Innovative urban projects and policies from across Australia were recognised at the 2014 Australia Award for Urban Design. The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) hosted the annual awards night on Monday 14 July at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, with 2014 Awards patron, Lucy Turnbull AO.
It was a good night for collaborations by landscape architecture practices, with Oculus and Sue Barnsley Design sharing the programs’ major honour – the Award for Delivered Outcome – Large Scale – for their respective projects, New Acton Precinct (ACT) and Prince Alfred Park and Pool (NSW).
Delivered by Oculus with Fender Katsalidis Architects and client Molongo Group, Canberra’s New Acton Precinct was praised by the awards judges as “a precinct of surprise and delight that is a rich place of outstanding quality and design.”
Sue Barnsley Design and Neeson Murcutt Architects have garnered a string of awards for Prince Alfred Park and Pool, created with the City of Sydney. The AAUD14 jury praised the park’s “spatial and ecological sensibility that is contemporary without erasing its Victorian roots.”
Receiving the Policies Programs and Concepts – Small Scale Award was Aspect Studios and CHROFI for The Goods Line. This collaborative scheme for Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (NSW) converts a disused historic rail line into a linear public space (think Manhattan’s highly successful High Line project.
CODA Studio in Perth earned two commendations in the policy arena: Policies Programs and Concepts – Large Scale (for their Pilbara Vernacular Handbook done with Landcom, looking at challenges to affordability and diversity of housing stock), and Policies Programs and Concepts – Small Scale, for King’s Square Urban Design Strategy with City of Fremantle and Creating Communities Australia.
See the full list of winners and commendations from 2014 Australia Awards for Urban Design.
The program is supported by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), the Australian Institute of Architects, Consult Australia, Green Building Council of Australia, Property Council of Australia, the Urban Design Forum, and Think Brick (as gold sponsor).
