spring 2010 3

The annual Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and

Managers (AILDM) Design Awards celebrate the excellence

in design produced by our talented members nationwide –

showcasing the very best of their garden and landscape designs.

This year we added a new category to the awards to cover

Landscape Management. As seems always the case, the judges

had a difficult time selecting winners from the high calibre of entries.

And the award winners are…..

ALLAN correy AwArD For DesIgN eXceLLeNcewinner: Nathan Burkett from Nathan Burkett Landscape Design

and Construction, Melbourne,

VIC

The top design award for 2010

(named in honour of AILDM's

patron and significant contributor

to landscape architecture in

Australia, Allan Correy) went

to Nathan Burkett for his

design entry in the Residential

Landscape over $100,000

category. See below for details.

resIDeNtIAL LANDscApe uNDer $40,000winner: Outhouse Designs

[Steven Warner]

project: Rear Garden in

Annandale, Sydney, NSW

Steven redesigned an

incommodious inner city

courtyard split over two levels to

create an elegant and practical

space. The forerunning garden

was dissected by a large timber

retaining wall and steep stairs,

creating two separate zones that

were functionless, unsafe and

unappealing. Steven redesigned

the courtyard, with a curved

retaining wall to give more space

to the lower dining area as well

as create a separate informal

alcove of sandstone steppers

surrounded by mondo grass on

aildM NatioNal desigN awards 2010

Top. Allan Correy Award winner Nathan Burkett

Left. Residential Landcsape under $40,000 winner Steven Warner

story: gLeNIce Buck MAILDM AND susAN LAtty MAILDM

glenice is a member of the AILDM National council and principal of glenice Buck Designs.

susan is the winner of the Allan correy student Award for 2009.

25494_ALDIM_LO_43.indd 3 17/08/10 10:52 AM

4 landscape outlook

Top. Residential Landscape $40,000 to $100,000 winner Nicola Mai Cameron and Carolyn Armstrong

Left. Commercial/Institutional winner George Adams

Bottom. Residential Landscape over $100,000 winner Nathan Burkett

25494_ALDIM_LO_43.indd 4 17/08/10 10:53 AM

spring 2010 5

the higher level. This curve in the wall is echoed in the curve of

the lawn area on the top level. The shape of the wall also makes

the space more inviting and draws the eye to the two outstanding

Ornamental Pears which soften the adjoining garage and provide a

backdrop.

Sandstone paving was used on both levels and on the stairs and

it clearly connects each of the spaces. The white painted walls

tone in with the paving. Low maintenance but lush plantings of star

jasmine, mondo grass, liriope and hebe add to the contemporary

feel of the garden. The use of a simple planting and material palette

reinforces the unity between the two levels.

Highly commended: Green Rooms Gardens and Landscapes

[Alex Haskey]

resIDeNtIAL LANDscApe $40,000 to $100,000 winner: Pepo Landscape Design and Management [Nicola Mai

Cameron and Carolyn Armstrong]

project: Rear Garden in Marrickville, Sydney, NSW

Nicola has transformed this Marrickville garden from an exposed

yard with little more than an expanse of Buffalo grass and a

few trees, to an inviting, productive garden combining areas for

entertaining and relaxing. The design links the residence at the

front of the property with the guesthouse at the rear. The existing

Jacaranda mimosifolia was retained and combined with mass

plantings of hardy, drought tolerant exotic and native plants

such as Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Gem’, Carex ‘Frosted Curls’ and

Helichrysum petiolare. The plant palette is restrained, cohesive and

strong, with appealing use of foliage textures and forms. Colours

are limited to greens, grey, silver and rusted red. This complements

the use of components such as local sandstone, recycled timber

sleepers and Cortex steel which are repeated throughout the

garden. Elements such as fences, screens and the clothes

line have a sculptural quality, adding to the distinctly Australian

character of this garden. The client’s request for a sheltered, sunny,

winter-reading area was cleverly designed using plants and a

screen, but retained congruity and flow throughout the garden

with the considered use of scale. Subtle changes in materials

on the ground add interest, permeability and functionality to the

garden. The paths of sandstone stepping stones and Nepean

gravel meander through the generous planted areas with random

sandstone pavers used for the seating areas.

Highly commended: Good Manors Pools and Gardens [Hugh

Burnett]

Highly commended: Eden by Design [Andrew Davies and Karen

Ruthven]

resIDeNtIAL LANDscApe over $100,000winner: Nathan Burkett Landscape Design and Construction

[Nathan Burkett]

project: Inner Easter Suburbs of Melbourne, VIC

This site presented many difficulties with its topographic variations,

screening issues and shallow planting areas caused by existing

wall footings. The designer integrated curves, straight lines and

grid like patterns with all the planting, paving, lawn and feature

retaining walls to create a particularly balanced garden with a park-

like grandeur. The curved, rendered retaining walls have increased

the soil depth and given an organic shape to the garden beds and

lawn areas. The lawn follows the curve of the walls and gently rises

to a level area where there is a stand of callery pears, buffering the

garden from the tennis court and giving seasonal interest. A curve

of wharf-style timber decking borders this area of soft landscaping

which flows from the indoor lounge area out to a straight edge

where it meets the more formal half of the garden. The granite

ashlar paving, spa, spill-over wall and pond were designed to

blend with the changing levels of the site and are each a feature of

the garden. The subtle plantings of Ficus hillii ‘Flash’, New Zealand

Rock Lilies and Pittosporum ‘Tobira’ soften the hard garden

landscape without detracting from its distinct character. The

garden flows around the house to a secluded courtyard. The grid-

like layout of the paving and pears is repeated, with raised granite

stepping blocks used through the courtyard between clumps of

Himalayan bamboo. Two stainless steel rectangular water features

add dulcet water-sound to this area.

Highly commended: Fluid Design [Justin Dibble]

Highly commended: Pepo Landscape Design and Management

[Nicola Mai Cameron and Carolyn Armstrong]

coMMercIAL/INstItutIoNALwinner: The Gardenmakers [George Adams]

project: Childcare Centre, Sydney City, NSW

This Childcare Centre, which caters for three to five year olds, lies

in a small sunken courtyard in the middle of the Sydney CBD.

Large office blocks overshadow it and nearby, a busy bus stop.

The area is built on a suspended slab and has significant drainage

and delivery access restrictions, as well as very limited sunlight.

The design responds to the surrounding city environment using

strong circular shapes and bold colours, creating a dramatic

visual statement, particularly when viewed from above. Areas for

free play and exploration are combined with more passive social

areas. Planted areas of hardy, shade-tolerant, child-friendly species

such as Syzygium ‘Jambos’, Raphiolepis ‘Apple Blossom’ and

Lomandra ‘Tanika’ introduce natural textures and forms to the

space. Circular shapes are repeated on the ground plane, in the

timber seating and low brick walls as well as the timber bridge and

the galvanised steel loop tunnel. The flow of the design invites the

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