RB Landscapes Takes Home Six LIAV Awards

As the dust settles on the 2010 Landscape Industries Association of Victoria (LIAV) awards night, Richard Bellemo and his RB Landscapes team are still elated after taking home a staggering six awards.

Stealing the show was RB Landscapes' most ambitious design and construction project to date which took top honours across four separate categories including the big one – Landscape of the Year. This garden masterpiece in Deepdene commanded the judges' attention with a host of innovative design elements, intricate construction techniques and a commitment to sustainability with recycled materials and conservative water management.

The stunning Alfresco entertaining area in the Deepdene landscape topped the Best Feature in a Landscape category for its never before seen aquaponic wall, mini trout pond and slate covered shingle roof and pizza oven. The use of reclaimed local hardwood timber and a sophisticated water recycling system also caught the judge's eye to claim first prize in the Sustainable Landscape category.

Richard's garden design skills and thoughtful construction planning also proved too hard for the judges to overlook with the Deepdene project heading the list in the Residential Landscape Construction $150,000 to $300,000 segment. Locally sourced materials and clever recycling concepts enabled this garden to provide a range of practical and cost effective entertaining areas and living zones from the bocce pitch to the unique deck encircling one of the many feature trees on the property.

"We're all a bit stunned by how much attention our gardens have created at this year's award night," said Richard.

"Our team really stretched themselves with the Deepdene project and our client showed great faith in our abilities to deliver on what we put down on paper. The scale of the project is grand but we're really proud of the intimate and earthy feel of this new landscape that will give the client many years of outdoor pleasure."

Garden projects of this scale cannot be undertaken without an effective teamwork strategy with the judges also singling out RB Landscape's own Hamish Curran for the LIAV Apprentice of the Year. Beginning with RB Landscapes back in 2006, Hamish was awarded for his high level of maturity and problem solving approach to landscape construction.

Another contrasting garden in the RB portfolio received the top accolade in the Residential Landscape Construction $75,000 to $150,000 division. This seamless Australian landscape in Templestowe showcases a range of bold native plantings coupled with correct and sustainable construction techniques throughout. Judges also Highly Commended this urban treasure in the Sustainable Landscape category.

"Sustainability is a big focus for us and our clients are seeing both the environmental and financial benefits of sustainable design," Richard said.

"Everybody wins when we build a garden that has a small ecological footprint, is easy and cost effective to manage, and has clever ways of managing water, soil and nutrients. Thinking outside the square and sourcing local high quality materials is the key and we're achieving some great results."

Two Commendations were also awarded to RB Landscapes, one for the Ivanhoe Project in the Residential Landscape Construction up to $75,000 category and the other rounded out the fifth award for Deepdene in the Hard Surfaces in the Landscape category.

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For more information, contact:

Richard Bellemo
Landscape Design & Construction

M: 0408 032 947
E: rblandscapes@gmail.com
W: www.rblandscapes.com.au