Winners of the 2022 Landscape Architecture Awards have been announced in Victoria
Today, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has officially announced the 2022 winners of the Landscape Architecture Awards in Victoria, an annual program designed to celebrate excellence in landscape architecture.
In Victoria, a total of 60 projects were entered, with 34 awards allocated in areas that successfully demonstrate the positive impact that well designed outdoor spaces have on public life, such as Health and Education, Play Spaces, and Gardens.
An innovative space for the creative community, a four-decade long volunteering effort, a healing garden at the Heide Museum, and a new green open space in Melbourne’s CBD are just some of the entries that have been recognised as part of this year’s AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards.
Today, the Victorian Chapter is delighted to announce the official project winners of each category, and the Future Leaders in their state.
AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards Jury Chair, Lisa Howard, has expressed that:
“The awards provide a vehicle to publicly promote and demonstrate to industry, business, government and the wider community the positive impact the profession has on Australian lives through the planning and design of the built and natural environments,”
“Across the projects, we did see a couple of key themes start to emerge. We saw a vast number of entries in the Cultural Heritage category, which is a reflection on the sorts of values that we are starting to see embedded in landscape architecture.
“We are seeing cultural values alongside social values, environmental values, and sustainability values. For the Jury, it was not just about acknowledging the knowledge that has been transferred to landscape architects, and passed through to us from Traditional Owners, but also about how that knowledge is then brought forth into a project, and how that knowledge is embedded into an outcome, so that the end user is also getting to experience this incredible understanding of country.” said Ms Howard.
AILA Victoria has highlighted the Avalon Corridor Strategy Values Assessment as a project that is ambitious and forward thinking. It considers a vast tract of culturally significant lands and waterways under pressure from urban development to help shape decision making for the Avalon corridor.
“The project is commendable for going beyond consultation, to engage to the Wadawurrung as a key collaborator and co-author of the project, which has both built capability and ensured voices are heard. It is innovative in framing Wadawurrung values and living cultural heritage into in a format aligned with Government Legislation. It acts as a strong precedent for the empowerment of Traditional Owner groups to participate in and inform planning processes.”
“Across the entries, we saw a vast range of project types, from small, beautiful projects with biodiversity as key drivers, to massive landscape planning projects, as well as infrastructure projects. This is a real testament to all of us in the profession that we can work across a diverse range of scales.” Ms. Howard said.
AILA is the peak body for the landscape architectural profession, representing 3,000 members in professional practice, education, and government within Australia and overseas.
AILA’s vision and mission is embedded in the commitment to lead a dynamic and respected profession, creating places that support a healthy and liveable planet. The Institute’s key priorities encompass climate positive design, connection to country, and gender equity.
AILA’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben Stockwin, has emphasised the significance of AILA’s work and their contribution to important dialogues.
“Our values are imbued in everything that we do, and we are excited to showcase the winning projects of this year’s Landscape Architecture Awards as a living manifestation of our goals, our purpose for existing, and our vital contribution to the community.
Landscape Architecture plays such an important role in the national debate of climate change, sustainability, and First Nations recognition. These Awards serve as another reminder of the sector’s significance and impact.” Mr. Stockwin said.
