The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has announced the winners of the 2023 Victorian State Awards at an event held in Melbourne. The jury honoured 32 winners from a record number of 102 entries across the program’s 16 categories.
Transforming Southbank Boulevard by City Design, City of Melbourne with TCL and Mike Hewson took out the Award of Excellence in the Civic Landscape category. “This outstanding project has far exceeded its primary ambition and City of Melbourne and its collaborators are commended for realising this transformation,” stated the jury. “Perhaps most delightful of all is the invitation to people of all ages to play, with innovative, place-specific equipment that is beautiful, tactile, and perfectly balances safety, excitement and joy.”
Other recognized projects included The Victorian Family Violence Memorial by Muir and Openwork which took out the top gong in the Small Projects category. The jury lauded the project for “defining a welcoming and inclusive, intimate space that invites quiet reflection,” and noted the design’s “finely textured plantings [that have been] layered and arranged with great delicacy and that reference the purple ribbon movement for the elimination of violence against women, and the elimination of family violence.”
In the Land Management category, the Lower Werribee Waterway Amenity Action Plan by Melbourne Water and a team of collaborators was presented with the Award of Excellence. “Lower Werribee Waterway Amenity Action Plan is an exemplar strategy for the restoration, conservation, and management of the significant river landscape of Wirribi Yaluk,” said the jury. “The project also demonstrates the innovative use of digital technology to communicate the plan in a transparent and accessible way.”
All winners at the State Awards level proceed to the National Landscape Architecture Awards held later this year.
The winners are:
Health and Education Landscape
Landscape Architecture Awards
Methodist Ladies College, Dr Wood Courtyards and ELC Courtyard by TCL
Monash University Forum, Clayton Campus by TCL
Civic Landscape
Award of Excellence
Transforming Southbank Boulevard by City Design, City of Melbourne with TCL and Mike Hewson
Landscape Architecture Awards
Wangaratta Railway Precinct – Stage 01 by Hassell
Greville Street and Grattan Gardens by Rush Wright Associates
Transforming Southbank Boulevard by City Design, City of Melbourne with TCL and Mike Hewson
Image: Dianna Snape
Parks and Open Space
Landscape Architecture Awards
Cary Street Nature Escape Pocket Park, Sunshine North by Brimbank City Council
Brompton Central Open Space by GBLA Landscape Architects
Play Spaces
Award of Excellence
Guide Park Playspace by Orchard Design with SBLA Studio
Landscape Architecture Awards
Banjo Park, Smiths Lane by Aspect Studios
Lincoln Square Playspace by City Design, City of Melbourne
Banjo Park, Smiths Lane by Aspect Studios
Image: Dianna Snape
Infrastructure
Landscape Architecture Awards
Echuca Moama Bypass Stage 3 by Tract
North Williamstown Station LXRP by Hassell
Reimagining Tarralla Creek by GHD Woodhead
Cultural Heritage
Award of Excellence
Garden at John Kelly’s Former House by GBLA Landscape Architects
Land Management
Award of Excellence
Lower Werribbee Waterway Amenity Action Plan by Melbourne Water in partnership with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, DELWP, Parks Victoria, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Werribee River Assocation, Western Melbourne Tourism and Wyndham City Council.
Landscape Architecture Awards
Jacksons Creek biik wurrdha Regional Parklands by Fitzgerland Frisby Landscape Architecture
Shoreline Drive Landscape Plan by Aspect Studios
Tourism
Award of Excellence
Lark Boort Scarred Trees Masterplan by Aspect Studios
Lark Boort Scarred Trees Masterplan by Aspect Studios
Image: Paul Haw
Urban Design
Landscape Architecture Awards
Jewell Station by Glas Landscape Architects
Melbourne Connect by Aspect Studios
Landscape Planning
Award of Excellence
Great Ocean Road Coastal Trail Masterplan by Tract
Research, Policy and Communications
Landscape Architecture Awards
Creating Streets for People Policy by Brimbank City Council
The Authorship Issue (Landscape Architecture Australia) by Jillian Walliss, Heike Rahmann and Architecture Media
The Authorship Issue (Landscape Architecture Australia) by Jillian Walliss, Heike Rahmann and Architecture Media
Image: Landscape Architecture Australia
Community Contribution
Landscape Architecture Award
Yalinguth by Yalinguth Working Group
Small Projects
Award of Excellence
The Victorian Family Violence Memorial by Muir and Openwork
Landscape Architecture Award
Monash University Flowering Meadow by Tract with John Raynor and Claire Farrell
Gardens
Landscape Architecture Award
The East Garden at 101 Collins Street by Openwork
Regional Achievement Awards
Great Ocean Road Coastal Trail Master Plan by Tract
Guide Park Playspace by Orchard Design with SBLA Studio
Lake Boort Scarred Trees Masterplan by Aspect Studios
Wangaratta Railway Precinct – Stage 01 by Hassell
