Development Excellence Awards Winners Demonstrate Great Innovation

The winners of the 2015 Development Excellence Awards have demonstrated innovative new looks for iconic apartment buildings, according to Urban Taskforce Australia.

“Three of the big winners at the 2015 Urban Taskforce Awards are ground breaking apartment buildings that demonstrate the innovative spirit of the developers and their architects,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “These three projects break the mould in three different ways. One has a ‘sky garden’ six floors above ground level, another erupts in a kinetic art inspired riot of colour while the third presents a 31 storey high image of an aboriginal elder back to the city.”

The Development of the Year 2015 was East Village, Victoria Park by PAYCE Consolidated Limited with an aerial garden over 32,540 sqm of commercial and market spaces.

East Village by PAYCE[/caption]"A dramatic flowing timber ceiling gives the market area a distinctive character. The building is a model for many urban centres where often a large supermarket sits on its own. East Village demonstrates how a garden can be planted on the supermarket roof and that this can be contained by over 200 apartments. The architecture is by Turner with the innovative supermarket ceiling by Koichi Takada," said Mr Johnson.

The ‘Innovative Development Award 2015’ went to Viking by Crown Group designed by MHNDU architects.

Viking by Crown[/caption]"This building is a narrow triangle that erupts in a riot of colour on its southern elevation. Orange and red window surrounds are punched out of the building influenced by the kinetic art of Yaacov Agam. The effect is to make the building a recognisable icon very different in character to many of the surrounding less interesting buildings," Mr Johnson said.

The ‘High Density Development Award’ went to Swanston Square Apartments by Grocon located in the Melbourne CBD.

Swanston Square by Grocon[/caption]Mr Johnson added: "The building has attracted global media attention through the modulation of the spandrel panels to form a 31 storey high image of indigenous elder William Barak when viewed from a distance. This is certainly not an ordinary building thanks to its clever design by architects Ashton, Raggett, McDougal."He said the Urban Taskforce supported "innovation and fresh ideas as demonstrated by the three awards".

"We are concerned that planning systems often lead to ‘more of the same’ as planners call for contextual fit. Our cities need variety and excitement from new development.”

Awards jury chair, NSW Government Architect, Peter Poulet said, “I am encouraged by the flowering of creative spirit that is coming through in this year's awards particularly with apartment buildings. It seems that consumers are now looking for buildings with personality.”

The awards were presented at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth on Thursday, July 23.

Full list of winners:

East Village, Victoria Park by PAYCE Consolidated Limited
Development of the Year

Viking by Crown Group
Innovative Development Award

Epping Park by Meriton
Master Planned Development Award

The Quay, Haymarket by Ausbao
Mixed Uses Development Award

Locano, Harold Park by Mirvac
Medium Density Development Award

Dominion Residences by Cbus Property
Adaptive Re-Use Medium Density Development Award

Solis by Coronation Property
Metro Apartments Development Award

Shepherds Bay by Holdmark Property Group
Urban Renewal Development Award

Wollongong Central Expansion by the GPT Group
Retail Development Award

100 Skyring in Brisbane by Charter Hall
Commercial Office Development Award

Swanston Square Apartments by Grocon
High Density Development Award

Park Lane and the Mark at Central Park by Frasers Property and Sekisui House
High Density Development Commendation