Vanuatu Tourism Infrastructure Project wins community design award

Beca’s Design Practice team was recognised for their best practice approach and involvement in regenerating the Port Vila waterfront in Vanuatu recently, taking home the Community Design Award at the 2019 Resene New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture (NZILA) Awards.

Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Government of Vanuatu, the project was a six-year effort focused on regenerating a cyclone-damaged seafront into an economically prosperous and thriving public space.

Emily Cambridge, Beca Senior Landscape Architect, was stoked to attend the awards ceremony and said, “Our Landscape team is always focused on creating places that make everyday better for people and communities. It was rewarding to be recognised amongst the New Zealand landscape profession for this community-focused project.”

An excerpt from the Judges’ Citation – “At the core of this unique project is a renewed and resilient expression of cultural values and sense of place… The success of the Vanuatu Infrastructure Tourism Project is fuelling other local initiatives which is assisting with the ongoing resilience of this proud island nation. Vanuatu Infrastructure Tourism Project was a clear winner as an excellent exemplar of a community design project which promotes best practice in New Zealand landscape architecture, undertaken on an international stage”.

Find out more on the award-winning project here, or for more information about the award, visit the NZILA website here.