redevelopment to transform the space into a vibrant public amenity and unique open-air performing arts venue. The design, created in collaboration with Prowse Landscape Architects and supported by Cox Architecture, comprises an outdoor amphitheatre and stage connected by multiple arbours to give the community a continuous experience of the new flora and fauna. The outdoor stage, which accommodated an entire Symphony Orchestra with the flexibility to host a variety of professional, amateur, and community events, is additionally furnished by “botanical actors,” with a 10-metre high trellis proscenium “flourishing with the radiant colours of the Mandeville vine.” A six-metretall curving gabion wall made of local rock acts as a backdrop. The Munro Martin Parklands has been repeatedly recognised by industry organisations, including the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), in recent years. At the 2017 Far North Queensland Architecture Awards, hosted by the AIA’s Queensland Chapter, the project received the title ‘Regional Project of the Year.’ The parklands received praise from the jury for their “clever use of landscaping,” which “minimises traffic noise while subtly encouraging people to explore the park and celebrate the heritage aspects of the site.” The jury also praised the design team for delivering a “vibrant tropical design incorporating an outdoor theatre setting with DECEMBER 2023
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