The Western Australia Landscape Architecture Awards were announced on Friday 2 May at Kidogo Arthouse in Fremantle by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) WA.
Winners reflect the diverse range of spaces, from inner-city precincts to regional towns, noted the AILA WA president, Sara Kjaersgaard. The top award, the WA Medal for Landscape Architecture, went to landscape architects Julian Bolleter and Richard Weller for their co-authored Made in Australia – The Future of Australian Cities, a publication by the Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC).
All entries and winning projects will be exhibited at Kidogo Arthouse, Fremantle from 3-7 May 2014. On the 2014 jury were: Steve Vigilante (jury chair), Helen Whitbread (University of Western Australia), Anna Evangelisti (Landcorp), Peta-Maree Ashford (Emerge), Damien Pericles (Realm) and Lucinda Hartley (CoDesign, Melbourne).
WA Medal for Landscape Architecture
Research & Communication Excellence Award
Slide from Made in Australia – The Future of Australian Cities by Julian Bolleter and Richard Weller.
Image: UWA Publishing
Made in Australia – The Future of Australian Cities, Julian Bolleter and Richard Weller (Australian Urban Design Research Centre)
Jury comment: With Australia’s population increasing at a rate of one person every 84 seconds (or doubling by mid-century), this bold piece of research presents a confronting yet critically important discussion about the future of Australia’s settlement patterns. By engaging at this level of planning and vision making, Bolleter and Weller’s research provides a broad platform from which other more specialized research projects can be built on.
Design Excellence Award
Brookfield Place – Anthony Brookfield, Hassell
Brookfield Place by HASSELL and Fitzpatrick + Partners. Image:
Douglas Mark Black
Jury comment: At the footprint of one of Perth’s tallest buildings the user feels neither dwarfed nor insignificant. The tower meets the ground in a manner that creates a rich new layer of urban spaces which have been a major contributing factor in the success of the precinct’s commercial, retail, food and beverage tenancies.
Brookfield Place is reviewed by Julian Bolleter in Landscape Architecture Australia 141.
Design Awards
Geraldton Esplanade – Tony Blackwell, Blackwell & Associates
Jury comment: This is a beautiful and well contextualised project, whose functional and technical aspects, and innovative methods, respond to the constant ocean winds. The work’s scale, use of colour, line, form, symmetry and repetition combine to create an exceptional place marker with iconic and memorable qualities whose aesthetic will contribute to the ‘Gero Vibe’ for years to come.
Yokine Regional Open Space – Inclusive Playground – Walter Van Der Loo, AECOM
Yokine Regional Open Space – Inclusive Playground by AECOM. Image:
Jacaranda Photography
Jury comment: This project has achieved a new benchmark in inclusive and nature-based play design. Demonstrating that catering for all abilities doesn’t just mean ramps and handrails, the project includes an all-ability play environment, and equipment that factors in requirements for children with a variety of mental and physical conditions and allows them to play interactively and positively with able bodied children. An overwhelming community success, the project is now being used by other local authorities and consultants as a benchmark in inclusive and nature based play grounds.
Bay View Terrace Revitalization – Walter Van Der Loo, AECOM
This Town of Claremont project has transformed a shopping precinct badly in need of a facelift. What was a car-dominated thoroughfare has become a destination in its own right, prioritising space neither for pedestrians nor vehicles. It is now a welcome and comfortable setting, vibrant and highly activated.
Research & Communication Awards
WA Women in Landscape Architecture (film) – Greg Grabasch, UDLA
Jury comment: The outcome could be seen as a contemporary snapshot that includes a strong historical context due to the depth and breadth of participants.
ANEC: Australia’s Northern Eco-city – Nicky Croudace, Ecoscape
Jury comment: This carefully articulated vision for a new Australian capital tackles the challenges of Australia’s ‘empty north-west’. It is a striking and well-articulated proposal for the development of Northern Australia, and promotes Australia as a leader in sustainable settlement design.
Urban Design Award
Central Institute of Technology Precinct Plan – Julie Meehan, City of Perth
Collage from the Central Institute of Technology Precinct Plan by City of Perth. Image:
Julie Meehan
Jury comment: A great model for revitalising an inner-city area and activating the campus. This project plans to reinvigorate the Northbridge Campus, including the neglected thoroughfare of Museum Street, with improved signage and lighting to increas the use of existing bus and bike paths. By retaining its student population (some 2,000) outside of study hours, it aims to make the campus an integral part of the city, in the same way as RMIT has done in Melbourne.
Graduate Award
Liam Mouritz, Ecoscape
Student Excellence Award
Philippa Munkton, The University of Western Australia
