Jury comment
The jury was impressed by the landscape architect’s leading role in creating a layman’s manual for evaluating the visual impact of construction, specifically pumped hydro projects. Defining landscape, its importance and how to evaluate its worth with appropriate sensitivity, the manual clearly articulates how to identify and recognize view types and landscape value for preliminary landscape assessment work. The project scope included education on its application as a tool for a large infrastructure company. The potential of this manual extends beyond its current tenure. Its ability to provide an understanding of early mitigation opportunities and the impact of projects that change a landscape is easily transferable to any project. The jury applauds the initiative of the designers in proactively promoting the role of the landscape architect within this infrastructure industry.
A Manual for Evaluating the Visual Impact of Pumped Hydro Energy Storage applies to Cethana, Tasmania on the land of the Big River people.
Project credits
Landscape architect and team lead Inspiring Place GIS support and computer visualizations Entura Photographers Inspiring Place; Grace Uziallo
To view all the winners of the 2021 National Landscape Architecture Awards, go here.
