The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has revealed the winners of its landscape architecture awards at its annual festival of landscape architecture on Tuesday.
National jury chair Kate Luckraft said the winning designers had forged “vital new collaborations” between landscape architects, communities and academics. She also praised the industry for its commitment to climate positive design, evident in entries.
Of 128 nominated projects on display, 36 were awarded under 17 categories. The organisation said that community, Country and climate are all key criteria addressed by winners.
“Across the board, projects enriched by First Nations collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking exemplify how landscape architects are shaping resilient, climate-conscious places that reflect a deeper understanding of Country and community,” Luckraft said.
Of the winners, three projects were specifically honoured for their climate positive design.
Wagonga Inlet Living Foreshore by REALMstudios
The project in Narooma, NSW, was an initiative of the Eurobodalla Shire Council to integrate multiple restoration strategies, such as living shorelines, bank stabilisation, and salt marsh rehabilitation. It also involved the restoration of an oyster reef to create an adaptive, resilient coastal ecosystem, ready for the changing coastal conditions.
The project received both the climate positive design award and the land management award.
In addition, the jury said the project was “an outstanding example of coastal protection” and should be commended for “leading the replacement of a failing seawall with an innovative nature-based solution, that restored over 3000 square metres of salt marsh, brought back rare oyster reefs, and created vital habitats for marine and birdlife”.
The project was also commended for the collaborative effort involving traditional custodians, scientists, agencies and volunteers.
Michelle Guglielmo Park by GLAS Landscape Architects
The project, based in Brunswick, Victoria, was part of the Merri-Bek City Council initiative “a park close to home” to create public spaces in dense urban areas. The space had to be transformed from a former concrete site into a thriving biodiverse green space and used recycled and locally sourced materials such as bluestone boulders, wharf timber and reclaimed bricks. The park prioritises stormwater management through a network of swale gardens that absorb rainwater, reduce runoff, and support passive irrigation. Concrete was removed beneath the decking to ensure natural water and oxygen exchange, and native plants were introduced to attract birds, insects and local biodiversity back into the area.
Breakout Creek/Purruna Pari Stage 3 by TCL with Green Adelaide, City of Charles Sturt, and City of West Torrens
This project is part of a bigger redevelopment, a 30 year makeover of River Torrens to slowly transform an artificial channel from the river to the sea into a more natural and healthier creek.
The creek spans 2.7 kilometres, and stage 3 is the creation of wetlands to capture and clean stormwater, manage high flows, remove weeds, plant 11,400 sq m of permanent native vegetation to slow and treat water coming down the river and 6.2km of walking trails and shared paths, picnic areas, signage and art created from low carbon materials such as wood plastic waste composite.
Traditional owners, the Kaurna people, were involved at early stages, and extensive Kaurna cultural interpretations were carefully sited amongst existing trees and ecosystems.
The project is expected to achieve a climate-positive impact within 11 years after construction.
Remaining winners and nominees can be found here.