INSTITUTE
LOGO
The three-leaf circled logo was designed for the AILA in 1982 by Emery
Vincent and Associates, prior to the IFLA Congress in Canberra.
Council
adopted the logo, together with regulations concerning the use of the
symbol and its associated colours and typeface.
To
download the logo or coat of arms CLICK
HERE to go to the download page which includes guidelines for use...
THE
COAT OF ARMS OF THE INSTITUTE
INTRODUCTION
The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects was granted an official
Coat of Arms in 1975. Armorial Bearings, or a Coat of Arms, (or more simply,
Arms) are granted by the Officers of Arms on behalf of the Sovereign,
through the College of Arms in London. An individual or a corporate body
may apply to the Earl Marshal for Letters Patent granting Arms to a person
and his heirs, or to a body in perpetuity.
After establishing that the applicant is worthy, the Officers of Arms
negotiate with the body concerned over the design of the Arms. Although
there are rules which govern heraldic design, the applicant is invited
to make suggestions and is given considerable latitude. The main constraint
imposed by the College is to ensure that the design is not similar to
other Arms on record. Heraldry is an ancient art which had its origin
in England in about the 12th century, and it follows that there are thousands
of recorded Coats of Arms, each of which must remain distinctive.
Symbolism and allusion play a big part in the design of Arms. The following
notes explain the elements in the Arms of the Institute and the Arms are
shown in black and white at the front of the Handbook.
THE
SHIELD
The Shield is divided into three parts: the top left part (white) represents
atmosphere or climate, the top right part (green) represents vegetation,
and the bottom (red) represents earth, - the basic elements which govern
or influence a Landscape Architect's work. The engrailed or scalloped
border (black) is required for differencing. The interlocking rings (black)
symbolise the interaction of climate, vegetation and earth, and can be
thought of as cycles of interaction or ecosystems.
THE
CREST
The Crest is the part above the helmet. (It is not, as is commonly supposed,
another name for the whole Coat of Arms.) The Crest consists of a portcullis
(red) and a mythical beast called a Griffin or Gryphon, (white with blue
tongue and claws). These elements are to link the Institute, as a national
body, with the national capital of Australia, and with its original designer,
a Landscape Architect.
The portcullis is taken from the Arms of the City of Canberra and the
Griffin is an heraldic pun on the name of Walter Burley Griffin. The crest
sits on a wreath (green and white) from which emerges the flowing lines
of the mantling (green and white). The mantling is simply decoration and
is not essential to the design.
THE
MOTTO
The motto 'To Dress and to Keep' comes from Genesis II, 15, in which
the Revised Version says: "The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden
of Eden to dress it and to keep it". The Garden of Eden in this context
means the Earth. "To Dress" suggests the Landscape Architect's
function to design, and "To Keep" suggests his function to
maintain and conserve.
The Patent granting Arms to the Institute is a document on vellum which
shows the Arms in colour, a description in heraldic terms, and a statement
that they have been granted by the Queen through the Earl Marshal to the
Institute. At the bottom of the document are suspended three circular
brass boxes which contain wax impressions of the official seals of the
three Principal Officers of Arms.
The description of the Arms in traditional Norman - English heraldic terms
on the document is as follows:
Tierced in pairle reversed argent, vert and gules three interlaced annulets
and a bordure engrailed sable.
Crest: On a wreath of the colours, a mount vert thereon in front of a
portcullis gules a gryphon couchant argent.