5 April 2016
World Landscape Architecture Month
Friends and Colleagues,
This month is World Landscape Architecture Month, organised by our friends at the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The celebration of our work worldwide using the hashtag #WLAM2016 is an opportunity for all of us in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia to participate and show the world how the profession shapes our communities.
I encourage you all to download the blue ‘This is Landscape Architecture’ business card, cut it out and carry it around with you as you photograph all your fantastic projects; and share your efforts across all social media platforms. Well done on this great initiative ASLA!
(…and here’s my first contribution – North Terrace, Adelaide, by Adelaide City Council, State Government of South Australia and many Landscape Architects including TCL)
This month I am very proud to announce our first AILA film, part of a series of 6 engaging films that we will be progressively releasing to lead the way in building the profile of our profession. Over the coming weeks all 6 will be released, created across a range of topics for all to share. I encourage you to use these as you wish, whether talking to staff, clients, community, students…even as part of your email signature. They are stylish, engaging and a worthwhile addition to our advocacy kit. I’d like to thank our Principal Partner LAPPSET for generously supporting the development of the films, without LAPPSET support it would not have been possible, and my thanks to Harri and his team. Lastly I’d like to sincerely thank the stars of the films – our AILA members – that passionately supported and shared their experiences. Check out the film here.
AILA is also proud to announce a new partnership with Hardie Decks, who come on board as a valued AILA Partner on the back of their launch of a range of new decking products. You can check their launch out here. Welcome to the AILA family, Hardie Decks!
Our national advocacy also continues apace, with AILA being invited to participate in a cities event later in April with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, as well as continuing to actively work with the new Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cities, the Hon Angus Taylor MP. We are looking forward to the Cities Green Paper being released in coming weeks. Watch this space…
The jury for the My Park Rules campaign, which includes Lucy Turnbull, Tonia Gray, Kylie Legge, Sacha Coles, Joshua Byrne, Mary Jeavons and Nick Forostenko met last week and we wait with anticipation on the announcement of the winner. My heartfelt thanks go to all the practices involved in this importance initiative, and good luck to all the finalists.
Our other active campaign is Australia’s Best Playground – with voting now open (link here) – we have had 45 submissions which will make selecting the best one very difficult. It demonstrates the importance of design and the valuable leadership and contribution landscape architects have in the area of play in Australia. Make sure you vote!
AILA’s family is literally growing, with the arrival two new potential AILA members! Both Caroline Odgers (AILA’s resident vocalist) and Paddy Winslade (who is simply unflappable) have recently welcomed new babies – we wish them well and thank them for all their energy, passion and time they have given to AILA over the last years.
As always, I’m always happy to hear from members, so please drop me a line if you have anything you wish to discuss or comment on.
Have a good week!
Daniel Bennett
Registered Landscape Architect
National President