This Project Spotlight will feature  Living Lab Northern Rivers (LLNR) by University of Technology Sydney and Living Lab Northern Rivers - winner of the 2025 AILA National Award of Excellence for Community Contribution and 2025 AILA National Regional Achievement Award. 

Join AILA and landscape architect Martin Bryant from University of Technology Sydney, as he shares insights into the design process and key takeaways from this important project. 

When: Monday 16 March, 1pm-2:00pm AEDT (Melb, Syd time zone) 

National citation:  
Living Lab Northern Rivers exemplifies how landscape architecture can lead recovery and renewal and improve resilience in the face of climate disaster. Established on Bundjalung Country after the 2022 floods, the Lab brings together communities, First Nations knowledge holders, government, business and universities in a groundbreaking hybrid model of research, co-design and practice. Its continuous shopfront presence and full-time activation foster trust, empower community agency, and advance evidence-based approaches that address housing, biodiversity, waste and flood resilience. The jury commends this whole-of-society initiative for breaking down silos, exploring new roles for landscape architects, and offering a powerful model for climate adaptation and community-led change.

National citation:  
Living Lab Northern Rivers exemplifies the role landscape architecture academics can take in leading innovative solutions to climate change adaption. Born from the lack of government action after the 2022 floods, the collaborating universities of University of Technology Sydney and Southern Cross University are commended for their work in the community, with First Nations collaborators, researchers and students, to develop pragmatic approaches for community-led adaption and recovery. Documents, such as Look Ahead, offer solutions that community, council and state government can begin working towards to enable Lismore to become a more flood-resilient place.

*Top image is by Mark Gerada.

This event is proudly supported by AILA National Partner, Trailworx.

Registration

The event will be recorded and made available to registrants 48 hours after the webinar.

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