WAX Nominates Future Leader

‘I am quite proud and humbled to be standing here in front of you all’ said Matt as he delivered a brief speech at last week’s ALIA Awards launch as part of his nomination for the ALIA Future Leaders Award. The award recognises achievement in design, planning, communications and research that is based upon the development of innovative, creative and practical solutions to landscape architectural challenges. The directors of WAX nominated Matt who has continuously developed his professional skills as a landscape architect over the last 4 years and has shown a strong focus on a commitment to research, working with the community, the environment and how we as professionals and individuals impact on society. On the back of his Churchill Fellowship Matt, in his speech, alluded to the fact he felt landscape architects are capable of more than ‘swales, connections and a bit of paving’ and how he would like to change the perceived notion that landscape architects are only good at applying superficial cosmetics to locations but can add value to one of Australia’s most pressing social and environmental issues.

The Payneham Community Have Their Voices Heard At Park Day

On a cold and wet weekend the project team, WAX Design and URPS, braved the conditions along with Council members from the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters to engage with the local community regarding the Payneham Oval Junior Playground. Park Day was initiated to reinforce Councils commitment to community engagement and what better team than WAX and URPS, who both value a strong consultation process, to help facilitate it. 

The local community’s spirit was not damped by the conditions with many families making their way to the playspace to impart their valuable knowledge and understanding of the site. A big thanks to those community members, face painters and balloon artist who braved the conditions and made it such a fun day. WAX is now looking forward to using the knowledge gained to develop an initial concept for the playspace.

Wallaroo Rail Reserve Masterplan

Located in the heart of the town centre, The Rail Yard Reserve reflects Wallaroo’s industrial history as one of York Peninsula’s largest and most important ports. Connections to the rail yard’s past are still found on the brown field site through the long forgotten tracks and sheds.

WAX has been engaged by the Copper Coast Council to provide a masterplan that focuses on creating a beautiful, meaningful and functional reserve that celebrates the sites unique history and pays tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country with a memorial walk.

WAX is exploring a new aesthetic that combines structured nature with post industrial elements and is intended to provide opportunities for both the community and visitors to revalue the site and find beauty in the town’s industrial heritage. New layers of interpretation and occupation, allows the evolution of the site’s histories to continue and for the community’s association with the rail reserve to stay alive.