The Victorian chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscaping Architects (AILA) has celebrated the best landscape architecture from across the state, with 35 winners across 16 categories.

The peak body for landscape architecture in Australia, the AILA awards program provides an opportunity for the public and peer recognition of innovative, contemporary landscape architecture across the country. Each state will hold its own awards ceremony in the lead up to the nationwide competition.

On Thursday 5 June, it was Victoria’s chance to showcase its winners’ pioneering designs, from a field of 70 entries across 16 categories that encompass gardens, parks, civic and play spaces.

Reinvigorated regional mall honoured with two awards

Bridge Mall Redevelopment, Ballarat, designed by Hassell Studio. Photo: Tom Rowe

Ballarat’s Bridge Mall Redevelopment, by Hassell Studio, was dually celebrated with an Award of Excellence for Civic Landscape and a Regional Achievement Award.

Praised for its ‘streets for people’ approach and thorough, collaborative design process, the project was commended for revitalising Ballarat’s historic retail precinct into a lively, people-focused meeting place.

“The result is a high quality, skilful and contextually responsive sequence of civic spaces and experiences that have delivered on the potential for transformational change,” the jury said.

“Bridge Mall elevates Ballarat’s urban experience and shows landscape architecture’s ability to catalyse social and economic benefits in regional precincts.”

Hedge House Garden commended for focus on biodiversity  

Hedge House Garden, designed by Emergent Studios. Photo: Rory Gardiner

Receiving an Award of Excellence, the Emergent Studios-designed Hedge House Garden extends a neighbouring reserve’s bushland, integrating regenerative biodiverse planting and habitat features that promote the ecological restoration of the parklands.

The jury lauded the design’s “immersive and evolving landscape”, praising the garden for fostering engagement with its local environment and its potential to enrich everyday life. Simultaneously recognised as lively and wild, Hedge House Garden was considered a positive model of domestic design, ecology and sustainability.

“This project will help inform future approaches to our suburban gardens and landscapes, ” the jury said in its conclusion.

Meanwhile, the Stone Hill Gully and Escarpment Regeneration project received a Landscape Management Award of Excellence for its transformation of what was once a degraded landscape. Designed by Thomson Hay Landscape Architects, the project also took home an Infrastructure Landscape Architecture Award.

The judges expressed admiration for the project’s focus on restoring a neglected environment, outlining that “the result shows that the country can be revived with will, skill and ongoing commitment. Care is forever.”

Designers awarded for fostering children’s play

Central Park All-Abilities Playground, designed by SBLA Studio with the City of Stonnington. Photo: Pier Carthew

Central Park All-Abilities Playground, by SBLA Studio with the City of Stonnington, was honoured with an Award of Excellence in the play spaces category. The designers were commended for conjuring a sense of wonder and discovery in the space.

“This delightful small play space offers a welcome contrast to the oft-heavily constructed playgrounds seen in our urban parks,” the jury said.

“The design feels more like a whimsical and interactive garden plucked from the imagination of a child and brought to life! It delivers a tapestry of tactile experiences and learning opportunities.”

All winners of an AILA VIC Award will now proceed to the National Landscape Architecture Awards, to be announced in October in Hobart/Nipaluna.

Related: AILA recently commemorated the best landscape architecture across Western Australia here.