The AILA Chapter Awards this year showcased a broad array of outstanding projects – from integrating tree preservation strategies, to the creation of flexible gathering spots. Many entrants successfully harnessed community involvement, resulting in benefits not only for the environment, but for society. Submissions that were quick to turn around and those that took years to finalise were rewarded. “Some projects were delivered in multiple stages over two decades, often on controversial projects with little public recognition,” said NSW Jury Chair Kate Luckraft. Urbis won three awards at the Queensland ceremony, including Health and Education, Civic Places and Play Spaces. “I can tell you that these recognitions are incredibly meaningful,” said Urbis Landscape Architect, Cassandra Friday, in Brisbane. “Winning an award, such as the one for the Barrambin/Victoria Park Shelters …

Low carbon aluminium options are increasingly available according to Hassell’s Jeff Morgan In a recent podcast for Architecture & Design, Hassell Director and sustainability lead, Jeff Morgan, discusses the shift the aluminium industry is making towards lower carbon aluminium. Beginning with a clear definition of low carbon aluminium, Jeff explains how aluminium producers, in Australia and elsewhere, have started to radically decarbonise. Some headlines from the podcast…– Aluminium is the ideal circular material. It is infinitely recyclable without degrading in quality. – A common misconception is that recycled aluminium is lower quality than virgin aluminium.– Low carbon aluminium should now be able to be procured for your project without hurting the bottom line. While 100% recycled aluminium can still be a challenge to find at present, low carbon options are …

Street Furniture Australia has a long history of design and research collaborations with the University of NSW. Francis McArdle, our Head of Product Design is a Casual Tutor at UNSW – a role which is valuable in maintaining strong ties between our industry and the University. Most recently the Industrial Design teaching staff together with Francis ran a competition for a group of 2nd year students. StreetChat asked Francis to tell us all about it. How did this Street Furniture Australia/UNSW collaboration come about? The competition was held during Term 1 this year, with students from Industrial Design Studio 2A, which I was a casual tutor in supporting the course convenor. Their Studio project was centred on “Design for Public Space,” with students asked to design a new bike rack. …