National Architecture Awards Winners Take A Bow

Image: AHL Headquarters - 478 George Street (NSW) by Candalepas Associates. Photo - Brett Boardman

The winners of the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2016 National Architecture Awards were revealed at a ceremony in Sydney on Thursday, November 3.

Honours went to 40 projects from all around the country that showcase architectural practice at its peak, with several projects receiving multiple recognitions. The winning projects were chosen from a competitive field comprising more than 890 entries, of which 79 were shortlisted.

Jury Chair Jon Clements said the judges were delighted to discover numerous projects that delivered admirable outcomes with limited means, clearly demonstrated architecture’s value in delivering a public benefit and provided significant contributions to our cities and regional centres.

‘Throughout the judging it was evident that architects had clear commitments to their clients’ aspirations but also to environmental and social sustainability: creating solutions that explored invention in favour of fashion. It was an inspiring and refreshing experience,’ Mr Clements said.

ARM Architecture won the coveted Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture with the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, a project the jury described as a ‘vibrant and energised vertical village where the community can meet, collaborate, engage, learn and celebrate’ and ‘a significant new landmark for Geelong’.

Geelong Library & Heritage Centre (VIC) by ARM Architecture. Photo - John gollingsUniversity of Queensland Oral Health Centre by Cox Rayner Architects with Hames Sharley and Conrad Gargett Riddel was the most awarded project of the night taking home the Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture along with National Awards for Interior and Sustainable Architecture.

Perth Concert Hall by Howlett and Bailey Architects (1973) received the National Enduring Architecture Award with the jury noting ‘brutalist buildings like the Perth Concert Hall...can be easy targets for demolition. It is imperative that buildings of this nature are accepted by the general population as being key to our nation’s architectural story’.

At the other end of the scale, residential architecture was celebrated with a ‘productive collaboration’ between architect and client that resulted in a ‘beautifully refined’ home located in Hobart’s Battery Point.

Named Jenny’s House and designed by Rosevear Stephenson, the home took out the Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) category winning the Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award.

The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) was awarded to Smart Design Studio for their ‘remarkable’ Chippendale home, Indigo Slam. Created for an art patron, the jury described the experience as an ‘exceptional and rare privilege to engage with architecture at this level’.

In total, the national jury presented 32 awards and 12 commendations across the 14 categories.

5 Martin Place (NSW) by JPW & TKD architects. Photo- Brett Boardman

The Mandeville Centre, Loreto Toorak (VIC) by Architectus. Photo - Ian Davidson

5 Martin Place (NSW) by JPW & TKD architects in collaboration. Photo - Brett Boardman

University of Queensland Oral Health Centre (QLD) by Cox Rayner Architects with Hames Sharley and Conrad Gargett Riddel. Photo - Christopher Frederick Jones

Australian Pavilion, Venice (Italy) by Denton Corker Marshall. Photo - John Gollings

The Condensery - Somerset Regional Art Gallery (QLD) by PHAB Architects. Photo - Manson Images

Point Lonsdale House (VIC) by NMBW Architecture Studio. Photo - Peter Bennetts

Bath House (QLD) by Stephen de Jersey Architect. Photo - Scott Burrows

Northern Beaches Christian School (NSW) by WMK Architecture. Photo - Brett Boardman

Bowen Place Crossing (ACT) by Lahznimmo Architects. Photo - Brett Boardman

Deepwater (NSW) by Tobias Partners. Photo - Justin AlexanderThe National Architecture Awards have been held annually since 1981.