Intergrain launches their Urban Timber Project

Emerging landscape and design professionals are invited to explore their creativity using timber in a new design competition, launched by premium Australian woodcare brand, Intergrain.

Intergrain, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), is launching the national design competition as a challenge to the new generation of Australian designers to explore imaginative ways to use timber in design.

Emerging landscape architects, landscape designers, industrial designers, and planners, including AILA FRESH members (landscape architects’ student and graduates network), who have been working for up to 10 years in the profession are invited to design a functional piece of urban furniture.

The winning design will be constructed and installed in Werribee Park, Victoria, in the community garden. Located in the Historic Farm Precinct, the garden is maintained by many groups of volunteers, including those from the Karen community – refugees from the long-running civil war in Burma – who have played a huge role in transforming it into a thriving kitchen garden. Looking after the garden has provided the Karen people, along with other local refugee communities in Wyndham, with a new sense of purpose and allowed them to reconnect with their traditional pursuits of gardening and cultivation.

Intergrain Trade Brand Manager, Amanda Chalmers, says the brief focuses on creating a functional and creative furniture design that will contribute to and grow the strong sense of community in the garden.

“Because the Werribee Park community garden is such a special and valuable space, especially for the Karen people, our new design competition presents a unique challenge to emerging professionals,” says Amanda.

“We’re encouraging them to take the opportunity to create a thoughtful piece of furniture that will become a place of reflection in the garden, as well somewhere that brings the Karen people closer with members of the public.”

Daniel Bennett, National President of AILA, says, “We’re thrilled to be involved in this inaugural design competition, and we look forward to discovering a collection of imaginative timber projects from emerging design professionals across the country.”

The winner will be announced in December with the winning creation revealed at the Historic Farm Precinct at Werribee Park in March 2016. Iconic Australian design manufacturer Street Furniture Australia has generously come on board to create and install the winning design.

“The introduction of the winning design to Werribee Park will not only enhance the community garden, but also encourage visitors to take a moment to enjoy the space that’s been lovingly cultivated and nurtured by many in our community,” said James Brincat, Parks Victoria.

In addition to the kudos of having a design brought to life for the public, the winning designer will receive a $2,000 cash prize, an exclusive mentoring lunch with a renowned industry professional, 50 litres of Intergrain product and a 1-year Graduate membership to the AILA.

Entries will be judged by an esteemed panel comprising renowned industry leaders:

• Daniel Bennett – AILA National President, landscape architect, and Design and Transport Manager at Adelaide City Council

• Michelle Herbut – Project Manager, Custom Product Sales at Street Furniture Australia

• A representative from Parks Victoria

• Amanda Chalmers – Senior Brand Manager, Intergrain Timber Finishes

Entries are now open and close on Wednesday 9 December 2015

Visit www.intergrain.com.au for more details and to enter.