2020 Vic Awards

It was a delight to receive an Award of Excellence in Landscape Planning at the 2020 AILA VIC awards. 'Siting and Design Guidelines for Structures on Victorian Coast' provides a clear set of guidelines that consider siting and design challenges in response to pressures posed by population growth and climate change.  It outlines effective practices to protect the character and quality of the coastline while managing land and infrastructure, maintaining public access and enhancing visitor experience. Most importantly its approach is a hierarchical set of fundamental considerations derived from policy objectives, best practice design principles and an understanding of evolving conditions and concerns. Thank you to our client the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for working through this with us on what is an important planning document and thank you to Red Pony Creative for a wonderful graphic outcome.

The Maribyrnong Waterfront Integrated Water Management project also received a Landscape Architecture Award in the Infrastructure Category at the 2020 AILA Vic Awards.

This Project is a rigorous and clear strategic speculation that offers strategies for renewal along urban waterways. The aspirational vision for flood-prone areas catalyses behavioural and attitudinal change toward oft-forgotten public infrastructure, whilst harnessing social and ecological opportunities. The jury noted the strong and accessible graphic representation and commended the document as an evocative blue-green‘next step’. Thanks to our collaborators Alluvium Consulting and Venant Solutions, and to our client City of Melbourne.

And lastly, a big congratulations to the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung team for the project that was recognised with the Alan & Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture at the 2020 Victorian AIA Awards. In a collaboration led by Gresley Abas and Gregory Burgess Architects REALMstudios was honoured as part of the team and with special thanks to Paul Thompson and Dr Peter Breen who have worked with us to realise Country through planting, water and place, with water being central to the site's structure and expression. The Jury applauded the project as ‘an outstanding example of respect and sustainability’.