership of this project by landscape architects has driven an integrated approach, based around five clear strategic drivers essential for the continuing prosperity of the urban heart. The masterplan communicates ideas and opportunities in an accessible and engaging way, from city making moves through to enabling projects, in order to realise the potential of this growth and retain the city’s unique identity and amenity. The plan helps to establish a programme of catalyst projects for future investment, compellingly presented whilst acknowledging the challenges of implementation and delivery.

Brisbane Rivers Edge Strategy by Lat27

Image: Urban Renewal Brisbane, Brisbane City Council, Urbis and Lat27

Jury citation: The Brisbane River is arguably the city’s defining geographical attribute and remains a significant factor in all aspects of the community’s life. This strategy for the public realm of the inner city reaches of the River addresses approximately 20 kilometres of urban river edge. The Rivers Edge Strategy project has delivered planning outcomes in a way that are easily understood at all levels. It clearly articulates a holistic view of character zones along the river and provides strategic direction for future development. It is compellingly expressed, well presented and sets out the big issues in a way that is accessible to the wider community.

It is commendable that BCC has risen to the challenge of strategic planning on such a wide range of fronts and this project is a great example of how to deliver sound planning principles in an easily understood way. It aims to encapsulate the many aspects of the importance of the river in the future life of the city and communicate this to a wide audience.

GCRT 2031 Gold Coast Rapid Transit Corridor Study by Hassell

Image: HASSELL/Doug and Wolf

Jury citation: GCRT 2031 provides an integrated strategy framework to reposition Australia’s sixth largest city. The study delivers clear recommendations to achieve maximum economic, lifestyle and sustainability benefits from this significant investment in the city’s infrastructure.

The work comprehensively addresses the evolving shape of the city and identifies significant opportunities for public realm strategies and sustainable infill growth. It is a thoughtful, engaging and authoritative work that seeks to drive and inspire improvements in areas of high growth and significant change. It is to be hoped that Landscape architects continue to play a key role in addressing the challenge of maintaining the drive and courage moving towards implementation.

Intensive Food Production Code by City Projects Office, Brisbane City Council

Jury citation: In what is believed to be a national and international first, Brisbane City Council’s City Plan 2014 has incorporated a town planning ordinance to guide the development industry towards the delivery of intensive food production systems in major centres of the city. The role of Landscape architects in the development of new policy through the coordination of multi-faceted inputs and the integration of research is exemplary. This policy promises to catalyse new conversations and thinking about what is possible, and to lead the way in a significant global move towards new ways of approaching food production and the sustainability of urban settlements.

LAND MANAGEMENT CATEGORY

RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION CATEGORY

URBAN DESIGN CATEGORY

AILA Queensland Landscape Architecture Awards of Excellence:

Gladstone East Shores Redevelopment Master Plan by Urbis

Photography: Angus Martin

Jury citation: The Gladstone East Shores Development Master Plan project shows a commitment by Gladstone Ports Corporation to celebrate the unique character and iconic location at the maritime entry to the city.

The master plan shows a genuine effort to maintain a connection with the site’s industrial heritage, using evocative and powerful imagery and concepts, grounded in an understanding of the potential of the site. The jury also acknowledges the first stage of completed works and sees this master plan as a bold statement indicating the as yet untapped potential of the site.

The project is proof that regional communities continue to think big and can deliver innovative planning outcomes. It is hoped that ongoing stages of the project can deliver the project vision through a genuine partnership with the community and other stakeholders including Council and the State Government.

AILA 2015 Queensland Landscape Architecture Award:

Beenleigh Town Centre by AECOM

Image: Alastair Leighton and Trevor Boobyer of AECOM, Logan City Council and MRCagney

Jury citation: The redevelopment of the Beenleigh town centre is a commendable and respectful design partnership with the local community which has resulted in the reclamation and renewal of a key urban space. The project has clearly been the result of courageous decision making on behalf of the local Council, resulting in a fundamental structural change and rebalancing of the public realm. The value of the space to Beenleigh has been increased exponentially through well considered modifications which create a platform for future use without being overly prescriptive or self-conscious. The project to date is a well told story that anticipates a worthy outcome.

Vibrant laneways by Brisbane City Council

Photography: Jess Jackson Photography

Brisbane City Council’s Vibrant laneways programme has already led to a number of successful interventions in the city centre, and these two projects have continued this effective and engaging strategy. The value of subtle interventions in creating a significant improvement to their surroundings and to the enjoyment of the city is clearly evidenced by these two projects, eagle Lane and the Mooney Fountain Plaza. These deceptively simple solutions demonstrate an understanding of the complexity and potential of small urban spaces to deliver places for people, the creative arts and new small businesses to thrive. They are excellent examples of how tangible and valuable outcomes can be achieved through Landscape Architects’ ability to lead a process of coordinated design and quick delivery.

Geraldine Chua

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