Landscape Institute announces 2020’s LI Award-winning projects

2020 has been a difficult year; but it hasn’t changed the fact that the climate and biodiversity crises are the biggest challenges of our lifetime. And with the importance of public green spaces highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the transformative power of landscape is at the forefront of public thought and policy like never before.

On 26 November 2020, people from around the world tuned in to the Landscape Institute’s first ever online Annual Awards ceremony. No stranger to the small screen, presenter Julia Bradbury welcomed attendees: setting the scene for a unique virtual afternoon by discussing the delicate balance between people, place and nature and the crucial need to create habitats in which all flourish.

"As a nation, and globally too, we've realised the value of the outdoors," said Julia. "...But there's a lot of us out there for the planet to support – so we need to use space effectively and efficiently."

The 21 winning projects and entries celebrated over the course of the afternoon demonstrated the myriad ways in which landscape does just that.

"It's been another record year for Awards entries, all of such an exceptional standard – especially in our new categories," said LI President Jane Findlay, broadcasting from the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield. "In line with our climate and biodiversity declaration, we've aligned our judging criteria to include sustainability, and introduced more specific categories based around these topics.

"The pandemic has really highlighted the vital role that public space, greenery and nature play in our lives. The judges and I saw projects that retrofit our public green space, reimagine our public realm, transform our high streets, and make our cities more resilient to climate change with proper, in-practice sustainability – all such important tasks."

'Impactful nature-based solutions'
Broadcasting from Brockwell Park in London, LI Chief Executive Dan Cook also reflected on the important role our parks and green spaces have played this year.

"Before the lockdown, too many saw these spaces as a luxury. As something nice to have, but not essential. But now more than ever, we all realise their importance – for health, nature, and wellbeing.

"I continue to be impressed by the range of finalists and winners coming from all over the world. It's great to see green and blue infrastructure combined to find creative and impactful nature-based solutions to the major challenges of our time. Whether it be climate, biodiversity, health or other social issues, we all need to work to accelerate this movement in the years ahead."

Acknowledging historic challenges with equity, diversity and inclusion in the landscape sector, Dan also encouraged those involved in delivering great landscapes, parks and places to do more to welcome and champion practitioners from diverse backgrounds. He also reiterated the urgent importance of climate and biodiversity action, as well as the need for the landscape sector to lead a greener recovery from the current pandemic.

'Relevance and purpose'
Matt Haslam, Managing Director at headline sponsor Hardscape, said: "As Headline sponsor, the team at Hardscape feel even more committed to the benefit our support provides to the landscape profession. This year is special, though, because the work needed to deconstruct an in-person event and deliver it digitally means spending more time focused on the meaning of an Awards ceremony, and taking more time to consider our collective relevance and purpose as we celebrate the winning entries today.

"We too at Hardscape have deconstructed what we do over the last nine months, and are fully committed to providing Landscape Institute members a more diverse range of paving solutions that benefit our world and help us move toward our shared zero carbon ambitions."

'Bringing nature to the heart of the city'
LI President Jane Findlay went on to announce her choice for the 2020 LI President's Award; a green space in the heart of a city that offers an inspiring example of new, nature-inclusive approaches to public realm design.

HTA's redesign of Cator Park in Kidbrooke Village, London opened to the public last year. The design has returned nature to the city and challenged the perception that urban brownfield development can't provide both social and ecological benefits.
 

"Cator Park stands out for me as an inspiring example of bringing nature to the heart of a city for people to enjoy," Jane continued.

"The park was originally a traditional green space in a residential development, all mown grass and shrub beds. But what impressed me was the foresight of the client, Berkeley Homes, to return to the project and retrofit it in line with their "Nine Concepts" for biodiversity.

"Now the park is a beautiful and biodiverse space. And its transformation has achieved a staggering 161% biodiversity net gain!

"By putting nature first, the project delivers on so many levels that are relevant today. Cator Park has brought nature close to families, with spaces for everyone to enjoy, and enchantments to key areas to create more natural play experiences."

Restoration and recovery: the winners in full

Appropriately for a pandemic year, winning projects emphasised recovery in all its forms - from COVID response schemes to hospital gardens; ecological restoration to urban renewal.

See the full list of winners here:

Building with Nature National Award 2020
Forth Valley Hospital and Larbert Woods
RaeburnFarquharBowen

Landscape Innovation Award
Thinking with my ears: Guidance on sound for Landscape Architects
Usue Ruiz Arana

Partnership and Collaboration Award
The Children's Garden, Kew Gardens
Ground Control Ltd & Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

The Dame Sylvia Crowe International Award
Da Sha River Ecological Corridor, Shenzen, China
AECOM Ltd.

Excellence in Community Engagement
Data and Design for Property Planning
Jenny Elliott (CMLI)

Excellence in Flood and Water Management
Eastcote Town Centre Rain Gardens
Project Centre

Excellence in Heritage and Culture
Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland
The Paul Hogarth Company Limited

Excellence in Horticulture and Planting Design
The Water Gardens, Hyde Park Estate
London Refolo Landscape Architects

Excellence in Landscape and Parks Management
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
London Legacy Development Corporation

Excellence in Landscape Construction
The Green Heart, University of Birmingham
Churchman Thornhill Finch

Excellence in Landscape Design
The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice
Glasgow erz Ltd

Excellence in Landscape Planning and Assessment
South Essex Green and Blue Infrastructure Study
Alexandra Steed URBAN Ltd

Excellence in Masterplanning and Urban Design
Waterbeach Barracks and Airfield
Bradley Murphy Design Ltd (BMD)

Excellence in Place Regeneration
Urban Childhoods Belfast City Centre
Arup

Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing
Gallions Park Play Area
Thamesmead LUC

Excellence in Sustainable Infrastructure
Sauchiehall Street Avenue, Glasgow
Urban Movement Limited

Sir David Attenborough Award for Enhancing Biodiversity and LI President’s Award
Cator Park, Kidbrooke
HTA Design LLP

Excellence in Tackling Climate Change
South Essex Green and Blue Infrastructure Study
Alexandra Steed URBAN Ltd

Landscape Legacy Award
Brian Clouston

Student Dissertation
Climate change policy at the local level, does it go far enough?
Rosie Hammonds, University of Sheffield

Student Portfolio
Pomona Island Ecological Park and Botanical Gardens
Beatrice Freeman, Leeds Beckett University

Main image: Feature playground and biodiverse planting in Cator Park, Kidbrooke; winner of the 2020 Landscape Institute President’s Award and inaugural Sir David Attenborough Award for Enhancing Biodiversity