Trend Watch May 2024
Building a professional culture: A decade of AILA Festivals
In 2024 Street Furniture Australia celebrates 10 years of partnership with AILA Australia-wide. Through this partnership we have sought to enrich the landscape architecture profession, engaging in research collaborations, co-hosting events and supporting the AILA festival.
While AILA takes a pause to redevelop their festival format, Jillian Walliss and Sara Padgett Kjaersgaard reflect on a decade of AILA Festivals, considering their contribution to professional growth and community building among Australian landscape architecture professionals.
Read the article in Landscape Australia.
Five Emerging Placemaking Trends
International Placemaking Week, hosted by Project for Public Space in Baltimore, Maryland, USA will be held for the 4th year in June. The proposals submitted for the event have provided good insight into emerging placemaking trends in the US and the world. Here are the top five – which will be the focus for this year’s Placemaking Week.
Top five emerging trends:
- Equitable Infrastructure
There is a growing interest in how large investments in things like streets, transportation systems, bridges and tunnels can serve multiple benefits to the community. - Creative Placemaking
In Baltimore groups of artists, designers, and city officials will discuss the brass tacks of activating public spaces, covering everything from community engagement to programming and maintenance.
- Placekeeping
Project for Public Space view placemaking and placekeeping as two complementary approaches to creating well-used, well-loved public spaces.
- Reusing Vacant Space
Reimagining vacant houses and vacant lots can lead to the development of much needed public space.
- The Potential of Waterfronts
Working to create healthy vibrant spaces connecting to nature.
Find dates and session details for Placemaking Week in Baltimore here.
Read more about proposals received for the event and emerging trends here!
Photo by Pilgrim Scrivener.
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Street Furniture Australia is coming to Greenscapes + Green Expo 2026
Visit us at Booth F25, Brisbane Convention Centre, 5–6 August. We’ll be launching a brand new product alongside a fun game—great prizes to be won. Read More
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More trees don’t always mean cooler cities
Research from Melbourne, Munich and Hong Kong shows how plant selection can influence heat in unexpected ways—depending on local conditions. Read More
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Introducing WoodPlus™ – engineered wood
Tested for the demands of public space, WoodPlus offers the benefits of natural hardwood whilst minimising waste. Read More
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Spacemaker Gallery: The exhibition that never closes
Spacemaker Gallery, an online platform dedicated to preserving and sharing landscape architecture, environmental art and design. Read More
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How to Apply DDA to Street Furniture: Seats and Tables
Under the Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992, known as DDA, public places must be accessible to people with a disability. The DDA is relevant to many aspects of... Read More
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100 Chairs, Melbourne Design Week 2026
The landmark 100 Chairs exhibition bringing together over 100 Australian creatives to explore the chair as a medium for storytelling. Read More
