Pro Bono Landscape Design - Winner

Pro Bono Landscape
Winner: Steve Garland Landscapes (Steve Garland)

Project: Learning Garden at Annandale Public School in Sydney, NSW
AILDM has a rich history of designers donating their time and skills to schools and institutions. A great way of helping children find the joy and delight of gardening is for them to learn about growing fruit and vegetables. With a design inspired by indigenous Australian art showing the interconnectedness of all living things, raised garden beds provide easy access for children of all ages. Sandstone walling with delightful relief carvings of flora and fauna reflects the materials of the old school buildings, and doubles as a seating wall. Plantings of seasonal vegetables and herbs are intermingled with bush tucker plants of lillypilly, macadamia, midgen berry and lemon myrtle, as well as warm climate fruit trees like mandarin and mango.

Judges Citation
The brief was to provide an educational garden for the youngest kids in the school, the kindergarten and infants (ages 5-7).

The site selected is north facing with some existing shade trees (including a large camphor laurel which was removed).

This design appealed as it drew on local materials including sandstone and provided a stimulating design for growing and learning.

The design of low circular beds linked with compacted granite paving was inspired by Aboriginal art motifs. The indigenous Australian influence on the design is clear from the plan submitted with the competition entry but could also be read in the completed work when it is viewed from above (the garden is overlooked from adjacent classroom windows).

The garden planting combines traditional European edible plants with a range of bush tucker plants such as macadamia lillypilly, midgin berry and lemon myrtle. From the photographs submitte with the entry, all the plants appear to be flourishing due in part to the raised beds but also to the availability of water and good compost on site.

We liked the use of interesting shapes, drawing on traditional motifs to create a unique and I think very funky, modern design that still sat comfortably in the school environment. This came mainly from the way sandstone tied the garden to the existing buildings at the school and the use of raised beds, which doubled as growing and seating areas. I particularly liked the amusing bas-relief sculptures incorporated in some of the sandstone bocks.

The job was completed to a high standard and appears to be working well within the school.

Jennifer Stackhouse