The winners of CAPITheticAL, the international competition to design a hypothetical Australian capital city, have been announced in Canberra tonight as a highlight of the capital\u2019s Centenary celebrations.<\/p>\n
Western Australian landscape architecture firm Ecoscape won the $70,000 first prize for its submission,The Northern Capital<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Drawing on the need to address the issues of population growth; financial, political and economic development; environmental and climate concerns; farming and food production; and acknowledging Indigenous Australian culture, Ecoscape proposed a new northern capital situated on the shores of Lake Argyle in the north of Western Australia.<\/p>\n
The jury – Professor Barbara Norman (Chair), Professor Alastair Swayn, Councillor John McInerney, Dr Catherin Bull AM and Callum Morton – awarded first and second prize, a commendation and a student prize from the 20 shortlisted entries, which share in a prize pool of more than $100,000.<\/p>\n
First Prize ($70,000)<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0The Northern Capital<\/i>\u00a0by Ecoscape Aust Pty Ltd (FREMANTLE)
\nSecond Prize ($30,000)<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Sedimentary City Canberra<\/i>\u00a0by Brit Andresen and Mara Francis (BRISBANE)
\nCommendation<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Made in Australia: The future of Australian Cities<\/i>\u00a0by Dr Julian Bolleter and Professor Richard Weller, of the Australian Urban Design Research Centre (PERTH)
\nStudent Prize<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Proto: Capital<\/i>\u00a0by Kate Dickinson and Annabel Koeck (SYDNEY)<\/p>\n
From an exceptionally strong field of 114 Stage 1 submissions from 24 countries, the jury unanimously decided on the final outcome of the design competition.<\/p>\n
\u2018The jury believes strongly that the top three entries and the winning student entry form an important and integrated narrative about the future challenges of the nation\u2019s capital,\u2019 said Professor Norman, CAPITheticAL Jury Chair.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Northern Capital<\/i>\u00a0addresses one of the themes that a number of entrants have considered in the competition – the questioning and future relevance of Canberra\u2019s physical location within the Australian continent in the 21st century, however unlike some other entries it does not seek to relocate Australia\u2019s capital city but to establish a second capital that better addresses Australia\u2019s position in the Asian century,\u2019 the jury said.<\/p>\n
Second prize winner,\u00a0Sedimentary City Canberra<\/i>, was presented as a table top scroll that \u2018unfurls back to a possible future. Imagined and real mappings of the site of Canberra have been laid one over another to create a \u201csedimentation\u201d that allows us to trace the past across the landscape,\u2019 the jury recorded. Brit Andresen\u2019s and Mara Francis\u2019s entry ruminates on the layering effect of modern cities.<\/p>\n
\u2018In response to changing conditions, cities periodically grow and shrink and some fall into ruin leaving only fragments – seemingly to vanish like many First Cities of pre-history. Cities are therefore rarely built from \u201dscratch\u201d but are, over time, overlaid city-layer upon city-layer – so that within each new city-layer there are remnants of all previous cities,\u2019 the pair reflected.<\/p>\n
Themes central to the final submissions include better connection to the north, Australia\u2019s Indigenous communities and to South East Asia; recognising and responding to extreme weather, climate change and living with our environment; and embracing regional Australia as a critical consideration in our strategic national vision.<\/p>\n
CAPITheticAL competition ambassador, His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce AM AE commented on the variety of responses to the hypothetical questions the competition proposed.<\/p>\n
\u2018What a package of surprises we had in the entries for the CAPITheticAL design competition for a hypothetical capital, with 114 final entries from 24 countries reminiscent of the original design competition in 1910.<\/p>\n
\u2018These entries are not a reflection on the original concept of Canberra by the revered Walter Burley and Marion Mahoney Griffin, but a new way of looking at the nation\u2019s capital, as if we were to have started again in 2013. I\u2019m sure everyone will find something that they have always thought about, and of course times have changed, so let\u2019s take a wild ride into 2013 and keep an open mind for the future.\u2019<\/p>\n
The 20 shortlisted CAPITheticAL submissions will be showcased at\u00a0The Gallery of Australian Design<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Featuring plans, videos and drawings, the exhibition presents a rich trove of ideas, both fantastical and practical, to provoke, amuse and ultimately delight visitors. These hypothetical capitals offer imaginative resolutions to questions of national symbolism and identity, access to government, sustainable development and community building.<\/p>\n
This free exhibition is open from 6 March until 11 May 2013. Visit\u00a0www.gad.org.au<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n CAPITheticAL is a Centenary of Canberra project, proudly supported by the ACT Government and the Australian Government and administered by the Australian Institute of Architects.<\/p>\n For more information on the competition visit\u00a0www.capithetical.com.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n ————-<\/p>\n For media enquiries, high resolution images and details on the winning submissions contact:<\/p>\n Alexandra Cato The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to\u00a0www.architecture.com.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nNational Media and Communications Officer
\nAustralian Institute of Architects
\nP. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
\nalexandra.cato@architecture.com.au\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n