2024 AILA National Award
Winner // 2024 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for Small Projects.
Congratulations to the City of Adelaide, Karl Meyer of Exhibition Studios and Yvonne Koolmatrie for an incredible award win! We were proud to have supported the project team throughout the design and construction documentation phases of this important project.
The Place of Reflection is a high-profile memorial located in the city’s east end at Rymill Park/Murlawirrapurka (Park 14). A collaboration between Aboriginal artist Yvonne Koolmatrie and South Australian designer Karl Meyer of Exhibition Studios, the memorial promotes healing for members of the Stolen Generations, their families, friends and the wider community. It is a dedicated place to meet, support, reflect and connect.
Developed with significant consultation and engagement, the space provides opportunities to engage the wider community and grow an understanding of the past and present experiences and stories of the Stolen Generations.
A bronze sculpture is at the centre of the space, created by renowned Ngarrindjeri weaver Aunty Yvonne Koolmatrie and Karl Meyer. The artwork expresses a life-size mother figure with arms held out as if nurturing a missing child.
The low seating suggests being close to the earth, while the landscaping includes native reeds and rushes, connecting to culture and rejuvenation.
At the centre of the site is a steel Coolamon on a circular black granite boulder to be used for fire, smoking and ceremonial events.
The entire space has been carefully designed and landscaped to highlight the important links between the natural world and cultural lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
National Awards Citation:
This project involved the creation of a space for healing and reconciliation. The design team have used a refined material palette and a thoughtful approach to texture to craft a place that honours the Stolen Generations and resonates with extraordinary pain. This exemplary project is the culmination of strategic planning and sustained leadership that has integrated culture, story and artwork. The work demonstrates the positive outcomes that result when landscape architects collaborate in a genuine way with cultural advisors and artists. By foregrounding storytelling and cultural preservation, the design team have delivered a powerful outcome for the community.
Congratulations to all award winners!