Murama Healing Space & Dance Ground Murama—Cultural Council in partnership with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority
“The Murama Healing Space and Dance Ground provides long-overdue recognition of the need for dedicated places for Indigenous communities to gather and participate in cultural and spiritual activities” – Jury citation, Murama Cultural Council in partnership with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority

In pictures: 2020 AILA National Awards

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) announces 46 winners, including 13 Awards of Excellence, acknowledging the most significant of work for advancement in landscape architecture.

As AILA CEO Ben Stockwin notes, the practice of acknowledging and recognising achievements is even more poignant during this time of unpredictable and incapacitating events. “The continuation of organisational rituals and traditions are more important than ever to maintain peer support through this time of emotional need.”

The 2020 awards highlight, in particular, engagement with diverse communities. A National Award of Excellence was awarded twice to projects that centre Indigenous experience, with the Murama Healing Space & Dance Ground—Murama Cultural Council in partnership with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority recognised in the Community Contribution category and Liyan-ngan Nyirrwa (Cultural Wellbeing Centre)—Nyamba Buru Yawuru / MudMap Studio in Health and Education Landscape.

As the jury notes, a strong and genuine consultation process with traditional custodians can only be achieved through deep listening on the behalf of the settler design organisation. North Gardens Sculpture Park Landscape Master Plan, Ballarat by Mandy Nicholson et al was recognised for its in-depth analysis of cultural values and landscape on the edge of Lake Wendouree on Wadawurrung Country. While a report on culturally appropriate First Nations consultation with Barkandji Maljangapa Nation prepared by Jock Gilbert and Sophia Pearce, RMIT University Landscape Architecture Discipline, was similarly recognised for its new methodology to present the objectives of the Barkandji Maljangapa Nation in relation to water management of the Darling River. The jury citation notes “The jury felt that this report may provide a beacon of hope in future consultation processes.”

Play Spaces

National Award of Excellence 
Railway Park Play
Plummer & Smith

National Landscape Architecture Award
Paperback Playspace
Phillips Marler and Parramatta Park & Western Sydney Parklands Trusts

National Landscape Architecture Award
Barrow Park Play Space
Ecoscape Australia Pty Ltd

National Landscape Architecture Award
Para Wirra Nature Playspace
TCL

Infrastructure

National Award of Excellence
Eastern Regional Trails Strategy
Fitzgerald Frisby Landscape Architecture

National Landscape Architecture Award
Oaklands Crossing Grade Separation Project
ASPECT Studios and Cox Architecture

National Landscape Architecture Award
Aerodrome Road Intersection
Hassell

Small Projects

National Award of Excellence
Mahon Pool Amenities and Maroubra Seals Swimming Clubhouse
Sue Barnsley Design

National Landscape Architecture Award
RMIT Building 100 Pedestrian Improvements
Openwork Pty Ltd

National Landscape Architecture Award
First Avenue Reserve
City of Marion

National Landscape Architecture Award
System Garden Rainforest Boardwalk
SBLA Studio

Gardens

National Award of Excellence
Arkadia Apartments
OCULUS

National Landscape Architecture Award
Clifftop Garden
Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture

National Landscape Architecture Award
Nightingale 2.0
SBLA Studio

National Landscape Architecture Award
Domic
James Birrell Design Lab

National Landscape Architecture Award
320 George Street
Fiona Harrisson and Simon Ellis Landscape Architects

Parks and Open Space

National Landscape Architecture Award
Sunvale Community Park
Brimbank City Council
Read more on Foreground

National Landscape Architecture Award
Julia Reserve Youth Park
JMD design

National Landscape Architecture Award
Minda Coast Park
Oxigen Pty Ltd

National Landscape Architecture Award
Dyuralya Square
OCULUS

Cultural Heritage

National Award of Excellence
North Gardens Sculpture Park Landscape Master Plan, Ballarat
Tharangalk Art, Romanis + BASALT: Art + Deakin University

National Landscape Architecture Award
University of Western Australia Cultural Heritage Mapping
UDLA

Health and Education Landscape

National Award of Excellence
Liyan-ngan Nyirrwa (Cultural Wellbeing Centre)
Nyamba Buru Yawuru / MudMap Studio
Read more on Foreground

National Landscape Architecture Award
Paringa Park Primary School
Peter Semple Landscape Architects

International

National Award of Excellence
Feng River Park
GVL Gossamer

National Landscape Architecture Award
Dragon Skin River – The Ecological Spine of Xi’an
Gossamer

National Landscape Architecture Award
Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Rwanda
Context Landscape Architecture

National Landscape Architecture Award
LOOP – Pioneering Community Consultation for Shanghai’s Laneways
Gossamer

Community Contribution

National Award of Excellence
Murama Healing Space & Dance Ground
Murama Cultural Council in partnership with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority

National Landscape Architecture Award
The Living Pavilion
Clean Air & Urban Landscape Hub (CAUL) along with others

National Landscape Architecture Award
Saint Joseph’s Nature Play Master Plan
Ecoscape Australia Pty Ltd

Tourism

National Landscape Architecture Award
Mindeerup Piazza South Perth Foreshore
PLACE Laboratory

Landscape Management

National Award of Excellence
Small Creek Naturalisation – Stages 1 and 2
Landscapology and Bligh Tanner
Read more on Foreground

National Landscape Architecture Award
Your Parramatta Park 2030 – Conservation Management Plan and Plan of Management
Parramatta Park Trust

Research, Policy and Communications

National Award of Excellence
Report on culturally appropriate First Nations consultation with Barkandji Maljangapa Nation
Jock Gilbert and Sophia Pearce, RMIT University Landscape Architecture Discipline

National Landscape Architecture Award
Contemporary Art and the Transformation of Space into Place: Lake Burley Griffin and contour 556
Harris Hobbs Landscapes

National Landscape Architecture Award
Sunshine Coast Design Strategy and Book
Sunshine Coast Council

Landscape Planning

National Award of Excellence
Siting and Design Guidelines for Structures on the Victorian Coast
REALMstudios

National Landscape Architecture Award
Darwin Civic and State Square Masterplan
TCL with Troppo
Read more on Foreground

National Landscape Architecture Award
Urban Tree Canopy Cover Study Gold Coast
Arup

National Landscape Architecture Award
Maribyrnong Waterfront IWM
REALMstudios

Urban Planning

National Award of Excellence
Central Park Public Domain
Turf Design Studio with Jeppe Aagaard Andersen (TURF with JAAA)
Read more on Foreground

National Landscape Architecture Award
The Rocks Laneway
UDLA

National Landscape Architecture Award
South Eveleigh Youth Space
Convic

Civic Landscape

National Award of Excellence
The Garden of Cloud and Stone
Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture

National Landscape Architecture Award
Brunswick Town Hall Precinct Streetscape Upgrade
Moreland City Council