The state’s best landscape architecture revealed at the 2019 Awards

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects has announced the winners of the 2019 Victorian Awards, the annual celebration of the profession’s impact in shaping the built and natural environment throughout Victoria. By recognising the best in landscape architecture, the 2019 Victorian Awards shows the world how beauty, sustainability, creativity, nature and wellbeing come together.

“The Jury was pleased by the number and quality of award entries this year,” said Jury Chair, Mary Papaioannou. “We saw the contribution projects make through delivering public realm that encourages recovery and rehabilitation, inclusivity and engagement. We saw projects located in tertiary education settings that place student life at the heart of the campus experience, and many projects embracing the principles of biophilic design that celebrate the role plants play in the enrichment of human life. There was a strong geographic representation of projects demonstrating that landscape architects’ impact reaches far beyond urban environments.”

“Landscape Architects ensure the complex relationship between people and nature is embedded through the many places that shape the way we live on this planet. These awards recognise that great design supports human well-being in our political, academic, health, urban and rural environments. Landscape architects create quality places where people and nature coexist,” says Adrian Gray, President, Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

The winning projects were divided into 13 categories, ranging from civic landscapes to parks and open spaces. The 7-member jury evaluated each for design excellence, innovation, context engagement, and social and environmental impact.

The ‘Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence’, AILA’s highest honour for projects judged to be the most significant for the advancement of landscape architecture in Victoria, were presented to 8 projects. ‘Landscape Architecture Awards’ were presented to 19 projects. In total, 27 awards were announced through 13 categories. Six awards were won by Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL).

All award winners were revealed on Friday 14 June at a cocktail and presentation after-party at MAIA, Docklands.

 The winners of the 2019 Victorian AILA Awards are:

Civic Landscape sponsored by Brickworks:

Award of Excellence

• Bendigo Hospital Project by OCULUS Landscape Architecture + Urban Design

Landscape Architecture Award

• Malop Street Green Spine by Outlines
• RMIT New Academic Street by Taylor Cullity Lethlean
• Deakin University: Building HD Courtyard by GHDWoodhead

Community Contribution sponsored by the Built Environment Channel:

Landscape Architecture Award

• Goulburn Valley Health Therapeutic Courtyard by Spiire

Cultural Heritage:

Award of Excellence

• Parliament of Victoria – Member’s Annex Landscapes by Taylor Cullity Lethlean

Landscape Architecture Award

• Mount Buffalo Chalet Gardens Conservation Management Plan by Inspiring Place

Gardens sponsored by Lawn Solutions Australia:

Award of Excellence

• Twig House by Taylor Cullity Lethlean

Landscape Architecture Award

• Bendigo Botanic Gardens – Garden for the Future by Taylor Cullity Lethlean

Infrastructure sponsored by ACO:

Award of Excellence

• Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project by ASPECT Studios

Land Management:

Award of Excellence

• Greening the Pipeline- MOS Pilot Park by GHDWoodhead

Landscape Planning sponsored by Glascott Landscape and Civil:

Landscape Architecture Award

• Woowookarung Regional Park Plan by Site Office
• Streets for People Feasibility Study by Hansen Partnership
• Moonee Ponds Creek Opportunities Plan by McGregor Coxall

Parks & Open Space sponsored by Street Furniture Australia:

Award of Excellence

• Monash University Eastern Precinct Landscape by Taylor Cullity Lethlean

Landscape Architecture Award

• Lewis Park by McGregor Coxall
• Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal – Linear Parks and Djerring Trail by ASPECT Studios

Play Spaces sponsored by LARK Industries:

Landscape Architecture Award

• Bridge Road Regional Playspace by ASPECT Studios
• George Pentland Botanic Gardens playspace by Leaf Design Studio

Research, Policy & Communications:

Award of Excellence

• ReCasting Terra Nullius Blindness by Deakin University

Landscape Architecture Award

• Spiire Inclusive Cities Research Project by Spiire

Small Projects sponsored by Metro Trees:

Award of Excellence

• Doubleground by Openwork and Muir Architecture

Landscape Architecture Award

• Turner Street Vertical Garden by Simon Ellis Landscape Architects

Tourism sponsored by City of Melbourne:

Landscape Architecture Award

• Jackalope Hotel by Taylor Cullity Lethlean
• Pt Leo Estate Sculpture Park by HASSELL

Urban Design sponsored by WE-EF Lighting Australia/NZ:

Landscape Architecture Award

• The Tin Alley Masterplan by HASSELL
• Monash University Western Precinct Landscape by Rush Wright Associates