2025 BCSLA Philip Tattersfield Essay Competition Scholarship:
Plants as Protectors - The Role of Plants in the Protection and Preservation of Historic Sites and Culturally Significant Space
Background
The BC Society of Landscape Architects (BCSLA) Philip Tattersfield Essay Competition promotes design writing, diversifies student skill sets, and elevates the level of writing within the profession, early in the careers of future landscape architects.
Philip Tattersfield, LMBCSLA #001, FCSLA, had a distinguished career as the first landscape architect registered in British Columbia. Over his career, Tattersfield authored more than 150 publications, briefs, lectures, and television series in North America and overseas covering philosophical and technical aspects of practice. He was integral in shaping the BCSLA and contributed extensively to the BCSLA publication, SITELINES MAGAZINE. This scholarship was established to honour his memory.
Eligibility
Scholarship participants must be a current student of Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), Master of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (Dual Degree), and Bachelor of Design (BDes) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and must not have previously won the award.
2025 Topic: Plants as Protectors - The Role of Plants in the Protection and Preservation of Historic Sites and Culturally Significant Space
Recent wildfire events in Los Angeles have heightened the awareness of eminent wildfire dangers around the globe due to climate change and the relentless destruction they can cause to the environment. In the news, plants are now often mentioned as the accelerator of wildfires and are less and less seen as essential “protectors for the environment”, such as providing cooling through the shade. This year’s essay participants are invited to clarify this arising issue and discuss what actions are needed to explain that plants are mostly protectors. If used wisely, such as in fire-resistant planting, they can protect against wildfires. As a recent example, The Getty Museum’s landscape design has recently been converted into fire-resistant planting, helping to protect the building from succumbing to flames. The essay should further discuss local and global examples of how plants can protect against wildfires and exist in harmony in fire-prone environments. Landscape Architects play a key role in designing the environment with plants and are their advocates. Participants should consider strategies how to protect the reputation of plants.
Submission Requirements
The essay is to be original and 1,000 words, submitted in PDF format. We encourage participants to include images to support the written argument. Images and quotations must include credits. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for writing will not be permitted and may be grounds for disqualification if determined by any of the judges.
Timeline
February 7, 2025 Competition Opens
March 28, 2025 Deadline for Submissions
March 29 – April 11, 2025 Judges Review / Deliberation
April 25, 2025 Winner Announced
BCSLA Conference (TBD) Awarding Ceremony of the Winner
Submission Date
Please submit essays to Jim Dema-ala, BCSLA Intern & Associate Rep at [email protected] with the subject line “2025 Tattersfield – [Your Name]” by 2:00 p.m. PT on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Judging
Entries will be judged based on clarity of writing, visionary content, and the author’s ability to engage the reader. A winner will be declared, and honourable mentions may be noted. The panel of judges will consist of:
• 2 BCSLA Directors
• BCSLA Intern & Associate Representative
• BCSLA SALA Representative / UBC Landscape Architecture Program
• President-elect / Public and Professional Relations Committee Chair
Evaluation Criteria
Entries will be evaluated based on clarity of writing, visionary content, and the author’s ability to engage the reader. One winning essay will be chosen, and an honourable mention may be noted. The winning essay will be announced in April 2025, and the award/prize will be given at the BCSLA Annual Conference.
Prize
The winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize receivable via cheque or e-transfer, by the BCSLA.
2024 Essay Topic: Celebrating 60 Year in Landscape Architecture Excellence in British Columbia: Reflecting on the Evolution of Designed Spaces
Congratulations to Hannah Whitlaw, UBC SALA! The jury selected Hannah as the winner of the 2024 BCSLA Philip Tattersfield Essay Competition for their paper entitled, “Histories of Change: Unearthing Sixty Years of Transformation at Burns Bog.” In recognition of Hannah’s hard work, the BCSLA has awarded the cash prize of $1,000 to the author of the winning composition. There was a strong field of submissions this year which made the selection of the winner a challenge. The jury pronounced that Sophia Ngai should receive an honourable mention for their essay entitled, “Beyond the Bird Sanctuary: The Evolution of Maplewood Flats and Adaptive Ecological Practices.”
> Philip Tattersfield Essay Competition Scholarship Winners
Dr. John Wesley Neill Medal and Prize
The British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects provides the Dr. John Wesley Neill Prize to the outstanding graduating student in Landscape Architecture. The award recognizes that student who has demonstrated a high level of academic achievement, leadership ability and commitment to ideals of the profession and includes a $1,000 stipend. While the travel stipend can be used for any travel project it is suggested for attendance at the annual meeting of the International Society of Arboriculture ISA (held in North American city in August of each year). The award honours the founder of the program in Landscape Architecture at UBC and is made on the recommendation of the School or Architecture and Landscape Architecture in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Those who won the Prize from 2003 – 2021, received the financial award however, the medal portion of the Prize was unavailable during that time period. Paul Sangha, MBCSLA 174, worked with the University of BC and the BCSLA to re-establish the medal. In November 2022 the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), with the BCSLA, re-established the medal that previously accompanied the Dr. John Wesley Neill Prize in Landscape Architecture. Award winners who did not receive the medal at the time of their award were contacted and arrangements were made to retroactively present the medal to the recipients. UBC SALA has generously supported the costs of the medal. Thank you!
Congratulations to Samantha Miller who was selected as the recipient of the 2022 Winter Academic Session recipient of the Dr. John Wesley Neill Medal and Prize. The award gives promising students access to life-changing education, lessening their financial burden and recognizing students for their dedication and accomplishments.
> Dr. John Wesley Neill Prize Winners
The Robillard Scholarship was originally established by the BCSLA in 1982 to honor the memory of BC Landscape Architect, Raoul Robillard. In January 2018, this endowment fund was transferred to Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation (LACF.) The Foundation and BCSLA will administer this scholarship into the future.
The BCSLA ROBILLARD | LACF Scholarship awards $2,000 and a BCSLA Student membership to a deserving candidate. The British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects provides an $2,000 award and a BCSLA Student Membership in the memory of Raoul Robillard, to a student entering second year in the UBC Landscape Architecture program who, in the opinion of the faculty, demonstrates excellence in small scale landscape design. Raoul Robillard had a distinguished career as an early landscape architect in British Columbia and was a member of the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects and a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. The award is made on the recommendation of the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
>Robillard Scholarship Award Winners: Updated March 2024
TCLF - Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize Interview
This video presentation introduces the life and work of pioneering landscape architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, the namesake of the Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize.
