STAKEHOLDER RELEASE

Tuesday, 18 December 2018

The Square and the Park: 2019 International Festival of Landscape Architecture Thematic and Creative Directors announced

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has today announced that Jillian Walliss (University of Melbourne), Kirsten Bauer (ASPECT Studios) and Cassandra Chilton (Rush Wright Associates) have been appointed as the Creative Directorate for the 2019 International Festival of Landscape Architecture.

Hosted in Melbourne, the 2019 Festival interrogates the two dominant and often contentious landscape typologies of the Square and the Park.

“Engaging with international, national and local perspectives, this festival will explore contemporary concerns of landscape architecture such as design, politics, ecology and management,” Jillian Walliss said, on behalf of the Creative Directorate team.

“This thematic is particularly relevant to a Festival held in Melbourne – a city with has often had a problematic relationship to the Square and the Park.”

“Colonial Melbourne emerged from a speculative grid that was conceived without a civic square, while a ring of colonial parks erased significant Kulin nation gathering grounds.”

“The internationally celebrated Federation Square (also the primary location for the Festival) is scheduled for the insertion of an Apple global store, stirring debate over the Square’s continuing role as a public space, while the absence of significant new public parks, in what is considered the fourth fastest growing city in the western world, is raising major concerns.”

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with such high calibre individuals to deliver a great experience for members and attendees, building on the success of previous events,” Tim Arnold, AILA CEO said.

“The Festival will be another great opportunity for the industry to come together to discuss contemporary issues and deliver a platform which will profile the value of the profession in the creation of great cities and towns.”

An international design competition, supported by the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne, to find a new public open space for Melbourne forms a major event of the Festival and will provide a catalyst for debate and discussion both during and after the Festival.

More details on the competition and Festival will be released in early 2019.

ENDS