Andrew Green - BEDP (Qld) Committee Update

Attribute photographer – Christopher Frederick Jones

New look BEDP launched in Queensland!

The new look Australian Council of Built Environment Design Professions (BEDP) held its Queensland inception meeting on 17th September 2009 attended by the BEDP’s new National Chair, Richard Green. The Queensland committee comprises representatives from several professional bodies, including the Australiana Institute of Landscape Architects, and is chaired by leading architect, Michael Rayner.

It is envisaged that the new BEPD will provide a one stop organisation to media agencies in regard to design and built environment issues. It promises to be an exciting and influential organisation and represents over 60 000 design professionals, including over 1500 AILA members, from all over Australia.

The Queensland arm of the BEDP is aiming to provide a collective media voice for design professionals, seeking to be a regularly sought commentator on built environment issues for the media as well as for Local Authorities and the Queensland Government. In particular, on new regional and city plans, proposed urban initiatives, environmental issues, and on relationships between design professionals and others in the development and building industries.

The past decade has been an era of great urban revitalisation and as a decade of massive infrastructure retrofit is entered there is a risk that infrastructure outcomes not based on sound and contemporary design principles will be compromised. Without necessarily denying the validity of new infrastructure projects, Queensland should aim to be renowned for the design quality and sensitivity of these vast projects. This is territory which will clearly involve the whole BEDP. The BEDP will also aim to elevate the sense that design underpins the work of all built environment design professionals working concurrently with the State Government’s Smart State agenda to promote creativity and innovation. Promoting Holistic ESD Solutions and encouraging ‘whole of precinct’ rather than purely individual building solutions is also at the forefront of the BEDP’s Queensland agenda, as well as fostering research relationships between Universities and the built environment professions.

Other areas which the committee thought the BEDP in Queensland could prioritise are:
* Water strategies for urban growth
* Relationships between design professionals and university courses.

The BEDP Queensland will be formally launched in early 2010 with a series of exciting seminars and other events to follow

 

AILA – FNQ,  Renée Jezard UDIA Update, Contracts and Project Management Issue 13 Landscape Architects and designers participated in a workshop/luncheon held on the 22nd October at Conics Office Boardroom to discuss the changes in the Landscape Plan Approval Process in Townsville City Council, our involvement with UDIA to change this process, contracts and other project management issues common to all Landscape Architects in Townsville. UDIA UPDATE Wal Smith and Steve Falvey from Place Design Group are the Landscape Architectural representatives for Townsville, and gave a run down on the issues facing Landscape Architects in terms of Council Approval Processes. Wal and Steve have been discussing in depth, these issues with UDIA (Urban Development Institute of Australia – Townsville Group) in order to create a better approval process which is fairer and less cumbersome for Developers, Consultants and Contractors, and to improve ‘on’ and ‘off’ maintenance schedules and Council inspections during and post construction.  Wal and Steve are due to meet again with UDIA at this end of this month, to discuss these issues further, and any other items which were raised in our workshop. CONTRACTS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT ISSUES An open forum was held to discuss any issues relating to contracts, project management and specifications.  It was great to hear Landscape Architects from the Whitsundays voice their concerns as well.  Whilst they couldn’t make the workshop, they were keen to participate via email, which could then be discussed with the rest of the group.  A copy of all issues raised will be sent to all members who participated in discussions.  If anyone else would like a copy, please do not hesitate to contact Renee Jezard at renee.jezard@conics.com.au

 

Phillip Coxall Public Lecture – Jane Hulme 27.10.2009 Phillip Coxall recently spoke to an audience of practitioners, academics and students, at a free public lecture presented in partnership between the QUT Landscape Architecture program and AILA Queensland, at the QUT School of Design lecture theatre. Phillip is a director, with Adrian McGregor, of McGregor Coxall Landscape Architects, recent winners of the international Topos 2009 Landscape Award for their work on BP Park and Ballast Point, both post-industrial sites on Sydney Harbour.  He spoke about his life experiences, practice and projects, spanning from his early student days through to present - this was particularly encouraging for the student audience to see how a career path can evolve from student to successful practitioner. McGregor Coxall is a Sydney-based firm, with diverse experience and expertise spanning landscape architecture, urban design, architecture, graphics, planning, horticulture and urban ecology. While based in Sydney, they have realized projects internationally as well. Throughout the range of projects Phillip discussed, he often referred to rigorous processes of questioning, contextual investigations and refinement of design vocabulary. The outcome sought through these processes was for the best possible design resolution in relation to the project and site, and often this came from challenging or refinement of Client briefs. Further relating to this drive for better site and project outcomes, Phillip discussed an in-office research project – ‘Biocity Studio’.  McGregor Coxall launched the Biocity Studio in 2006 as a research and development company focused on urban environmental sustainability. In essence, the Biocity Studio ‘is an urban planning model arising from landscape architecture and biological theory that proposes cities be reconceptualised as ‘urban biotopes’ that are supported by a myriad of interconnected ecosystems…It is built upon a collaborative, transparent, open source intelligence across twelve major urban systems into which critical data is progressively captured. The data is available as a comparative metric to highlight strengths and weaknesses of different urban conditions’ (McGregor Coxall, 2009). In an overlap of research with practice, the research project aims to involve an aspect where each project that comes into the office is assessed in terms of the twelve Biocity systems – it will be interesting to see in time how the model is applied to these real projects, and adapts to suit specific requirements of site and different communication methods. Two projects of particular focus – the Former BP Site Park and Ballast Point Park – highlight what this type of interconnected design approach can achieve in post-industrial landscapes. Both of these sites have rich, layered histories, are situated on the Sydney Harbour foreshore on former industrial sites, and Phillip described them as ‘portals to Inner Sydney Harbour’. As a key to both projects, the interpretation of layers became an important aspect of the design vocabulary, resolution and materiality to transform the sites as dynamic urban parks, which speak of the specifics of site and past use. In a spatial sense, both realized projects reference the existing site geometry to the extent that it could be said that the design is generated from the site geometry and topography. By engaging with the existing, the designed public landscape seems to act as a mechanism to reconnect the fragmented histories of site, thus creating a heightened sense of the specifics of each place. In a way, the success of this event was evidenced by the high level of student patronage, and the format of the evening encouraged conversations not only about Phillip’s projects, but also in relation to broader issues facing Landscape Architecture in cities – such as the reuse of previously developed land – particularly when we are faced with such issues as growth and sustainability. Perhaps the most sustainable development is not new highly-rated development, but development that carefully engages with, and reintegrates, site elements which are no longer used in their original manner. Events like this help to foster relationships and dialogue between all levels of the Landscape Architecture discipline, as well as other design and built environment fields.  By partnering with QUT, the event was an example of how interaction between practice and education can help to support and enhance the experience of students, recent graduates and members undergoing the mentorship program for RLA, through a combination of networking, lecture and discussion. Within the AILA Queensland group, an ‘AILA Fresh’ initiative has been started specifically to focus on events and programs for this group of emerging professionals. This event, partnered with QUT, was a great example of a forum where students and practitioners could come together to reflect on some of these important projects and issues.

