Entries open for Resene New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards 2019
Two new categories are a key feature of the Resene New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards 2019 which open for entry today.
NZILA President Brad Coombs says “I’d be encouraging everyone in the profession to think about the projects that they have got to celebrate and get those forward for an award in 2019.”
Members of the NZILA awards working group says the two new categories, playgrounds and landscape management, are important additions to the programme which the institute is extremely proud of as it seeks ways to reward excellence.
Taumanu Reserve, Onehunga won an NZILA Award of Excellence in 2017. It is an Isthmus project.
NZILA fellow and awards working group member Jan Woodhouse of Woodhouse Associates says as the landscape architecture profession has matured, it has expanded into new areas including landscape management, which includes the documentation for managing the sustainability of landscapes. “We needed to recognise this area as an increasingly important subset of work.“
Jan says judges in this category will be looking for identification of the key natural and cultural elements already occurring in the landscape and how they will be managed to enhance intrinsic cultural, landscape and ecological values. “They may also look for innovative environmental solutions to issues and the establishment of benchmarks for best practise,” she says
Jan says while the awards recognise best practise within the profession, they also illustrate the range of projects landscape architects are involved in. “Our projects demonstrate the responsibility we have to our culture, people and economy.”
The Margaret Mahy Family Playground by WSP-Opus International Consultants Ltd won NZILA Award of Excellence/Parks in 2017.
Another member of the awards working group and also a NZILA Fellow, Mike Thomas of Jasmax says the awards are an important way to promote the profession and the influence it has in the built and natural environment. “We also want to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our peers and colleagues whilst acknowledging new benchmarks for best practice in New Zealand.”
He says the 2019 award categories reflect the growing breadth and depth of landscape architecture practice in New Zealand. “ Many practices are involved in the design of play facilities for local government and educational facilities. We wanted to provide landscape architects with the opportunity to be recognised for their work in this area of practice – where our profession is taking play into a whole new realm. Previously, playgrounds competed with parks and reserves in the same award category, which can get large and complex, overshadowing playgrounds. “
Mike says it’s not often landscape architects get to design destinations that exist purely for fun and to bring unmitigated joy to children (and relief to parents). “Landscape architects have the skills and mandate to take playgrounds beyond a collection of toys and products – to integrate context and identity into the design of play facilities. In particular, bi-cultural design helps to create settings that are relevant to New Zealanders.“
The entry cutoff date is April 1 and the awards dinner will be held in Christchurch on November 8 as part of the NZILA’s annual conference.
Call for Entries is now open, click here for more information.
Webb Street Garden was a 2017 category winner for small projects. It’s by Local Landscape Architecture Collective Ltd.