theailablog

Australian Landscape Principles

The AILA National Conference in Melbourne will be using the Australian Landscape Principles as the basis for the discussions on the future of professional practice. The Australian Landscape Principles have been developed as a strategic response to this issue, based on respect for the inherent and measurable values of landscape when developing planning, design and management strategies for climate change adaptation in our natural and built environments.

At least one practice will be interrogating their own practice for their presentation at the conference and discussing the issues of ethics in their decision making and in their project work.

The question for all members: Have you conducted such an assessment recently? Have you any thoughts on conducting this kind of in-house study? or any other comments on the future of the profession and the use of the Landscape Principles ?

Look forward to your comments.

Paul Costigan
AILA Executive Director

Posted by Administrator in AILA, General, climate change, education, environment, landscape principles | No Comments »

AILA QUT ALUMNI

Hello ex-QUT students and lecturers BAS/BBE(LA) 1989-91 and GDLA 1993-94!!!

Former student, Walter Van Der Loo is travelling from far flung Perth to attend the AILA national conference in Melbourne in May and thinks it’s about time for a catch-up with former uni buddies.

Anyone interested in getting together to reminisce the old days and generally catch-up and have a larf can contact Walter on walter.vanderloo@edaw.com

Posted by Administrator in General | No Comments »

Landscape Architecture Education in Adelaide

Clearly, it’s a special experience to come away from an exhibition feeling excited and that you have learnt something.

It’s even more so when the exhibition is a landscape students’ graduation exhibition!

It’s so exciting to see projects that amaze and challenge all of us.

Truly, there is not a shadow of doubt that these students will set a cracking pace in many directions for landscape architecture. These comments were prompted after I saw Switch 08, the University of Adelaide’s Masters of Landscape Architecture and Masters of Architecture exhibition.

Common Ground by Johnny McIntyre, proposes a new engagement process with aboriginal communities that considers how by listening, balancing opinions and being respectful, new planning and design outcomes can be achieved.

Breathing Space and Circulation of the Landscape by Amy Smith and Amelia Brereton, both deal with the plight of the Murray  Lakes and the Coorong.

These projects consider how human intervention and engineering can be mediated through landscape design processes to create sustainable environments for the future.

Jason Avery’s Skinscape used the healing properties of the flesh as an intriguing metaphor for the repair of the scarred landscapes of regional Wallaroo.

International projects range from the redevelopment of Copenhagen harbour and the creation of new suburbs for Singapore to the islands of Hong Kong with Dandelion, Xin Xin Yu’s sensitive adaptation of Tai O Island through a study of seasonal changes that affect the environmental, social and cultural ebb and flow of the land.

Su Sien Wong proposed an exciting ‘exit strategy’ for the Royal Adelaide Hospital, while maintaining the vitality and urban fabric of the East End.  Marion Chan challenged the conventional wisdom of the Adelaide Hills Face Zone in response to the current urban sprawl and future demand for housing in South Australia.

Adelaide 2018 by Alex Game, illustrated the potential for Adelaide to host the Commonwealth Games and how this event could be used a catalyst for the creation of a new urban context for the City. [I won’t offer any comment about the architectural students’ projects].

There is definitely something special happening amongst the landscape students at Adelaide Uni, and mention should be made of staff members: Tanya Court (Coordinator Landscape Architecture Program), Warwick Keats and Prof Nancy Pollock-Ellwand.

damien mugavin

Posted by Administrator in University of Adelaide, education, student project | No Comments »

Testing the Waters: Conserving Historic Landscapes Training

Hello AILA folk!

We are considering the marketability of a Graduate Certificate (4 units or subjects) in Conservation of Historic Landscapes, or something similar.

I know I would love be involved in teaching it! Is anyone interested in studying it?

I trained at the University of York (MA-Conservation Studies 1990) which has informed my practice as a heritage consultant and a teacher. Professor Gini Lee has joined us here at QUT and we would be the chief staff involved, with special appearances by other QUT staff as needed.

I envisage lots and lots of expert guest lecturers which was the model at York. We want to make it solidly practical with an emphasis on conservation plans prepared through design studios investigating REAL historic landscapes.
Interested anyone?

Dr. Jeannie Sim, QUT, Brisbane.

Posted by Administrator in General | 1 Comment »

Electronic Reference Material

ELECTRONIC REFERENCE MATERIAL IN PLACE OF BOOKS TO AID WITH PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND FOR DETAILS ON LIKELY GROWTH HABIT, ETC. FOR LANDSCAPE PROJECTS
Hi!
We are investigating if there are any software books or reference material on DVD or CD or in dedicated pay for or free password accessible web sites out there which can be placed on the network for staff to access on this subject.

