This year's winners of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards 2017 showcase a wide range of imaginative green and open spaces, and clearly demonstrate how good design benefits the whole community.

The awards raise the profile of landscape architects, and the benefits they bring to the environment, livability, health, economics, and Victoria's global profile.

Adam Nitschke, Awards Jury Committee Chair, AILA Victoria, said there was an "impressive quality of projects" which "highlight the breadth of influence that landscape architecture exerts across our built and natural environment." 

Image: Urban Design Award of Excellence, Hawthorn Arts Centre Civic Space, Site Office.

In total, 36 entries were submitted across 11 categories and for the Future Leaders award. The jury said there was strong competition in several categories.

Community engagement featured strongly in many projects, reflecting the importance of landscape architecture to communities.

Nitschke said landscape architects often collaborate across all aspects of a project, from inception to delivery, and have to communicate not only with the client, but with the designer, project manager, and contractors. 

Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards 2017 - award winners by category

Category 1: Civic Landscape (Not awarded)

Category 2: Parks and Open Space

• Award type: Parks and Open Space Award of Excellence
• Project: Wooten Road Reserve Interpretation Space
• Entrant: GLAS Landscape Architects

Image: Parks and Open Space Award of Excellence, Wooten Road Reserve Interpretation Space, GLAS Landscape Architects.

Category 3: Play Spaces

• Award type: Play Spaces Landscape Architecture Award
• Project: Valley Reserve SPARC
• Entrant: Playce

Image: Play Spaces Landscape Architecture Award, Valley Reserve SPARC, Playce.

• Award type: Play Spaces Landscape Architecture Award
• Project: Rosebud Foreshore Playspace
• Entrant: HASSELL

Category 4: Infrastructure

• Award type: Infrastructure Award of Excellence
• Project: Remembrance Drive Interchange
• Entrant: OCULUS in collaboration with VicRoads and Paul Thompson

Image: Infrastructure Award of Excellence, Remembrance Drive Interchange, OCULUS in collaboration with VicRoads and Paul Thompson.

• Award type: Infrastructure Landscape Architecture Award
• Project: Jock Marshall Nature Reserve Walk
• Entrant: Urban Initiatives

Category 5: Cultural Heritage (no entries) 

Category 6: Land Management

• Award type: Land Management Award of Excellence
• Project: Armstrong Creek Rejuvenation (with Waralily)
• Entrant: GbLA

Image: Land Management Award of Excellence, Armstrong Creek Rejuvenation (with Waralily), GbLA.

Category 7: Tourism (no entries)

Category 8: Urban Design

• Award type: Urban Design Award of Excellence
• Project: Hawthorn Arts Centre Civic Space
• Entrant: Site Office

Category 9: Landscape Planning

• Award: Landscape Planning Landscape Architecture Award
• Project: University Square Master Plan
• Entrant: City of Melbourne, City Design Studio

Category 10: Research, Policy and Communication Award of Excellence

• Award: Research, Policy and Communication Award of Excellence
• Book: Landscape Architecture and Environmental Sustainability: Creating Positive Change Through Design
• Entrant: Joshua Zeunert

Category 11: Community Contribution

• Award type: Community Contribution Landscape Architecture Award
• Project: The Journey Interactive Map
• Entrant: Tract Consultants

Category 12: Small Projects

• Award type: Small Projects Landscape Architecture Award
• Project: Marnebek Sensory Courtyard
• Entrant: Jeavons Landscape Architects

Category 13: Gardens

• Award type: Gardens Award of Excellence
• Project: NGV Grollo Equiset Garden
• Entrant: OCULUS

Image: Gardens, Award type: Gardens Award of Excellence, NGV Grollo Equiset Garden, OCULUS.

• Award Type: Gardens Landscape Architecture Award
• Project: Towers Road Residence
• Entrant: TCL

Victoria Future Leader Awards

• Award type: Future Leader Award Graduate
• Georgia Chisolm
• Nathan Collins

Click here to read more about the AILA Victoria Awards.

Read more about landscape architecture:

The parks and gardens transforming Australia

Study proves improved landscape design attracts more visitors

Gardens add value