South Australia Landscape Architecture Awards 2021 winners

South Australia’s finest spaces were on show as the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) revealed the winners of the 2021 South Australia Landscape Architecture Awards.

AILA recognised five Awards of Excellence and nine Landscape Architecture Awards across nine categories along with two regional and four state-based awards, highlighting projects which celebrate spatial, social, and cultural importance of place.

The jury applauded the entrants’ nod to the past, integration and amplification of character, woven storytelling, and leadership to overcome technical and compliance challenges.

AILA South Australia President Daniel Bennett said that this year’s winners have, despite the challenges of the past year, delivered on AILA’s mission of projects adapting to climate change, respecting the landscape, and reflecting cultural diversity.

“These awards celebrate the ability of landscape architecture to change the world, and reflect our focus, respect for people, determination, tenacity and expertise,” Mr Bennett said.

“It’s impressive to see the extraordinary standard of work delivered across South Australia by landscape architects, who understand the importance of shaping projects, our places and communities.”

This year’s winners, from the ‘of the place’ Salt Wind Garden, to the ‘people centred’ Design King William and the ‘environmental and social benefiting’ Suburb Improvement Program, demonstrated layered landscape driven approaches which celebrated the importance of place.

While the ‘student learning focused’ Woodcroft College ELC Outdoor Learning Area and the ‘cultural storytelling’ of The Kaurna Learning Circle & Karrawirra Parinangku, strove towards a brighter, more inclusive future.

A leading commitment to urban revitalisation of Adelaide was highlighted through AILA South Australia’s 2021 Healthy Parks Healthy People Award to Tonsley Forests by Oxigen Pty Ltd.

The project demonstrated a prominent commitment by the State Government to create a new type of green public space in Adelaide, a city with a strong tradition of formal parks and squares and natural open spaces.

The new urban and green heart of the former car manufacturing site within an emergent innovation precinct, embraces its industrial past whilst acknowledging a newer, greener future.

Regional South Australia was also on show with two projects receiving Regional Achievement Awards for contributing to the creation of spaces that foster public life and connect landscape architecture and the community.

AILA South Australia Landscape Architecture Awards Jury Chair Janelle Arbon said this year’s award winners considered not only the future of South Australia’s landscape, but the sentiment attached to the spaces.

“Landscape architects are instilled with the notion of ‘a sense of place’ developed through a deep connection, exploration and understanding of space,” Ms Arbon said.

“The importance of ‘a sense of place’ is relevant to all landscapes from the smallest of gardens to largest scale freeways, and from the deceptively simple revegetation project to the layered learning environment.

“Of equal importance is the understanding that places are a part of a personal journey, in continual flux, altering and changing as they are experienced.”

In alignment with NAIDOC Week 2021 and as a nation rich in heritage, recognising First Nations people and NAIDOC mantra of Always Was, Always Will Be is a fundamental principle that underpins the industry’s understanding and celebration of landscape.

This year’s standout projects which demonstrated underlying respect and understanding to actively support and protect Aboriginal culture are the Kaurna Learning Circle and Karrawirra Parinangku at University of Adelaide Northern Campus Redevelopment, Victoria Harbour Foreshore Amphitheatre, and Wilfred Taylor Reserve Nature Playspace.

These projects acknowledge the depth of meaning to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of significant cultural landscapes, interwoven with natural systems, occupation sites, resources, and expression of cultural practices.

See all winners here: aila.awardsplatform.com/gallery

aila.org.au