2021 NSW Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards winners

Winners of the 2021 NSW Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards were announced on Wednesday, June 9, with lessons for even the smallest home garden.

Design enthusiast Tim Ross revealed the most outstanding projects in the state across 16 categories including Urban Design, Infrastructure, Play Spaces, Health and Education Landscape, Garden and Community Contribution in the live streamed event.

Joshua French, Jury Chair of the 2021 NSW Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards said there was much to be learned from these projects after a year where, for many, their home and garden was their whole world.

“Whether they are public or private projects, places for people for respite or family life are at the heart of many of this year’s projects,” he said.

French said last year’s pandemic and the neighbourhood lockdowns triggered focused unprecedented attention on the need for exemplary outdoor spaces.

“Everyone started going to their local park or walking track and those places became really important,” French said. “We felt more connected to our local park and open space like never before.”

The Garden category takes in private as well as public spaces. The judges said this year’s winner, by 360 Degrees Landscape Architects is The Phoenix Gallery. It is part of the White Rabbit Gallery at Chippendale in inner Sydney. Judges said it demonstrated the importance of treating garden and built structures as one.

“(It) provides an interwoven building and landscape dedicated to art, performance, nature and culture,” the judges said. “(This is) a beautiful example of where landscape and architecture are seamlessly interlaced, where it is impossible to identify where one ends and the other begins.”

While private gardens need to fit the brief for a handful of individuals, public spaces require a broader response to cater to all ages, levels of ability and even mental wellness. French said we all have higher expectations of what our green spaces should provide, and the landscape architecture profession has responded accordingly.

“The industry rose to the challenge exceptionally well in terms of being agile and innovative and really moving with what the community was after,” French said. “The consideration of how to configure the space and the quality of the space created is crucial. It is about connectivity and how we feel in those spaces — comfort, shade and the social arrangement.”

He said the same principles apply to designing a garden at home.

“People these days are more lifestyle focussed and that includes at home,” he said. “They are more conscious of making their home a more comfortable place to live and considering and investing in their outdoor spaces the same way they would invest in a home extension’.”

Winners of the Play Spaces were particularly useful for families looking to create an environment that could be shared and enjoyed by everyone.

The Sales Ring Playground by Arcadia Landscape Architecture and Summerland Farm by Plummer & Smith were among winners in the Play Spaces category. The judges said Summerland Farm was a great example of a project that integrated seamlessly into a broader landscape.

“The play space at Summerland Farm fits seamlessly into the broader landscape context of the Park and its regional setting,” the judges said. “The play space uses exquisite materials and detailing and focuses on non-prescriptive imagination-based play. Play elements are woven around canopy trees, adding to the mystique and beauty of the play experience while providing shade and a connection to nature.”

By responding thoughtfully to the existing landscape setting, from mature trees, to changes in level or where the sun is, French said the home garden can be every bit as functional, beautiful and enjoyable as the biggest budget public space.

“You are seeing the same things happening across small and big budgets. We are seeing playgrounds being carefully designed and built around mature trees and next to existing creek lines because it adds so much to the experience,” he said. “When you get a designer involved, you get a better outcome.”

The winners were announced at a virtual launch event hosted by design enthusiast Tim Ross on Wednesday, 9th June at 5pm.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS

Landscape Planning — Hornsby Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

Gardens — The Phoenix Gallery

Research, Policy & Communications — Public Space Ideas Competition

Infrastructure — CBD and South East Light Rail — NSW

Play Spaces — The Sales Ring Playground

Health and Education Landscape — Westmead Hospital Redevelopment

Tourism — Summerland Farm

Civic Landscape — Notts Avenue Safety Upgrade

Urban Design — Batemans Bay Waterfront Master Plan and Activation Strategy

Landscape Planning

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Hornsby Biodiversity Conservation Strategy by Rhizome

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Paul Keating Park Masterplan by McGregor Coxall

Gardens

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE The Phoenix Gallery by 360 Degrees Landscape Architects

Research, Policy & Communications

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Public Space Ideas Competition 2020 by AECOM NSW / Committee for Sydney / Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Infrastructure

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE CBD and South East Light Rail – NSW by ASPECT Studios with Grimshaw and the City of Sydney, on behalf of Transport for NSW, supported by Randwick City Council

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Pacific Highway Upgrade by Centre for Urban Design Transport for NSW and all of its Landscape Architecture Partners

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Elara Linear Park (TC02) by Paterson Design Studio

Cultural Heritage

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Red Point, Port Kembla by Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Fairbridge Children’s Park by CLOUSTON Associates

Parks & Open Space

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD St Leonards Park Master Plan and Upgrade by Gallagher Studio in collaboration with North Sydney Council

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Inglis Park by Arcadia Landscape Architecture

Community Contribution

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Erskineville Public School by LSA Design Landscape Architecture

Play Spaces

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE The Sales Ring Playground by Arcadia Landscape Architecture

Summerland Farm Park by Plummer & Smith

Health & Education

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Landscape Westmead Hospital Redevelopment – Central Acute Services Building by Tract Consultants

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Dillwynia Correctional Centre Expansion by NBRS Architecture

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Susan Wakil Health Precinct by Arcadia Landscape Architecture

Tourism

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Summerland Farm by Plummer & Smith

Small Projects

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Max Ruddock Reserve Playground by City of Parramatta

Civic Landscape

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Notts Avenue Safety Upgrade by Tract Consultants

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD The Canopy Precinct by Scott Carver and Arcadia Landscape Architecture

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Newmarket Dining by Arcadia Landscape Architecture and Bates Smart (master plan architects)

Urban Design

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Batemans Bay Waterfront Master Plan and Activation Strategy by Inspiring Place

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Liverpool City Centre Public Domain Master Plan by Liverpool City Council

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AWARD Putney Hill Development by Environmental Partnership

Temporary Activation in response to the global pandemic

Public Space Ideas Competition 2020 by AECOM / Committee for Sydney / Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Regional Achievement Awards