AILA 2008 National Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence
Recipient: Taylor Cullity Lethlean with Paul Thompson
The Australian Garden Stage One, Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Category: Design
Client: the Royal Botanic Gardens
Location: Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne (30 km south of Melbourne CBD)
The first stage of the Australian Garden has moved plant displays to a new level, the artistic and sculptural approach to displaying AustraliaÕs plant heritage provides an experience for all Australians to enjoy on many different levels. A walk through the garden takes the visitor through a series of rooms or displays which use common, as well as some rarely seen plants and sculpture, to inspire even the more reluctant gardeners.
The Red Sand Garden is the centre piece of the garden, it is a simple, bold and visual display. Creating such a large inaccessible, viewing only garden, is a brave move which has paid off and sets the scene for a fantastic immersion in Australian plants and works of art. It is truly a celebration of AustraliaÕs magnificent flora.
AILA 2008 National Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence
Recipient: Urban Initiatives Pty Ltd
Kubu River Hippos Exhibit
Category: Land Management
Client: Zoos Victoria
Location: Werribee Open Space Zoo
The outcomes of this project have provided a world leading system which while not totally maintenance free seems to have reduced considerably the ecological footprint and provided a healthy system. This excellent example of land management will set the benchmark for similar developments to follow and Urban Initiatives and the team are to be commended for their thorough exploration of the systems required to develop the exhibit in a more sustainable way.
The development of an alien ecosystem on a large scale such as this is rarely sustainable and can be criticized for its imposition and so this project is very important for future zoo exhibits. The success of the project relied heavily on a collaborative team with the landscape architects bringing together the various requirements of the development in an attractive and functional design. This required a good understanding of the Werribee site as well as the landscape character and habitat of the featured ÔOkavango DeltaÕ.
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