Sustainable Riverfront Home Wins Top New Residence Prize at Queensland State Architecture Awards

River Hearth House by Arcke has taken out the Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) at the Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland Architecture Awards.

“River Hearth House stands as a testament to the vision and craftsmanship of its architects, who skilfully integrated the surrounding landscape and historical elements to create a dwelling that is both functional and inspiring,” the jury said.

The riverfront house in Chelmer is made up of a cluster of buildings centred around a pre-existing open fireplace.

The jury said: “Harnessing the original brick fireplace as its focal point, the house embraces the concept of the hearth, thoughtfully establishing a profound connection to the site’s history and imbuing the residence with a sense of warmth and tranquillity”.

Landscaped courtyards are dispersed throughout the property, while a pool nestled in a garden overlooks the river. A studio space serves the needs of the artist and woodcarver owner.

Recycled hardwood and repurposed materials from the original structure demonstrate the architects’ incorporation of sustainable design principles.

The jury says the result is “a graceful ageing process that melds with the surrounding landscape”.

“Precedent-setting” social project wins the Job & Froud Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

REFRESH* Studio for Architecture took home the Job & Froud Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing for Habitat on Juers, a sixteen-unit social housing project in the suburb of Kingston.

The accolade follows Habitat on Juers’ success at the Greater Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards in May, where the project received the House of the Year Award.

“Habitat on Juers is an affordable social housing project that sets a precedent for socially responsible design for the ‘missing middle’ typology – higher density housing that appears lower in density”, the jury said.

The jury also praised the architects’ use of innovative, sustainable materials such as Cross Laminated Timber.

“Modest,” “playful” Gold Coast renovation wins the Elina Mottram Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Justin Humphrey Architects’ The Cottage received The Elina Mottram Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions).

The jury noted that this “modest” renovation of a one-storey suburban family home on the Gold Coast “stands out in a city that has long favoured more muscular forms of development and the erasure of older houses”.

The architect added new living spaces, landscaping and a “playful” roofline to the existing house. A terracotta orange colour scheme pays homage to 1970s architecture.

Other commended residential projects

Awards for Residential Architecture (New) went to Cloudview by Paul Uhlmann Architects, an “evocative and restrained” mountain retreat in Springbrook, and Blok Stafford Heights by Blok Modular with Vokes and Peters, a “remarkable” low-cost house that utilises modular building techniques. Commendations in the Residential Architecture (New) category went to Timbin House by Conrad Gargett and Cliffhanger by Joe Adsett Architects.

Turner Avenue Homes by Push and David Pennisi received an award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, while a commendation went to Labrador Social Housing by Cox Architecture.

Family Tree House by Phorm architecture + design received an award for Residential Architecture (Alterations and Additions). Commendations in this category were awarded to Bardon Undercroft House by Kieron Gait Architects, East Brisbane House by NIELSEN JENKINS, and Hopscotch House by John Ellway.

More information: architecture.com.au