The product should show the botanical genus, species, subsp, var. cv, and common names etc. with coloured images of the plants generally and with if availabele bark, trunk, leaves, flowers, etc.

We are aware of “PlantFile” and of CSIRO’s “Eucalid” software so we are seeking any others out there for use in a networked office environment with a number of potential users.

Source and contact details and cost if any would also be useful.

Lets hear from you all soon.

David Bungey

Posted by Administrator in Plants, environment, software | No Comments »

Australian Landscape Architects & Heritage

 I was recently talking about landscape architects and Heritage with Philip Palmer, one of our WA members, who has recently taken up a job with the National Trust WA.

Nationally we are wanting to identify those AILA members who are working in areas of heritage or cultural landscapes.

Are you in a practice that occasionally or most of the time specialises in this work, or are you working in these areas from within a government department or agency or a non-government organisation (national trust)? If so please make contact.

The AILA national council is considering what national actions should be initiated to position the profession and the AILA in these areas of work, locally and nationally and ultimately internationally.

Philip would also like to build up links and network with other Australian landscape architects on this topic.

We would very much also like to consider doing some profile work on the types of work being undertaken by Australian landscape architects in heritage and cultural landscapes; the work could be within Australia or international.

Hear from you soon

Paul Costigan
Executive Director

Posted by Administrator in AILA, Heritage | 9 Comments »

Urban Sprawl debate

A debate quietly surfaced last week in the Australian media following a media release from the Australian Institute of Architects (now AIA not RAIA as before in case you had not noticed).

Their comment seemed to be based on a re-badging of their previous Urban Design policy and a public announcement of its presence along with a statement attacking everyone about urban sprawl.

Unfortunately, given the tone of the statements, the  AIA became the subject of the debate rather than the important topic they were attempting to raise (about urban sprawl that is, not their recycled policy).

There were two reports of the AIA comments, one in the Australian and another online.

The AILA has offered comment at times to various governments on the topic of the continual urban sprawl and the desire to seek improved design solutions for our urban environments.

The AILA  is working for the longer term to have some National Landscape Principles taken up by all local governments within their urban design strategies and protocols.

This project on landscape principles will be the subject of consultations later this year and into next year as part of AILA’s Commonwealth funded Climate Change project.

Meanwhile we welcome comments from members on the topic of urban sprawl - or on any topic relating to urban design and landscape architects.   also check the AILA news pages for other news

Posted by Administrator in AILA, climate change, environment, urban design | No Comments »

Crocodile’s and Dendritic Immersions

Queensland University of Technology has been presented with an exciting student project in the Gulf of Carpentatria.

The Project called “Linking Karumba: Creating Sustainable Connections” involves a multi- disciplinary group of 16 senior students, Q.U.T Teaching staff and the residents of Karumba.

This September for 10 days, the group will immerse themselves in the nature and culture of Karumba and create planning options that link the two separate parts of the township.

Karumba is located at the mouth of the Norman River in the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland.

The attached image shows the landscape that surrounds the township.

Stay tuned…………………!

Ashley Nicholson, student landscape architect QUT.

Posted by Administrator in AILA, General, QUT, student project | 1 Comment »

Role of the landscape architect in Urban agriculture

A recent call to landscape architects to give input to a journal about urban agriculture heightened the opportunity and responsibility we have to help feed a future low consumerism, highly urban world. Is there any one out there interested to being part of this.

I have a touch of permaculture in my veins and am keen to see the Victorian State Government’s program of “Food for all” be successful.

Ros

Posted by Administrator in AILA, General, environment | 3 Comments »

Schools: Australian landscape symbol libraries

The National Office was contacted by a teacher of Year 10 Graphics Technology at Port Hacking High School, on the southern side of Sydney.

He have the class currently undertaking a module on Landscape Drawing and was wondering if any AILA members could suggest a few good on-line Australian landscape symbol libraries they can access for symbols to use/duplicate in class exercises.

The school has found a handful, but none that they would describe as comprehensive by any means.

Failing that, are there any other sources of landscape drawing symbols  could be recommended? (ie. not on the internet)

Are there any good Landscape Drawing related teaching resources you can recommend? (on or off line)

This is the first time they have run the Landscape Drawing module and they are very low on resources for it!

Thank you in advance for /any / help your members might be able to provide.

Greg Bennett

Posted by Administrator in General | 1 Comment »