Canberra sites and projects
in and around the
national capital
Garden of Australian Dreams
National Museum of Australia, Canberra
The design of the Garden of Australian Dreams , the result of winning a 1998 design competition in association with architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall, challenges the picturesque landscape tradition and proposes instead landscapes imbued with meaning which encourage the active participation of users.
The Garden was designed by Room 4.1.3 and successfully challenged the conventional built forms of Canberra’s safe off-white buildings set in a picturesque landscape
It a landscape imbued with cultural meaning dressed by surreal forms.
Children seem to definitely appreciate the space but for many adults it seems to offer an unfamiliar experience. Hence it remains the subject of debate. One could argue that as a designed landscape it succeeds as it continues to generate debate about our landscapes.
A review of exhibitions and public programs in 2003 dammed the Garden. It suggested the space receive a make-over and incorporate features such as large rocks and plant material demonstrating Australia’s history along with features like a sundial as well as more lawn. This was indeed a troubled time for the museum as a whole - let alone for this outside space. Understandably these recommendations, generated without consultation with the Landscape Architects or other design professionals, caused an outcry within the design community.
>> Landscape Australia 2001 article by Dianne Firth
>> Landscape Australia 2001 article by Richard Weller
>> Room 4.1.3. (no longer active)
>> photo essay by Edwina Richardson
>> photo essay by Paul Costigan
