2025 ILASA Water Wise Landscape Design Competition

Calling all landscape design students!
Enter the 2025 ILASA Water Wise Landscape Design Competition

Rand Water-Water Wise, in collaboration with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Institute of Landscape Architects of South Africa (ILASA) and  South African Green Industries Council (SAGIC) is proud to announce the launch of the 2025 ILASA Water Wise Landscape Design Competition.

This is your chance to showcase your innovative design skills while promoting water-wise practices and indigenous flora in two of South Africa’s most prestigious national gardens.

Participants can enter as teams consisting of 1 to 3 people, with only one team member required to register their team’s details. The deadline for registering for the competition is 28 February 2025.

The Challenge:

Submit your designs for one or both of the following Water Wise projects:

  • Upgrading and refurbishing the existing Water Wise Garden at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (WSNBG) in Little Falls, Johannesburg.
  • Designing a new Water Wise Garden at the National Zoological Garden of South Africa (Pretoria Zoo). This exciting project will bring a water-wise garden to life at one of the largest zoos in the world.
Important Dates:
  • Site Documentation Release: January 10, 2025
  • Registration Deadline: February 28, 2025
  • Project Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025
  • Award Ceremony: June 5, 2025, at SAGIC Convention Awards Gala Dinner. Rand Water are Platinum Partners of the South African Green Industries Convention.
Prizes:

For each of the two project sites:

  • 1st Prize: R20,000
  • 2nd Prize: R10,000
  • 3rd Prize: R5,000

Rand Water will sponsor a single prize winner (the team leader) from each of the two project competitions to attend the SAGIC Convention and receive their prizes at the prestigious SAGIC Convention Gala Dinner, hosted at the Champagne Sports Resort, Cathkin Peak, Drakensberg on 5 June 2025.

Competition Structure and Rules

Eligibility:

  • Open to third year and postgraduate students in landscape architecture, architecture, and landscape technology – enrolled at educational institutions across South Africa.
  • Both individuals and teams may enter.

Submission Criteria:

  • Only indigenous plants are allowed to be used in the designs as both gardens are located on SANBI land. Hydrozoning of indigenous plants will enhance the water conservation message.
  • Interpretation boards need to be included in both designs.
  • Originality and creativity are crucial. Think outside the box!
  • Both gardens must be designed for universal access.
  • Must include practical and educational elements relating to water-wise practices and indigenous plants.
  • Low-maintenance design is essential, as both host sites require sustainable maintenance solutions.
  • Water Wise principles are key to the entire design and subsequent maintenance.
  • Competition entries must be submitted on A1 panels in pdf format.

Intellectual Property:

  • Rand Water would potentially like to use winning designs and selected components from any of the other entries in educational and promotional materials, with recognition given to students involved.

Promotional Strategy:

  • Competition details will be circulated to South African universities and colleges, with an initial information release in November to aid curriculum integration for 2025.

Available Resources for Competitors:

  • A comprehensive site package will be provided by January 10, 2025, including:
    • Maps, site surveys, digital base files, and video footage.
    • Site-specific ecological, cultural, and spatial information, especially as related to plants (trees, cycads) and existing hard landscapes that must remain undisturbed.
  • Access to site materials will be managed through a shared Google Drive.
  • Visit the www.sagic.co.za for more information.
Judging Process:
  • Judging will be conducted by a panel of experts from ILASA, SALI, SANBI, Rand Water-Water Wise, and SAGIC, with both online and in-person adjudication sessions.
  • Designs will be judged based on their innovation, creativity, water-wise principles, and their potential to enhance biodiversity.
Why Enter?
  • Gain recognition for your design talents on a national stage.
  • Contribute to the future of sustainable landscaping in South Africa.
  • Have your work reviewed by leading industry professionals.
  • Get a chance to implement your design at one of the country’s renowned gardens or zoos.

Sponsors:

This competition is proudly sponsored by Rand Water-Water Wise, in partnership with SANBI SAGIC and ILASA

Contact Us

For more information or queries, please contact
Kay Montgomery – Project Leader: SAGIC Water Wise Educational Project
Email: kay@wordlink.co.za | Whatsapp: 082 659 0939

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can enter the competition?

The competition is open to third year and postgraduate students of landscape architecture, architecture, and landscape technology from across South African institutions.

2. Are teams allowed to participate?
Yes, individual and team entries are allowed. Multidisciplinary teams that combine architecture and landscape architecture students are encouraged.
3. Will Rand Water use my design?
Rand Water may use winning designs and elements from other submissions for educational purposes, with appropriate recognition.
4. What resources will be provided?
Students will receive videos of the site, maps, surveys, photos, files, and other site-specific materials downloadable through a Google Drive, accessible starting January 10, 2025.
5. When is the registration deadline?
Interested students must register by February 28, 2025, to participate in the competition.
6. What are the judging criteria?
Entries will be judged on their use of indigenous plants, creativity, water-wise features, maintenance needs, a design incorporating universal access, educational potential, interpretation boards, planning to a specified budget and overall visual impact.
7. When will winners be announced?

Rand Water will announce the winners – following judging – in the weeks leading up to the 2025 SAGIC Convention. Prizes will be awarded to the first prize winners @ SAGIC Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday June 5, 2025 at Champagne Sports Resort, Central Drakensberg.
The Rand Water – SAGIC partnership sponsorship budget allows for:

  • A (single person) winner – of the upgrade design (Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden) and
  • A (single person) winner – of the landscape design from scratch (Pretoria Zoo) …

To attend the SAGIC Convention and receive a prize on behalf of the team.

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