The awards were presented by the National Executive Committee of the Institute at a prestigious function held on 5 September 2009.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
CATEGORY 1: PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA AND RESEARCH
CATEGORY 2: DESIGN – COMPLETED PROJECTS
CATEGORY 3: ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
CATEGORY 4: TECHNOLOGY
CATEGORY 5: STUDENT AWARDS
SUBMISSION FEES
• Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4 submissions are to be accompanied by an entry fee of
R 800,00 for the first project.
• Fees for a second submission by the same party will be R500.00 and R400.00
for each additional submission.
• Category 5 submissions (student entries) are to be accompanied by a fee of
R250.00.
THE 2007 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
On 28th September 2007, the Awards of Excellence was held at Kleine Zalze, Stellenbosch.
Registered professional Landscape Architects were invited to participate in this prestigious event. The category winners are listed below, congratulations to all.
THE 2007 MERIT AWARD WINNERS ...presidential merit award... FORUM HOMINI, GREENinc
Forum Homini boutique hotel is located in a private game reserve, near the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind, outside off Johannesburg. Examples of important palaeo-anthropological sites situated in the Sterkfontein Valley are Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, Coopers B and Wonder Cave. These sites have produced the remains of hominids dating as far back as 3.3 million years ago. Of all the important finds in the area, the skull of an adult female Australopithecus africanus, nicknamed “Mrs. Ples.” is the most famous.
The Cradle of Humankind’s World Heritage Site status has led to increased local and international interest in the tourist potential of the area. Economic investment into projects such as the Maropeng Museum and the Sterkfontein Caves Visitor’s Centre by Provincial Government, has also added to the feasibility of this up-market hotel. Definite properties purchased the site with an existing log-cabin-style lodge on the property. The lodge was demolished but the development rights stayed in place. Earthworks started at the beginning of 2005 and landscape construction commenced during July 2005.
The hotel received their first guests during February 2006. The scope of work increased considerably due to extensive rehabilitation work and the implementation of a critical storm water management system, resulting in a revised project value of just under R2 million, almost double the initial allowance.
…design category… LAKE MICHELLE, CNdV AFRICA
Lake Michelle is a unique environmentally sensitive, high quality residential estate nestled around a lake in the Noordhoek Valley, Western Cape, South Africa. The site, previously a sand mine, is situated around a 30Ha large saline lake, offering the opportunity for a unique water-based development.
The detailed aesthetics of the roads, bridges, ponds, boardwalks, external lighting, signage and open space design was led by the landscape architect, ensuring that the project was design-driven. The landscape design incorporates a variety of bird habitats – the densely reeded lake edges, shallow sandy areas along the shore for wading birds and several islands.
A network of paths, boardwalks and jetties create a varied link across the circulation ponds and provide access to the lake. Approximately 750 linear metres of boardwalk, 150m² of decking and kilometers of pathway have been incorporated into the design. Besides the numerous jetties and decks provided, the development also sports a communal multi-functional boathouse, so that the lake can be fully utilised for non-motorised boating and canoeing.
MITCHELL'S PLAIN TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE, CLARE BURGESS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
The Mitchells Plain Public Transport Interchange is an example of a successful and innovative, large scale urban renewal project. It incorporates an integrated design approach prepared by an inter-disciplinary team of consultants, local government and community role players.
The landscape architectural components of this project have been carefully workshopped with all role players and sensitively designed to accommodate a harsh and sometimes hostile economic and environmental climate. The implementation has been executed effectively within the allocated budget despite difficult contractual circumstances. The overall impression of the combination of new access routes, buildings and landscaped places for trading and commuting in this urban centre is one of an integrated whole that is reinforced by the repetitive design features of the tree planting programme, public artworks, paving patterns and street furniture and this makes a significant impact on the lives of the Mitchell's Plain community.
…environmental category… TAUNG SKULL WORLD HERITAGE SITE, BAPELA CAVE KLAPWIJK cc
This project from the start has been extremely complex and involved in that it has entailed a multitude of outcomes that needed intensive coordination and management both of the human and the natural resources.
It required a very sensitive planning approach that had to integrate palaeontology, archaeological history and modern history (Precambrian to present) without destroying the site significance. All this had to be captured in a manner that would grant the site World Heritage Site status. This we believe was done to such a standard that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee responded on awarding the World Heritage status that the documentation and management plan was one of the most comprehensive and thorough submissions they have received for such an application for which they congratulated the team.
