Brisbane to host 2022 Festival of Landscape Architecture

Updated: 21 December 2021

Brisbane has been named host of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA)’s 2022 Festival of Landscape Architecture, recognising the city’s commitment to environmentally sustainable practices and development.

The annual conference is expected to attract over 400 leading landscape architects, urban designers, architects, town planners and policymakers to Brisbane over four days in October 2022.

AILA Chief Executive Officer Ben Stockwin said Brisbane’s walkability, reputable business events industry and investment in transport infrastructure were critical in the decision to choose Brisbane as the host city.

He said Brisbane was also appealing because of the many city transforming projects underway or on that horizon that are of key interest to the industry.

“A great deal of the program will be deep-diving into the 2032 Olympics. There are going to be once in a lifetime opportunities to increase the number and quality of outdoor public realm spaces in Brisbane.”

He said the 2022 festival would involve delegates being able to “get out there and experience, celebrate and see first-hand many of the projects that are occurring in and around Brisbane.”

“That means having delegates hear from the project designers, looking at both the aesthetic and technical elements of each project,” he added.

Both emerging and established outdoor spaces across the city are expected to be profiled at the 2022 festival.

Contenders include the sprawling 16ha Roma Street Parkland and the inner-city, 17ha South Bank Parklands, where Riverside Green won the Award of Excellence for Parks and Open Space at the 2021 AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards. 

Entry and exit points for Brisbane’s new 10.2km train link Cross River Rail are another possible area of interest.

Delegates are also expected to tour the Fish Lane Town Square in South Brisbane.

The retail, lifestyle and dining precinct features 3000 plants, lighting installations, public seating and projectors and won the Award of Excellence for Civic Landscape at the 2021 AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards. 

Brisbane’s host status for the Festival of Landscape Architecture comes as the city forges ahead with a range of new developments.

A draft master plan for inner northern Victoria Park is underway, transforming the former 18-hole golf course into a 64ha park, complete with active recreation and sporting zones, native gardens, all-ages activities, creative playgrounds, barbecues and shelters. At least 60 per cent of the area will be green space canopy cover.

The Kelvin Grove parkland will also be home to equestrian and BMX cross country and freestyle events at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Other spaces to be developed for the global sporting event include the $1 billion redevelopment of The Gabba, the Brisbane 2032 athletes’ village at Northshore Hamilton and other sporting facility upgrades.

Likewise, the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane’s central business district has a strong focus on open-air public realm, including the development of a 300m riverfront Mangrove Walk and ‘The Landing’, opposite South Bank, that will provide a new recreation and event space for the city, with 6,500sqm of trees, grassy knolls and alfresco terraces.

Further around the Brisbane River bend, the $2.1 billion Waterfront development will include a riverside promenade and active transport opportunities for cyclists and pedestrians. In total, the project will include up to 9000sqm of public space, as well as upgraded jetties and a new CityCat terminal.

The festival will applaud design excellence, share practical implementation methods and highlight subtropical design throughout both the conference and the AILA National Landscape Architecture Awards.