Place Design Group is thrilled to have received two awards at this year’s Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) QLD awards!
In its fifth year running, AILA QLD received a record number of 62 submissions across 12 categories.
Our Baringa Town Square project for Stockland’s Aura City of Colour residential community on QLD’s Sunshine Coast received a Landscape Architecture Award for Urban Design, with jury commending the consistency of materiality and continuity of designed forms and colour themes to deliver a lively town square and open space link that serves the new community’s needs.
“The Square allows for a multiplicity of uses and participation in social and community gatherings. It serves for quiet, solo relaxation, lunch time breaks, family gatherings, youth integration with the skateboard area, cycling about and through, lawn play or sunbathing, and for large-scale community events and performance, day and night.”
The project team challenged the initial design brief of a small civic plaza, championing the idea of an integrated youth plaza featuring skateable infrastructure, bespoke seating pods equipped with acoustic speakers, parkour signage and custom ‘feasting’ tables to engage the entire community and provide a true glimpse into Aura’s future Town Centre to be built in 5-10 years.
Responding to the site’s surrounding schools, community hub, adjacent wetland and future retail precinct, the design focused on connectivity and the creation of a productive and social space – a design focus that was well received by the jury.
“With the site planning and urban design considerations of connectivity, amenity and legibility, this project ensures the bordering road and the Square together form a legible link between the residential area and the commercial centre to the chain-of-ponds wetlands and natural retained landscapes.
The outcome is that the town’s public hub is integrated into the wide, regenerated landscape setting, rather than enclosed in a commercial or built urban surrounds.”
The Yeppoon Foreshore & Town Centre Revitalisation project for Livingstone Shire Council is our second AILA award-winning project for 2019.
Receiving a Regional Achievement Award (Central Queensland), the jury noted the project as ‘an attractive reimagining of the Queensland coastal lagoon that illustrates the catalytic power of destination projects within regional centres.
A vision realised by council, Place Design Group delivered the detailed design for Stage 5 of the Foreshore Master Plan, focusing on placemaking and destination creation to spur visitation and grow the local economy.
Director Clint Wood said capturing the local lifestyle, character and emphasising the natural beauty of the foreshore and calming ocean views was integral to the success of the Yeppoon Foreshore and Town Centre revitalisation project.
“Receiving industry design recognition from AILA is validation for all the exhaustive effort put in by Livingstone Shire Council, the entire project team and the passionate community.”
AILA Queensland President David Uhlmann said this year’s awards demonstrated the forward-thinking, innovative and diverse approaches of the landscape architects of our state.
“The winning projects highlight the positive impact that carefully planned and well-executed landscape architecture can have on our community, wellbeing and the environment.”
On behalf of Place Design Group, thank you and congratulations to our clients and collaborators on these award-winning projects!
For a full list of award recipients click here.
