Deakin University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment would like to congratulate Master of Landscape Architecture Student, Oshadi Jayasinghe on receiving the 2019 National Landscape Student Prize.
The Landscape Student Prize annually identifies and shares the finest graduating projects produced in landscape architecture education across the country.
Oshadi’s project, Revival: Drug Rehabilitation Landscape was inspired by a tragic story of a 10 year old exposed and coached to inject drugs by her addicted mother. By 12 the child was also an addict. Oshadi was moved by this story she read on the web and felt that someone needed to represent the younger generation against drug addiction. Thus came inspiration for her Drug Rehabilitation Landscape project.
The harder task for Oshadi was selection of an appropriate site for the Drug Rehabilitation project. Oshadi wanted to the site be a part of the rehabilitation process. After extensive research she eventually selected an abandoned quarry site near Tyers Reserve in Traralgon.
In selecting Oshadi’s project as the winner of the award, the jury commented that “The proposal tackles drug addiction, a difficult issue, not often talked about in landscape practice – and intertwines it with the reclamation of a post-industrial site”. They further added that ‘Revival’ demonstrates and expands the role that landscape architecture can play in addressing social issues.
For the Master of Landscape Architecture student, this work was not just a design project. The award brings significant pride that reflects the significant emotional and academic growth the project demanded of her.
Being immersed in this project encouraged Oshadi to step into a landscape design direction where she can help give lives back to those consumed by drug addiction. Oshadi is humbled by the award and pays tribute to academic guidance from Prof. David Jones, Gavin Pocock, Rebecca Hull, Thad Patradoon, Lyndall Morris and John Rollo who she commends with keeping their trust in her with every difficult decision the project forced her to make.
