2026 AILA Queensland & Victorian State Awards
LatStudios and PSA Consulting for and in collaboration with the City of Gold Coast (City Design) were awarded the 2026 AILA Queensland Award of Excellence in Urban Design for City of Gold Coast Private Development Landscape Guideline.
The jury commended the guideline as follows:
“Private Development Landscape Guideline addresses a large and persistent challenge in the city’s private realm: the cumulative under performance of landscape in development. Its strength lies in simplifying a complex planning problem into a clear, practical and visually accessible framework for applicants, consultants and decision-makers. By translating policy ambitions around canopy, biodiversity, subtropical character and climate resilience into typology-based guidance, the guideline provides an effective tool for improving everyday development outcomes and embedding landscape value into the planning system.”
LatStudios project team: Wendy Davies, Kate Songhurst, Michael Clarkson, Cherish Chang, Georgina Wilkinson, Matthew Nolan & Zara Monteith.
Client: City of Gold Coast (City Design)
Country: Yugambeh Country
LatStudios and STRÜDAL (Swinburne University & University of Melbourne - STRÜDAL: Spatio-Temporal Research Urban Design and Architecture Lab) with the City of Port Phillip were awarded a 2026 AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Award in Landscape Planning for the Greening Balaclava & St Kilda East Urban Forest Precinct Plan.
The jury commended the precinct plan as follows:
“Greening Balaclava and St Kilda East elevates urban forest management by applying an integrated planning approach at the neighbourhood level. The plan provides an accessible and legible, community-facing document. It clearly articulates where increased canopy is needed and how Council will prioritise streets for greening using an evidence-based, equity-focussed methodology. The jury felt this shift to align urban forest management with direct community benefit was well explained and visually communicated. A useful toolkit and on-the-ground testing of prototypes further sets this plan up for success into the future.”
LatStudios project team: Tom Roberts, Chris Tobin, Amanda Roberts, Em Sheehan, Kate Haughey, Kim Delbridge, Marina Couchman, Sebastian Cocks, Carol Hou and Vibha Parulekar.
Client: City of Port Phillip
Country: Bunurong Country
LatStudios and STRÜDAL (Swinburne University & University of Melbourne - STRÜDAL: Spatio-Temporal Research Urban Design and Architecture Lab) with the City of Port Phillip were awarded a 2026 AILA Victoria ShadeSmart award for the Greening Balaclava & St Kilda East Urban Forest Precinct Plan.
The jury commended the precinct plan as follows:
“The project is recognised for its strategic green infrastructure framework for St Kilda’s urban environment, delivering positive environmental outcomes, shade and thermal comfort to inform a rejuvenated and sustainable urban setting. The strategy demonstrates a practical approach to retrofitting the urban environs that can be implemented as a staged program. The increase in tree canopy provides co-benefits and is an investment in the future. The Landscape Architect is highly commended for their leadership.”
LatStudios project team: Tom Roberts, Chris Tobin, Amanda Roberts, Em Sheehan, Kate Haughey, Kim Delbridge, Marina Couchman, Sebastian Cocks, Carol Hou and Vibha Parulekar.
Client: City of Port Phillip
Country: Bunurong
LatStudios, Alliance Planning and TAP Consulting for and in collaboration with Sunshine Coast Council were awarded the 2026 AILA Queensland Award of Excellence in Landscape Planning for Sunshine Coast Council Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint 2025–2045.
The jury commended the blueprint as follows:
“…for reshaping how canine recreation is planned across the Sunshine Coast. Its evidence-led approach translates research, spatial analysis and community engagement into a clear 20-year strategy. By planning for canine populations and embedding Traditional Owner knowledge in environmental risk assessment, the project balances recreation, cultural values and ecological protection. Guiding 22 new facilities and eight major upgrades, it establishes a replicable regional benchmark for inclusive public open space.”
LatStudios project team: Wendy Davies, Georgina Wilkinson, Zara Monteith and Georgia England.
Client: Sunshine Coast Council
Country: Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) and Jinibara
LatStudios with the City of Whittlesea were awarded a 2026 AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Award in Land Management for the Edgars Creek Corridor Landscape Improvement Plan.
The jury commended the plan as follows:
"A vision for the precious Edgars Creek Corridor and its value to the local community as an urban waterway is clearly demonstrated through this compelling and visually-appealing plan. It successfully translates the vast and complex body of technical evidence into a simple blueprint, which will guide priorities and support investment for the coming decade. Embracing complexities around connection to Country, gender impact and community safety, the jury was impressed by how this plan presents a strong reference document to guide decision making for land and waterway managers.”
LatStudios project team: Tom Roberts, Sebastian Cocks, Chris Tobin, Kate Haughey, Nathan Merlano, Carol Hou and Amanda Roberts.
Client: City of Whittlesea
Country: Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung
LatStudios were awarded a 2026 AILA Queensland Landscape Architecture Award in Gardens for River Garden Retreat.
The jury commended the project as follows:
“The vision of a tropical retreat authentic to its riparian setting has been clearly realised, with careful research and horticultural thinking evident in the success of these thriving, lush gardens. Sourcing and encouraging investment in statement mature plants illustrates clever, valued leadership by the landscape architect. The result is a lush subtropical garden delivering lasting environmental benefit through increased canopy cover, improved microclimate, shade and habitat creation.”
LatStudios project team: Sean Cherry, Matthew Nolan, TJ Joseph, Cherish Chang, Damian Thompson, Michael Clarkson and Lorna Chuan.
Client: Private Residents
Country: Yuggera & Turrbal
FRED St, LatStudios, REALMstudios and WILDStudio on behalf of Andrew Scott and Mike King were awarded a 2026 AILA Queensland Landscape Architecture Award in Research, Policy and Communication for the Nelson Design Textbook.
The jury commended the textbook as follows:
“…a significant contribution to design education and advocacy, showcasing diverse designers and projects while offering students relatable insights into professional practice. Developed through extensive collaboration, it introduces design thinking through case studies grounded in community engagement and sustainability. Accessible and engaging, the resource reveals the breadth of landscape architecture, connecting creativity, science, people and place. By placing design directly in students’ hands, the textbook inspires emerging thinkers and the next generation of landscape architects.”
LatStudios project team for project contributed to textbook (University of Queensland Gatton Campus Heart & Entry): Nathalie Ward, Lauren Politylo, Cath Loom, Kate Songhurst, John Ilett, Matthew Nolan, Michael Clarkson & Cherish Chang.
Client: Andrew Scott and Mike King
Country: Yuggera and Turrbal; Yuggera Ugarapul (Yugara), Jagera & Western Wakka Wakka; Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul; and Barunggam
