A world-class health facility, an activity-rich rainforest house and a tent house nestled in the Noosa hinterland have been awarded top honours at the 2017 Sunshine Coast Regional Architecture Awards.
At a ceremony in Noosa on Friday 26 May the Australian Institute of Architects recognized the Sunshine Coast University Hospital by Architectus Brisbane and HDR Rice Daubney as Sunshine Coast Architects with the Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year.
The jury described the hospital as “an exemplary world-class health and educational facility that puts patient experience and wellbeing at its forefront.”
“This is a public building which strives for local use and social engagement through the provision of green corridors, public outdoor spaces and community infrastructure,” the jury said.
House of the Year was awarded to Mitti Street House by James Russell Architect, a purpose-built, semi-enclosed structure designed to experience the elements.
The jury described the house as “a fun environment for multiple families to gather, surrounded by rainforest.” They also noted that the house “encourages all activities, from playing in the courtyard pool during summer, to sitting around an open winter fire.”
Local architectural practice Sparks Architects took home the Regional Project of the Year for their Tent House project, which the jury described as defining inside-outside living in the Noosa hinterland.
The jury was impressed with the way the house encapsulated a state of “permanent camping,” without forgoing luxury. “Walls and ceilings dissolve into carefully crafted openings, leaving nothing but the ethereal fly-roof, sky and the surrounding rainforest site,” the jury said.
These projects, along with six other leading architectural standouts, received Regional Commendations from the jury and will now progress to the Queensland State Architecture Awards, to be announced in Brisbane on 23 June.
Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year
Sunshine Coast University Hospital – Architectus Brisbane and HDR Rice Daubney as Sunshine Coast Architects
House of the Year
Mitti Street House – James Russell Architect
Regional Project of the Year
Tent House – Sparks Architects
Regional Commendations
Breezeway House – Majstorovic Architecture
Currimundi Beach House – Conrad Gargett
Mitti Street House – James Russell Architect
NCC Early Swimmers – Conwell Architects
Noosa Nest – Tim Ditchfield Architects
Richard Henry, K Architecture – K Architecture
Side House Project – Sprout Architects
Sunshine Coast University Hospital – Architectus Brisbane and HDR Rice Daubney as Sunshine Coast Architects
Tent House – Sparks Architects