MacKenzie Falls Gorge Trail wins Good Design Award

hansen partnership’s landscape architecture work on the MacKenzie Falls Gorge Trail for Parks Victoria in the Grampians, Victoria, has won a national Good Design Award for Architectural Design: Urban Design & Public Spaces, amidst steep competition from fellow finalists One Central Park in Sydney and Hart's Mill Surrounds in Port Adelaide.

The Good Design Awards, held in Sydney on Friday, are one of the longest standing and most prestigious design award programs in the world, recognising the best in design, innovation and creativity at a national and international level across a variety of design disciplines, including architectural, product, digital and communication design.

The MacKenzie Falls Gorge Trail project was recognised for its highly site-specific approach, processes and outcomes which delivered a bold landscape architecture design solution and enhanced visitor experience for one of Australia’s largest waterfalls. 

hansen was engaged by Parks Victoria to redesign the MacKenzie Falls Gorge Trail after floods caused the destruction of a key footbridge.
The resulting new trail designed by hansen was inspired by the pristine natural beauty of the gorge, traversing the river through steep and challenging terrain, setting up dramatic spatial sequences that better connect people to the landscape.

Steve Schutt, landscape architecture director at hansen, says the remoteness of the site and lack of base data meant the team had to rely on more basic, hands-on techniques, which in turn contributed to the delivery of a highly site-specific response.

“Accessibility was a major challenge; the site is a four and a half hour drive from Melbourne at the base of the MacKenzie Falls in the Grampians National Park,” says Schutt.

“Quality aerial photography and survey information was unavailable, so gathering information on site was crucial. We used techniques such as on-site visual mapping and photo assessment to deliver a site-specific report including new trail alignment options and a ‘kit of parts’ document detailing typical details construction. 

“Every rock face, landscape element and natural feature were inspected and documented through sketch design and on-site mapping using pen and paper,” he says.

Schutt says the newly aligned footbridge, expanded mesh steps and walkway contribute to the trail’s presence and identity, while the sensitive design approach delivered a sound framework for ongoing management of the area, balancing increased visitor traffic with conservation and preservation requirements.

The Good Design Award win follows hot on the heels of the success of the MacKenzie Falls proiect at the AILA Victoria 2014 Awards, where it was awarded both the Design Award and People’s Choice Awards.

For more information about the Good Design Awards and the winning MacKenzie Falls entry, go to: https://www.good-design.com/entry/mackenzie-falls-gorge-trail-design/

Photo: Andrew Lloyd

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about hansen partnership
hansen partnership is a multidisciplinary planning and design practice. We take a collaborative approach to urban design, urban planning and landscape architecture, balancing precision and innovation to create places of enduring value. We work with clients throughout Australia and across Asia, balancing commitment, creativity and innovation with award-winning experience. 

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