President's Report

Well the end of another year and I hope successful to all AILA members in South Australia and their work colleagues, clients and business partners.

This year, as every year, has been a busy time especially those that represent you on the State Executive Committee, providing their time freely for us all.  A number of you have also contributed to advocacy issues that impact on the Landscape profession, and through the mentoring programme providing an insight into the future working lives of students.  I particularly want to mention Paul Herzich, Hon Secretary, who has kept the executive minutes but also kept you all informed of local activities; Heath Edwards, Hon Treasurer, for keeping us out of the red , and Ben Willsmore who has represented AILA as part of ‘Place’ editorial board.

The coming year will be challenging and uncertain due to global changes – I hope it treats us well.  Nearly 20 students will be graduating and hopefully will contribute to the widening role and promotion of Landscape Architects in South Australia.

One issue that has been bubbling in the background is the membership of BEDP (Building Environment Design Professions).  Last week Australian Institute of Architects, Planning Institute of Australia, Association of Consulting Engineers and Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors announced they would be leaving the partnership.  It has been the only organisation representing the design professions and lobbying for better design.  Changes will be happening over the coming year and I would hope that SA AILA members will continue to provide support in its new form.

Finally and importantly I would like to announce the Rodney Beames award for 2008.  This award is sponsored by SA AILA and Hassell with input from Arts SA.  This year’s recipient is John McIntrye.  His citation has been uploaded to this link. 

We wish John best wishes for his future career.

May I pass on my best wishes to you and your families for the coming festive season and look forward to catching up in 2009.

Alison Radford

President
SA Group

The Rodney Beames Memorial Award recognises the commitment and interests of Rodney Beames, a landscape architect who promoted the practices of landscape architecture and, in particular, art in the landscape.

This Award is for excellence in Landscape Architecture and is demonstrated in the Final Project of landscape architecture students at the University of Adelaide.  The Award applies to design and/or theory and is specifically directed towards the debate and practice of art in contemporary landscape architecture in Australia.

The South Australian Group of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA SA) and HASSELL are the proud sponsors of the annual Rodney Owen Beames Memorial Award.

This year, the University of Adelaide nominated three candidates deemed to meet the criteria and deserving of consideration for the Award.  A panel of jurors consisted of Alison Radford, President of SA AILA group, Fiona Kidman representing HASSELL and Jane Andrew from ArtsSA. The final projects presented were of a high standard illustrating the diversity within the profession. Underlying all three projects was a clear concern for the future of humanity and the environment.

The first candidate to present to the panel was Jason Avery. His “skin” concept applied to an old smelter site in Wallaroo and developed an integrated design of water quality and reclaiming the site based on the concept of healing, water wrinkles and patterns of the skin with a view to creating recreational opportunities.

The second candidate, John McIntyre’s project focused upon the process of community consultation to achieve a sincere translation of concepts and metaphors cross culturally driving the selection of the site and the final ephemeral design of a courthouse space in the Arnhem Land of Northern Territory.

The final project was presented by Amy Smith with a concept based on “breathing space” which was applied to Lake Alexandria.  The project developed a design that considered both agricultural practices and environment issues of the people and the environment that rely of this delta of the Murray River.

All three projects demonstrated a knowledge and commitment to the integration of art within the landscape and as a reflection of their commitment to the environment.  All three students are to be congratulated for their site selection and final designs. The high standard of presentations and diverse approaches resulted in a difficult assessment process.  However, the panel has decided to present the 2008 Rodney Owen Beames Memorial Award to John McIntyre.

John’s project focused on finding and creating a design that reflected the needs of the local and wider community aspirations within the framework of developing a multi judicial system within the Arnhem Land of Northern Territory.

The panel felt that the methodology which consisted of the process of cross cultural consultation and the final design showed that art can be an intellectual as well as physical apparition.

John successfully articulated the creativeness of a design process that culminated in the development of a flexible environment that was focused on the future of the local community.

Congratulation to John McIntyre on receiving this award.

Switch 08, the Masters of Landscape Architecture and Masters of Architecture exhibition opened at 6 pm Friday 12 December. As usual there is a diversity of work from any aspect of landscape architecture and a few that extend the professional scope.

Common Ground by Johnny McIntyre, which proposes a new engagement process with aboriginal communities that considers how by listening, balancing opinions and being respectful, new planning and design outcomes can be achieved. 

Breathing Space and Circulation of the Landscape by Amy Smith and Amelia Brereton, both deal with the plight of the Murray Lakes and the Coorong.  These projects consider how human intervention and engineering can be mediated through landscape design processes to create sustainable environments for the future.

Other projects explored transport orientated development (TOD’s) and the need for planned transit systems that not only facilitated mass transportation, but also create outstanding urban and landscape spaces.  In contrast to the urban condition, Jason Avery's Skinscape used the healing properties of the flesh as an intriguing metaphor for the repair of the scarred landscapes of regional Wallaroo.

Some projects provided a global perspective to the impact of human development on the landscape.  These international projects range from the redevelopment of Copenhagen harbour and the creation of new suburbs Singapore to the islands of Hong Kong with Dandelion, Xin Xin Yu's sensitive adaptation of Tai O Island through a study of seasonal changes that affect the environmental, social and cultural ebb and flow of the land.

Closer to home many projects explored new directions for Adelaide. Su Sien Wong proposed an exciting 'exit strategy' for the Royal Adelaide Hospital, while maintaining the vitality and urban fabric of the East End.  Marion Chan challenged the conventional wisdom of the Adelaide Hills Face Zone in response to the current urban sprawl and future demand for housing in South Australia. 

Finally, Adelaide 2018 by Alex Game, illustrated the potential for Adelaide to host the Commonwealth Games and how this event could be used a catalyst for the creation of a new urban context for the City.

Hope to enjoyed the exhibition.

Tanya Court                                                      
Coordinator Landscape Architecture Program

Warwick Keats
Landscape Tutor