2014 National Architecture Awards

Community-oriented projects have dominated the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2014 National Architecture Awards, announced Thursday 6 November at a ceremony hosted by Myf Warhurst at the Darwin Convention Centre.

Projects honoured include a housing project with an emphasis on communal spaces, a mental health facility with a welcoming domestic feel, a primary school that provides a sanctuary for the culturally diverse local population and a pro bono surf club that celebrates the coastal features and protects an adjacent fairy penguin habitat.

In 2014, a total of 43 awards and commendations were given to 36 projects across the 12 national categories (see separate attachment for the full list of winners). The jury selected the winners, with each state and territory represented, from the 153 eligible projects that progressed from the Architecture Awards held by each chapter earlier in the year.

The jury, led by Immediate Past President Paul Berkemeier, was particularly impressed with the volume and calibre of public buildings in this year’s crop.

‘It is encouraging that so many projects embodied best practice with informed clients, effective procurement methods, appropriate funding models and intelligent architecture. This provides us with great optimism for the future of our public spaces – an area that has so often delivered dispiriting outcomes,’ Jury Chair Paul Berkemeier said.

UQ Advanced Engineering Building by Richard Kirk Architect HASSELL Joint Venture, took out the Public Architecture category winning the coveted Sir Zelman Cowen Award in addition to the Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture and an Award for Sustainable Architecture – making it the most awarded project of the night.

‘The architects have taken an extremely complex program – including teaching spaces, a 500-seat auditorium, laboratories, research facilities and office spaces – and resolved a building that is not only exciting to inhabit, but also a delightful space to occupy,’ the jury said.

For the first time the Residential – Houses category was divided into two: new builds, and alterations and additions.

House at Hanging Rock by Kerstin Thompson – ‘a house nestled into a steep slope and seamlessly integrating stringent bushfire requirements’ – secured the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).

The inaugural Australian Institute of Architects Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) was presented to WA practice Philip Stejskal Architecture for Bellevue Terrace Alterations + Additions.

Breathe Architecture received two Named Awards for its Melbourne project The Commons: the Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing and the David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture.

Another big winner on the night was the Prince Alfred Park + Pool Upgrade by Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with City of Sydney, which was presented with the Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design and an Award for Public Architecture.

‘This is a beautifully resolved urban project that skilfully integrates architecture, landscape and urban design, bringing vibrancy and new life to the city,’ the jury noted.

A beautifully designed boatshed and surf lifesaving club for the local community of Bicheno on the east coast of Tasmania by Birrelli art + design + architecture emerged as the clear winner of the Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture.

Reflecting on his jury experience, Paul Berkemeier commented ‘the number of new faces and emerging practitioners that we met, as well as the large number of women architects was a source of optimism. It was also wonderful to see so many clients who were thrilled by what their projects have delivered.’

2014 National Architecture Awards – Winners

Commercial Architecture The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture

White Bay Cruise Terminal – Johnson Pilton Walker (NSW)

National Awards for Commercial Architecture

8 Chifley Square – Lippmann Partnership/Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners (NSW) Bread in Common – spaceagency (WA)

National Commendation for Commercial Architecture

Prahran Hotel – Techne Architects (Vic)

Enduring Architecture

The National Enduring Architecture Award

CB Alexander College, Tocal – Ian McKay and Philip Cox, Architects in Association (NSW)

Heritage The Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage

Eternity Playhouse – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects (NSW)

National Commendation for Heritage

Former Police Station, 127-129 George Street, The Rocks – Welsh + Major Architects with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (NSW)

Interior Architecture

The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture

UQ Advanced Engineering Building – Richard Kirk Architect HASSELL Joint Venture (Qld)

National Awards for Interior Architecture

Bread in Common – spaceagency (WA)

Garangula Gallery – Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects (NSW)

Hotel Hotel – March Studio (ACT)

Sustainable Industries Education Centre – MPH Architects + Architectus in

 association (SA)

International Architecture

The Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture

Stonehenge Exhibition + Visitor Centre – Denton Corker Marshall (United Kingdom)

Award for International Architecture

Shelter@Rainforest – Marra + Yeh Architects (East Malaysia)

Public Architecture

The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture

UQ Advanced Engineering Building – Richard Kirk Architect HASSELL Joint Venture (Qld)

National Awards for Public Architecture

Australian PlantBank – BVN Donovan Hill (NSW)

Dallas Brooks Community Primary School – McBride Charles Ryan (Vic)

Dandenong Mental Health Facility – Bates Smart Whitefield McQueen Irwin Alsop

Joint Venture (Vic)

Prince Alfred Park + Pool Upgrade – Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with

City of Sydney (NSW)

UTAS Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies – John Wardle Architects + Terroir,  in Association (Tas)

National Commendations for Public Architecture

North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club – Durbach Block Jaggers in association with Peter Colquhoun (NSW)

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute – Woods Bagot (SA)

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

The Australian Institute of Architects Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Bellevue Terrace Alterations + Additions – Philip Stejskal Architecture (WA)

National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) 

West End Tower – Owen and Vokes and Peters (Qld)

National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Strohmayr House – Troppo Architects (NT)

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

House at Hanging Rock – Kerstin Thompson Architects (Vic)

National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Oxlade Drive House – James Russell Architect (Qld)

National Commendations for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Hover House – Bower Architecture (Vic)

Southern Outlet House – Philip M Dingemanse (Tas)

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

The Commons – Breathe Architecture (Vic)

National Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

UNSW Kensington Colleges – Bates Smart (NSW)

National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Gantry – Bates Smart (NSW)

Small Project Architecture

The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture

Bicheno Surf Life Saving Club + Boathouse – Birrelli art + design + architecture (Tas)

National Awards for Small Project Architecture

Balmain Apartment – Durbach Block Jaggers (NSW)

Kew Studio – Sean Godsell Architects (Vic)

National Commendation for Small Project Architecture

Studio 217 – Amalie Wright & Richard Buchanan (Qld)

Sustainable Architecture The David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture

The Commons – Breathe Architecture (Vic)

National Awards for Sustainable Architecture

Australian PlantBank – BVN Donovan Hill (NSW)

The Wayside Chapel – environa studio (NSW)

UQ Advanced Engineering Building – Richard Kirk Architect HASSELL Joint Venture (Qld)

Urban Design

The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design

Prince Alfred Park + Pool Upgrade – Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with City of Sydney (NSW)

National Award for Urban Design

GASP! Stage 02 – Room 11 (Tas)

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture The National COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

White Bay Cruise Terminal – Johnson Pilton Walker (NSW)

2014 Jury

Paul Berkemeier – Immediate Past President, Australian Institute of Architects and Principal, Paul Berkemeier Architects (Jury Chair)

Clare Cousins – Director, Clare Cousins Architects

Justin Hill – Director, Kerry Hill Architects

Virginia Kerridge – Principal, Virginia Kerridge Architect

Lindy Johnson – Director, Lindy Johnson (Lay Juror)