National Architecture Awards 2025 Winners Announced

The 43 projects representing Australia’s best new architecture have been revealed in the Australian Institute of Architects 2025 National Architecture Awards. These residential, community, and commercial buildings represent the very pinnacle of contemporary design, and importantly, are true innovators addressing our most urgent societal challenges.

The 30 award-winning (and 15 commendation-winning) projects can be found in each state and territory, with strong representation in Australia’s regional areas. The architects behind each project are operating at a world-class level of design, charting a course to a visionary future of Australia’s built environment.

Australian Institute of Architects 2025 National Architecture Awards Jury Chair, Jane Cassidy, explained there is much inspiration for all Australians to be found among the awarded projects: “The winners of the National Architecture Awards set a precedent for our built future and help address the multiple crises facing society – the housing, climate and cost of living crisis – with innovative solutions. These models can and should inspire better communities across our country.”

“The winners include examples of housing solutions that could be deployed at scale to help address the housing crisis. The jury observed many exceptional homes providing housing models that could be rolled out across Australia quickly and built affordably,” said Cassidy.

“The awarded projects represent the forefront of construction and reveal the future tactics of the industry we should be employing, nationwide. From modular homes and prefabrication to structures with smarter systemisation, many winners employed cutting-edge methods designed to make building more sustainable, efficient, affordable, and resilient for generations to come.”

“Affordability in the cost-of-living crisis was a key criterion for the jury, and in this climate, architects are asked to do more with less. Many buildings demonstrated that high-quality outcome architecture need not come with a high price tag.”

“From a sustainability perspective, there were fantastic examples of low embodied and operational carbon buildings. Projects where passive design, compact, optimised floor plans and electrified systems unite to produce more climate-friendly construction outcomes. Notably, many buildings were specifically designed to be deconstructed with their materials repurposed in a new context, rather than end up as waste. This concept of ‘designing for disassembly’ represents the future of architectural sustainability.”

“Many community projects were recognised for sowing the seeds of urban renewal. Public architecture that marks an inflection point for a neighbourhood, acting as a catalyst for change. These buildings connect communities, promote urban regeneration, and uplift the local economy. Similarly, the jury observed that design is increasingly being used as a tool for regeneration – of landscapes, of relationships, and of futures. These projects show us that architecture can be a catalyst for healing, equity, and resilience in communities.”

“The prevalence of regional projects indicates that exceptional design isn’t confined to our cities. Architects working in regional locations face unique challenges – limited materials, scarce labour, and higher costs from transport and logistics – yet they deliver exceptional, resourceful design that deserves to be celebrated.”

Full List of Winners and Commendations

Each year, the winning projects in the National Architecture Awards are selected by an esteemed panel of industry experts and leaders who undertake an exhaustive journey, judging each Australian project in person. This year, the jury included:

• Jane Cassidy FRAIA (Jury Chair) | Immediate Past President of the Australian Institute of Architects, Director and Asia-Pacific Service Line Leader for Architecture & Design, GHD Design
• Ninotschka Titchkosky FRAIA | Architectural Innovator
• Yang Yang Lee RAIA | Architect, Lee Yang Yang Architect
• Martyn Hook RAIA | Professor of Architecture and Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Precincts, RMIT University, Founding Director Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects
• Kavita Gonsalves Assoc.RAIA | Associate Principal & Sustainability Design Lead APAC, Populous

The winners of the National Architecture Awards will be unveiled at the 2025 National Architecture Awards Ceremony in Canberra on Thursday, 6 November 2025, at the National Gallery of Australia.

National Architecture Awards Winners

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
Flinders Chase Visitors Centre | Troppo Architects | SA | Ramindjeri, Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Barngalla

Commercial Architecture
The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture
Northern Memorial Park Depot | Searle x Waldron Architecture | VIC | Wurundjeri
National Award for Commercial Architecture
Everlane Cremorne | Fieldwork | VIC | Wurundjeri

Educational Architecture
The Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture
James Cook University Engineering & Innovation Place | KIRK with i4 Architecture and Charles Wright Architects | QLD | Bindal and Wulgurukaba
National Award for Educational Architecture
The Shed, University of Tasmania | Wardle | TAS | Palawa
National Award for Educational Architecture
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Rosebery | Neeson Murcutt Neille | NSW | Gadigal

Enduring Architecture
National Award for Enduring Architecture
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre | Gregory Burgess | NT | Anangu

Heritage
The Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage
Parliament of NSW Restoration | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Purcell Architecture | NSW | Gadigal
National Award for Heritage
The Australian War Memorial New Entrance and Parade Ground | Studio.SC | ACT | Ngunnawal

Interior Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture
Babylon House | Casey Brown Architecture | NSW | Garigal
National Award for Interior Architecture
Melbourne Place | Kennedy Nolan | VIC | Wurundjeri
National Award for Interior Architecture
New Castle | Anthony St John Parsons | NSW | Awabakal

International Architecture
Australian Award for International Architecture
Reuben College | fjcstudio | Oxford, United Kingdom

Public Architecture
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture
Yarrila Place | BVN | NSW | Gumbaynggirr
National Award for Public Architecture
Truganina Community Centre | Jasmax (Canvas Projects) | VIC | Bunurong
National Award for Public Architecture
Eva and Marc Besen Centre | Kerstin Thompson Architects | VIC | Wurundjeri

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)
The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award
Niwa House | John Ellway | QLD | Turrbal and Jagera
National Award
Gunn Ridge House | Kennedy Nolan | VIC | Wurundjeri
National Award
The Stopover | Taylor Buchtmann Architecture | SA | Ngarrindjeri

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Robin Boyd Award
Hedge and Arbour House | Studio Bright | VIC | Wurundjeri
National Award
Mapleton House | Atelier Chen Hung | QLD | Gubbi Gubbi and Jinibara
National Award
New Castle | Anthony St John Parsons | NSW | Awabakal
National Award
Lagoon House | Peter Stutchbury Architecture | NSW | Garigal

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Frederick Romberg Award
Blok Three Sisters | Blok Modular in collaboration with Vokes & Peters | QLD | Quandamooka
National Award
Shiel Street, North Melbourne, Community Housing Project | Clare Cousins Architects | VIC | Wurundjeri
National Award
Indi Sydney | Bates Smart | NSW | Gadigal

Small Project Architecture
National Award
Geelong Laneways: Malop Arcade | NMBW Architecture Studio with ASPECT Studios | VIC | Wadawurrung
National Award
Denman Village Park Amenities | Carter Williamson Architects | ACT | Ngunnawal

Sustainable Architecture
The David Oppenheim Award
First Building – Bradfield City Centre | Hassell | NSW | Dharug
National Award
METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project | Woods Bagot with TRCB, TCL and UDLA | WA | Whadjuk

Urban Design
The Walter Burley Griffin Award
Sydney Metro City Stations | Sydney Metro | NSW | Cammeraygal and Gadigal

More information: architecture.com.au