02 April 2009

Winner: HABITAT

Phillip Johnson Sustainable Landscape Systems takes out garden show award

HABITAT – a sustainable landscape design by Phillip Johnson Sustainable Landscape Systems – has won the Gold Show Garden Award and Best in Show at the 14 th annual Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS).

The garden design takes into account ever-increasing water restrictions and the issues raised by climate change. Described as a “spellbinding billabong oasis” HABITAT showcases the natural beauty of Australia.

Over 600m2 the installation at the MIFGS contains native plants – including Boabs, Eucalytpus, Lomandra, Banksia and Acacia – with billabongs and running water features a focus of the design.

All but two of the materials used in HABITAT were sourced within a 100km radius of the site and the installation, unsually, includes animals – with fish that can be caught and cooked.

This expansive installation explores a number of ‘outdoor rooms’ of Australian landscapes – all considering water conservation, capture, storage and efficient use – and includes a vegetable garden and orchard.

Johnson hopes the win signals a change in views toward landscape design.

“I hope that our achievements at MIFGS are the next step in creating a serious shift in landscape design – to designs that promote self sufficiency and are truly sustainable - using native and indigenous plants, intelligent water capture and conservation techniques, solar power, and the use of local and recycled materials.”

“If we can create a movement whereby people really understand the benefits of implementing these principles, then we start to assist the environment and nature to heal itself, one urban or rural backyard at a time,” Phillip says.

You can see Phillip’s award-winning installation at the MIFGS until Sunday April 5.

Phillip Johnson Landscape Design
phillipjohnson.com.au

MIFGS
melbflowershow.com.au

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I would like to creat a billabong n my backyard what is the cost of this????

Barbara Charters April 08 2009

Hello Barabara,

I would suggest following the link above to Phillip Johnson's website to contact the company directly (or copy and paste the url below into your browser). I'm sure they could give you an idea of how much such a project would cost.

http://www.phillipjohnson.com.au/contact.html

Thanks for your comment.