Rarely does a project of this caliber become available and as a landscape architect it was certainly a privilege to have managed and planned such a site.
THE 2005 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
THE 2005 MERIT AWARD WINNERS ...presidential merit award... FREEDOM PARK: ISIVIVANE - NEWTOWN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
This submission was for the design of the Isivivane section of the Freedom Park development on Salvokop in Pretoria. The project was very well explained and design considerations and resultant decisions were clearly communicated and well presented in text and graphics. In its execution, the design displayed excellence in creativity, social responsibility and environmental awareness.
…design category… FREEDOM PARK: ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND PARKING AREA - NEWTOWN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
In this project the hard and soft landscaping around the Freedom Park (Pretoria)reception and administration section, as well as the landscaping in and around the visitor's parking area was presented for adjudication. The project involved the close integration of architecture, partly submerged below the natural ground line, with adjacent pathways, ramps, steps, retaining walls and soft landscaping. This integration was done successfully and sensitively, with regard to the site's natural features. 
MOROKA PARK PRECINCT - NEWTOWN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
This project consisted of the design and execution of three parks linked to each other in the Moroka precinct of Soweto. The parks represent well designed open spaces in a community that lacks such facilities. The use of the parks by the community is already evident. it is clear that the local community participated in determining the required facilities as well as in the design of specific items in the parks.
AEL BUSINESS PLATFORM - GREEN INC. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
This project was submitted for the landscape design of AEL's Business Platform in Modderfontein, Johannesburg. The panel was of the opinion that this was a well designed landscape, simple but still elegant, with a strong underlying philosophy. The planting design was innovative and appropriate.
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE - GREEN INC. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
This project was for the landscape design of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature buildings in Kimberley. The panel agreed that the project was very innovative in terms of its design approach and execution. The appropriateness of form, colour and texture in the hard and soft landscaping elements stands out, although extensive hard paved areas may create unpleasant climatic conditions for users on hot days that can be expected in Kimberley. Whereas the 'external' planted areas were considered extremely appropriate, it was felt that some of the hard and soft landscaped areas close to, or under building structures could have been more appropriately integrated.
BIG BAY DEVELOPMENT - PLANNING PARTNERS
This project was for the landscaping of the new Big Bay development near Bloubergstrand, Cape Town. It included street and median landscaping as well as rehabilitation planting on the primary and secondary dune systems, previously badly degraded with alien invasive plants. The work was considered innovative in that the design was for an endemic xerophytic planting palette and the landscape architect worked closely with ecologists, horticulturists, civil engineers and a very knowledgeable landscape contractor. During the project's construction phase and now during ongoing maintenance work, a large number of unskilled workers are afforded employment. The project must be seen in its broader context in that it forms part of an integrated coastal development and environmental rehabilitation plan for the area.
DOROTHY NYEMBE PARK SCULPTURES - INSITE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
This project was entered for the Detail Design Category for its sculptural elements. This project consisted of precast concrete sculptures adorning the Dorothy Nyembe Park in Soweto, Johannesburg. The various elements share the same 'language' despite having different functions and applications, and are considered to be strong in form, bold and innovative. They create a feeling of animation and movement. The detailing and the materials used are robust and appropriate to the context.
…environmental category… MOFOLO-MOROKA OPEN SPACE FRAMEWORK - NEWTOWN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
In this project an open space framework for the green spaces in Mofolo-Moroka precincts in Soweto, Johannesburg was developed. The report was compiled well and all relevant information was presented in a clear and simple manner. It was also well illustrated. The underlying ecological principles came out strongly - all design proposals took ecological considerations into account. The proposals responded to the question 'so what?', which is not often answered in reports or studies of this nature and clearly directed decision-making since the proposed priorities and estimated costs were also given.
GALESHEWE OPEN SPACE AND LANDSCAPE PLAN - AFRICAN EPA
This project provided an open space and landscape plan for the Galeshewe Township near Kimberley. The report was considered to be very comprehensive and from an editorial point of view, well written and easy to read. The analysis of the area and its features was carried out thoroughly but it was felt that the interpretation of the data and solutions proposed could have been more innovative. More emphasis could have been placed on the hierarchy of the open spaces and their relationship to open or green spaces surrounding the township. The decision making tools provided in the report to the client were sufficient to enable informed planning decisions to be made. The public participation process that was followed was comprehensive and the entrant made every effort to determine the community's needs. The information presented to the community by use of such media as posters, was considered to be very appropriate.