We here at Ecoscape are ecstatic to announce that we received first prize for our entry “The Northern Capital” in the CAPITheticAL international design competition.
The CAPITheticAL competition, created in celebration of Canberra’s centenary, asked participants to re-imagine the tasks, pressures and influences faced in the design and location of Canberra and apply that challenge to today. Entries could be varied in scope; they could build on the existing settlement of Canberra, create a new city or utilise an existing alternative; the possibilities were open to interpretation. Over a hundred entries from twenty four countries, including submissions from architects, landscape architects, urban designers and planners, were received.
Ecoscape’s entry proposed a second national capital to be built on the shores of Lake Argyle in Australia’s Kimberely, using the precedent of multiple capitals serving different functions as seen in countries such as South Africa, the Netherlands and Israel. The sister capitals would share federal governmental power between them.
The city would address challenges facing Australia into the next century such as climate change, population growth and distribution, indigenous culture, food security, Australia’s position in the Asian Century and multiculturalism.
The jury – Professor Barbara Norman (Chair), Professor Alastair Swayn, Councillor John McInerney, Dr Catherin Bull AM and Callum Morton – awarded first and second prize, a commendation (also awarded to a Western Australian entry) and a student prize from the 20 short listed entries, which shared in a prize pool of more than $100,000.
David Kaesehagen, our Managing Director and fearless leader, accepted the prize in Canberra from the Honorable Senator Kate Lundy.
The 20 short listed CAPITheticAL submissions were showcased at The Gallery of Australian Design in Canberra 2013.