National Council Unearthed

Why do we have two National Councillors in Queensland?
You may not know it, but we are lucky in Queensland to have had representation of two members on National Council for several years now, with one or both on the Executive team. This is not a ‘given’, with the requirement being only for one as a minimum from each State and Territory. What this means for you is that with two National Councillors rather than one, you have increased access to National Council to raise issues of national interest. Even NSW and Victoria, with a similar number of members to Qld, only have one Councillor each to represent them.

Don’t National Councillors represent the State Executive?
No. Councillors are not representatives of the State Groups, State Executives or State members. Councillors act as individuals with primary responsibility to the membership as a whole, not to any individual member or group of members. Councillors are elected for a two-year period and at least one Councillor must come from each State, the ACT and the NT.

What is the difference between State Executive and National Council?
The AILA National Council retains ultimate legal responsibility for the whole organisation and provides leadership by setting goals, budgets, policies and performance targets.

The AILA State Group Executives are committees of Council appointed to represent the profession, the Institute and its members within the State. The State Executives provide a forum and focus for the activities of members, carry out the work of the Institute at State level and promote the aims and objects of the Institute.

What does  National Council “do”?
Let me tell you its not just a happy jaunt to Canberra twice a year for a chat-fest! The National Council governs the Institute, with an emphasis on:
• Corporate governance
• Fulfilling the Vision
• Encouragement of diversity of opinions
• Speaking with one voice
• Strategic leadership
• Future directions
• Proactive policy
• Representing and understanding of the diversity of the profession of landscape architecture

To sum up, we do meet in Canberra twice a year for a two day intensive board meeting to discuss all issues. We also attend State Executive meetings, which are held monthly in Queensland. In between times, we continue to liaise on issues and governance by email, telephone calls and conferencing, and the occasional face to face executive meeting. We also take advantage of our Executive Director’s time when he is in town to catch up on issues in person. This means that it is never too late for you, our members, to raise issues of importance and concern to you.

Pacific Trees Winter Update - Christina Gnezdiloff

Summer really is the time where we can reap the benefits of large trees in our environments. They create the shade we head for in the park, a backrest to lean on for a picnic and even a meeting point. Imagine how hot and uncomfortable our favourite summer activities would be without trees to give us shade and a cooler temperature to enjoy our great outdoors.

I’m sure there is a tree to suit every activity, deep shade under a Ficus for those 30+ degree summer days, the dappled shade of a Delonix for an early morning walk, the swaying shade of a palm over your favourite pool.  I urge you to consider further how the shade you introduce to a project you are working on will increase the users’ enjoyment of the site and make it a memorable place for them. As the architects of our landscape you have at your disposal an element that builds emotional attachment to a site, the use of trees. It seems so simple, plant more trees and they will come!

We’ve recently added to our website a photo library for the more individual of our stock, Pandanus pedunculatus is the first plant to feature in the library. We have many images for you to browse through to find the perfect specimen for a site. Take a look at www.pacifictrees.com.au and click on photo library to take you to the Pandanus album.

Eureka Landscapes, Lauren Barnes

Million Dollar Plus Winners

At the 2009 Landscape Queensland Construction Awards evening, Eureka Landscapes took out the Million Dollar Plus Category for their work at Brightwater Estate on the Sunshine Coast.  In addition to this, they also won the Best Landscape Feature for Grande Park Stage at Springfield Lakes.  With such a high calibre of work to their name, why would you risk leaving your commercial landscape construction to any other company?
Eureka Landscapes have over thirty years experience within the landscape industry, so it is no surprise their knowledge, skill base and results are virtually unrivalled.  Eureka Landscapes has been involved with all types of landscaping projects, from broad acre revegetation and infrastructure projects,  to residential communities and golf course surrounds.  With their team of highly skilled employees, they are prepared for all landscaping projects, no matter what size or complexity.