Turf Design Studio’s Sydney Park Water Re-use Project has been shortlisted at Europe’s longest-running awards program for the built environment, the 59th Civic Trust Awards. 

The Civic Trust Awards celebrate exceptional architecture, urban design, public realm and public art projects from around the world.

The Sydney Park Water Re-use Project competed with a strong field of UK-based and international entrants for the shortlisting. Other shortlisted projects include Nørreport Station, Denmark (COBE with Gottlieb Paludal Architects), the Collier Memorial, USA (Howeler + Yoon Architecture LLP), and Serpentine Pavilion 2017, UK (Kéré Architecture). All shortlisted entrants will receive an award or commendation on the awards night, Friday 9 March 2018, in Manchester, UK.

According to Turf Design, the Sydney Park Water Re-Use Project demonstrates excellence in design through an integrated response that delivers a unique and dynamic city parkland, integrating landfill remediation, recreation, enhanced biodiversity, civil infrastructure, with new urban water re-use systems.

The project: 

  • Is the City of Sydney's largest stormwater harvesting and re-use facility
  • Harvests 850 million litres of stormwater annually 
  • Is designed to reduce City of Sydney's potable water demand by 10 percent before 2030 
  • Revitalises 40 hectares of former landfill site into wetlands, playgrounds, wildlife habitat and recreational areas

In partnership with the City of Sydney, landscape architects Turf Design Studio and Environmental Partnership led a multidisciplinary team of water engineering, public art, ecology, lighting, and other specialists on the $11 million project.

“Turf Design Studio and Environmental Partnership have transformed the park, literally bringing the wetlands and the story of water treatment to life in the park’s ecosystems and in the community’s imagination,” said Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney.

“Through the chain of wetlands, connected by weirs, bridges, paths and stepping stones, the designers have created delightful places in the park’s landscape, connecting community and nature.”