I think we can all agree our sunburnt country is bloody beautiful – but which landscapes are the best? And I’m not referring to our natural wonders, but to landscapes that incorporate cutting-edge architecture to create public spaces where communities can gather, connect and play – such as parks, precincts and wetlands – while also respecting Country and protecting ecosystems.
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Now, that’s been revealed, as the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects has awarded the country’s best landscapes at a ceremony held overnight (Tuesday, October 21) in Tassie. The awards aim to celebrate the projects and creatives reimagining how we live with landscapes and each other. The best bit? NSW took home five Awards of Excellence – more than any other state. We’ll take it.
One of the winners was the Wagonga Inlet Living Foreshore, found in Narooma on NSW’s pristine South Coast, which took home two awards for excellence in land management and climate-positive design. Featuring an incredible 50 shades of blue, the foreshore is not only strikingly beautiful, but it’s also a resilient and thriving coastal ecosystem. Designed by Realm Studios, the South Coast shoreline restoration integrates multiple strategies, including oyster reef restoration, bank stabilisation and saltmarsh rehabilitation.
The expert jury praised the Wagonga Inlet Living Foreshore for setting a benchmark for regenerative shoreline design: “The design is to be commended for leading the replacement of a failing seawall with innovative nature-based solutions that restored over 3,000 square metres of saltmarsh, brought back rare oyster reefs and created vital habitats for marine and birdlife.”
Barangaroo Station Park, designed by Arcadia, also took home an Award of Excellence for infrastructure. The judges loved how the area seamlessly connects the station’s entrance with the “urban streetscape, the biodiverse parklands and the constructed sandstone cove.” The culture and history of the area have also been thoughtfully integrated into the design, telling stories through landscape.
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The Living Lab Northern Rivers, an environment and outreach program, also received an Award of Excellence in the community contribution category. A joint initiative between the University of Technology Sydney and Living Lab Northern Rivers, the program aims to create sustainable and resilient opportunities for the tropical region.
The final Award of Excellence went to an immersive virtual exhibition called Food | Landscapes Australia, designed by Dr Joshua Zeunert (see it here). The project explores the beauty and diversity of the country’s food-producing landscapes and how what we eat impacts the environment. The jury said: “The result is engaging, thought-provoking and ground-breaking.”
A skate park and basketball court, an outdoor area in Heide, a university courtyard and a CBD rooftop garden were among the Victorian winners.
See all the winners and find out more here.