Regional projects dominate the 2017 National Architecture Awards

From the Pilbara to Darwin, the Daintree and a remote bay on Tasmania’s Bruny Island, the winners of this year’s Australian Institute of Architects’ National Architecture Awards show that some of the most exceptional architectural contributions are coming increasingly from our regions.

A greater number of emerging practices also featured among the 44 projects earning a place on the 2017 winners list announced in Canberra this week.

Jury chair and Immediate Past President Ken Maher said the Awards play a significant role in illuminating the value architects bring to our clients and community, as well as stimulating debate and defining values within the profession.

“The jury gave preference to projects demonstrating the contribution architecture can make to the public good; projects that were inventive in their responses to context, site and program; and those that celebrated an understanding of materials and making,” Maher said.

This year’s jury had the daunting task of awarding projects from the largest field of entries received in the almost four decades since the national awards program began, with a total of 983 entries received and 72 shortlisted for national honours.

Despite this, Maher observed that the jury’s experience was that ‘truly exceptional work speaks so powerfully that little debate is necessary – just an unspoken shared sense of joy and admiration.’

“Public architecture projects were strong, particularly in their contribution to community and their social and cultural benefits, where design invention has expanded the brief and delivered extraordinary value,” Maher noted.

The East Pilbara Arts Centre by Officer Woods Architects won the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture with its “masterstroke building-within-a-building concept” that quadrupled the client’s original brief for a 500-square-metre arts centre and enabled “a group of remote Indigenous artists to make a substantial and tangible contribution to a town centre, thereby exemplifying reconciliation in this country.”

Perched on a remote site on Tasmania’s Bruny Island, the historic 1830s Captain Kelly’s Cottage by John Wardle Architects won the Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) and a National Commendation for Heritage in what the jury described as “a labour of love and passion” to bring the residence “from an advanced state of decay to a rebirth where old and new lend each other fresh beauty.”

The hotly contested Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) was won by Durbach Block Jaggers Architects for Tamarama House with what the jury described as sublime detailing and beautifully sculpted spaces.

In a very strong showing, four projects received accolades in the Educational Architecture category this year. The East Sydney Early Learning Centre by Andrew Burges Architects in association with the City of Sydney won The Daryl Jackson Award, with National Awards going to Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub by Six Degrees Architects, which also won the Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage, St Joseph’s Nudgee College Hanly Learning Centre by m3architecture and the UQ Forgan Smith Building – TC Beirne School of Law and Walter Harrison Library Refurbishment by BVN, the latter also receiving a National Award for Interior Architecture.

In total, the national jury presented 35 awards and 13 commendations across the 14 categories. See the full list of winners below.

architecture.com.au

Public Architecture

Sir Zelman Cowen Award

East Pilbara Arts Centre (WA) – Officer Woods Architects

National Awards

Juanita Nielsen Community Centre (NSW) – Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with City of Sydney

The Globe (Qld) – Brian Hooper Architect and M3 Architecture (architects in association)

Sunshine Coast University Hospital (Qld) – Architectus Brisbane and HDR Rice Daubney as Sunshine Coast Architects

National Commendation

Act for Kids Child and Family Centre of Excellence (Qld) – M3 Architecture

Urban Design

Walter Burley Griffin Award

Frank Bartlett Library and Moe Service Centre (Vic) – FJMT

National Award

The Goods Line (NSW) – Aspect Studios with CHROFI

Educational Architecture

Daryl Jackson Award

East Sydney Early Learning Centre (NSW) – Andrew Burges Architects in association with the City of Sydney

National Awards

Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub (Vic) – Six Degrees Architects

St Joseph’s Nudgee College Hanly Learning Centre (Qld) – M3 Architecture

UQ Forgan Smith Building – TC Beirne School of Law and Walter Harrison Library Refurbishment (Qld) – BVN

Commercial Architecture

Harry Seidler Award

The EY Centre (NSW) – FJMT

National Award

Willinga Park (ACT) – Cox Architecture

National Commendation

New Acton Nishi (ACT) – Fender Katsalidis Architects

Interior Architecture

Emil Sodersten Award

Indigo Slam (NSW) – Smart Design Studio

National Award

UQ Forgan Smith Building – TC Beirne School of Law and Walter Harrison Library Refurbishment (Qld) – BVN

National Commendations

Canberra Airport – International (ACT) – Guida Moseley Brown Architects

The Gipson Commons, St Michael’s Grammar School (Vic) – Architectus

International Architecture

Jørn Utzon Award

Amanemu (Japan) – Kerry Hill Architects

Australian Award

Skyville at Dawson (Singapore) – WOHA

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Robin Boyd Award

Tamarama House (NSW) – Durbach Block Jaggers Architects

National Awards

Cape Tribulation House (Qld) – M3 Architecture

Coogee House (NSW) – Chenchow Little

Mitti Street House (Qld) – James Russell Architect

National Commendations

Dark Horse (Vic) – Architecture Architecture

Rose House (Vic) – Baracco and Wright Architects

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award

Captain Kelly’s Cottage (Tas) – John Wardle Architects

National Awards

Annandale House (NSW) – Welsh and Major Architects

Burleigh Street House (Qld) – ME

Jac (NSW) – Panovscott

National Commendation

Dornoch Terrace House (Qld) – James Russell Architect

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Frederick Romberg Award

Tropology for DHA (NT) – Troppo Architects

National Award

Crown 515 (NSW) – Smart Design Studio

National Commendation

RMIT Bundoora West Student Accommodation (Vic) – Richard Middleton Architects (RMA)

Small Project Architecture

Nicholas Murcutt Award

Lizard Log Amenities (NSW) – CHROFI

National Award

North Bondi Amenities (NSW) – Sam Crawford Architects with Lymesmith

National Commendation

The Piano Mill (Qld) – Conrad Gargett

Sustainable Architecture

David Oppenheim Award

Central Park Sydney (NSW) – Tzannes and Cox Richardson and Foster and Partners

National Award

88 Angel St (NSW) – Steele Associates Architects

National Commendations

Gen Y Demonstration Housing Project (WA) – David Barr Architect

Mt Alvernia College Anthony and La Verna Buildings (Qld) – M3 Architecture

Heritage

Lachlan Macquarie Award

Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub (Vic) – Six Degrees Architects

National Awards

100 Harris Street (NSW) – SJB

Juanita Nielsen Community Centre (NSW) – Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with City of Sydney

National Commendations

Captain Kelly’s Cottage (Tas) – John Wardle Architects

Embassy of Sweden (ACT) – Guida Moseley Brown Architects

Enduring Architecture

National Award

17 Wylde Street (NSW) – Aaron M Bolot

Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture

Arts West, University of Melbourne (Vic) – ARM Architecture and Architectus

People’s Choice Award

Tent House (Qld) – Sparks Architects