Jury comment
A collaboration between City of Melville and the local community has given rise to the exceptional Bob Gordon Playspace. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Futuro House by Matti Suuronen, the core elements of the play space are guided by a distinct 1970s space theme. City of Melville embarked on an engagement in 2016, with contributions from Noongar Elder Aunty Marie Taylor and other community stakeholders seamlessly woven into the design’s fabric. At the heart of this achievement lies the landscape architect’s adeptness in harmonizing community desires with the realization of a concept that layers history and nostalgia with contemporary site conditions and requirements. Elevating community bonds and recollections, this play space stands as a testament to landscape architects’ skills in crafting concept-driven play environments that also respond to community desires.
Bob Gordon Playspace is built in Melville, Western Australia on the land of the Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar people.
Project credits
Design practice City of Melville First Nations Cultural Collaborators Aunty Marie Taylor – Whadjuk Elder, Yelakitj Moort Nyungar Association Head construction contractor Phase 3 Landscape Construction Play designer and manufacturer Art and Play Metal designer and fabricator RMF Fabrications Artists Minaxi May and Matthew McVeigh Graphic artist and photographer Miles Noel Civil design and documentation Porter Consulting Engineers Detail design and documentation Plan E Landscape Architects
To view all the winners of the 2023 National Landscape Architecture Awards, go here.
