Rodney Owen Beames Memorial Award 2010
Sponsors
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (SA Group)
HASSELL
Supporters
ArtsSA
Judges
_ Heath Edwards, AILA_SA
_ Daniel Bennett, Principal, HASSELL
_ Trish Hansen, Manager, Public Art and Design, Arts SA
Citation
The selection for the 2010 Rodney Owen Beames Memorial Award, sponsored by HASSELL and
AILA_SA and supported by Arts SA, took place on 14th December 2010 at HASSELL’s studio in
Adelaide.
The judges were impressed with all three candidates and the professionalism of their work, their
presentation and their understanding of the diversity of art within landscape architecture. Each
project met the Award criteria and the judges want to thank the candidates, Matt Baida, Sissi
Wang and Nina Orkina for their hard work and time in completing their Final Projects and
presenting their projects to the judges.
This year the judges have decided to award the Rodney Owen Beames Memorial Award to
two candidates, Matt Baida for his project titled ‘Time's Arrow’, and to Sissi Wang for her
project titled ‘Gamescape Utopia’.
These two projects represent the diversity of the graduating class in landscape architecture in
2010. The judges were impressed with the individual design philosophies and demonstrated
technical awareness for both projects.
‘Gamescape Utopia’ – Sissi Wang
Sissi's design philosophy explored the virtual design world of gaming and the interplay between
the traditional and contemporary virtual landscape. This approach informed the design of a
progressive gamescape that would be interactive and playable to visitors to the site in Port
Adelaide.
Her broad understanding of the Port Adelaide site, particularly of the land uses, transport linkages
and open space, as well as her understanding of future sea level impacts set the foundation for
her Macro and Micro goals for the project. The strategy for the design, as well as her ‘Rules of the
Game’ were refreshing, creative and robust in driving the design process.
Sissi's knowledge and integration of ESD practices into her design through green roofs, wetlands,
biofiltration systems, wind power, solar power generation and biogas technology was also noted
as part of the success of the project.
‘Time’s Arrow’ – Matt Baida
Matt's design for the rehabilitation of a copper mine at Kanmantoo in the Adelaide Hills
demonstrated a sound knowledge of the principles of landscape remediation of ex-mining sites
whilst also emphasising the ‘social’ remediation of the area.
His design philosophy was focussed on entropy and the tension between culture and nature, with
the title of his project The Arrow of Time reflecting the processes of thermodynamics.
His design embraced the remediation process of the site by visually showing and referencing the
mining processes in different elements, acknowledging that mining did occur rather than trying to
disguise it. This then allowed for the creative re use of the tailings and the mine pits for community
and educational uses – something he termed social remediation.
The integration of land art, natural systems and technical ability in his design reflected a true
understanding of landscape architecture as being a process of science versus art.
He also displayed how his design could be staged and implemented over many years to align with
the long term remediation process, and any financial budgets that may drive the remediation.
Both Sissi and Matt had a strong understanding of habitat creation for indigenous fauna and flora
and this was inherent in their landscape designs and planting selections for their respective sites.
Congratulations to Matt and Sissi.
