AILA launches Remaking Lost Connections competition

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has launched an ideas competition exploring the issues of climate change through remaking ‘lost connections’ in Canberra’s cultural, natural and built environments.

With $15 000 in prize money, the competition is a partnership with the National Capital Authority (NCA), ACT Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) and the City Renewal Authority.

“The purpose of this competition is to generate ideas and ramp up the public dialogue on how Canberra can confront the seemingly intractable environmental and social impacts of climate change,” said AILA ACT President Gay Williamson.

“Through the theme of ‘Remaking Lost Connections’ entrants are encouraged to imaginatively retell the Canberra story. Your ideas should inspire new paradigms about the role of the urban landscape in Canberra.”

The competition opens for registrations on Friday 5 April 2019 and will culminate with an exhibition of entries and public forum in June.

Entrants in this competition must form cross disciplinary teams that will include a member of the ACT Chapter of the AILA, as well as at least one university or CIT student from any of the built environment professions, natural or social sciences or a secondary school student

Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury, welcomed the competition.

“The Canberra of the future will be a smart, modern and highly liveable zero emissions city that will continue to lead by example in addressing the global challenge of climate change,” Minister Rattenbury said.

“To achieve this, we need to consider the realities of climate change in our city’s urban design. I look forward to seeing creative ideas and conversations that are generated by this competition.”

City Renewal Authority Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Snow said the ideas and insights from the competition could help inform the ongoing renewal of the city centre.

“The City Renewal Authority is committed to sustainable urban renewal that improves the environmental, social and cultural outcomes for our precinct and we look forward to seeing the innovative entries submitted,” Mr Snow said.

National Capital Authority Chief Executive Officer Sally Barnes said the ‘arena’ for this competition encompassed urban areas and parks around Lake Burley Griffin as well as the lake and islands.

“As custodians of the National Capital, a growing and vibrant city, we are interested in exploring ideas about how we can enhance Canberra’s historical, cultural and symbolic significance in accordance with the National Capital Plan while adapting to the impacts of climate change,” Ms Barnes said.

“We look forward to having all of the entries on public display at the new National Capital Exhibition at Regatta Point from Monday 17 June 2019.”

Full competition details are available at bit.ly/2UawZXo