2020 National Architecture Awards: National Emerging Architect Prize

Jury citation

Sarah Lebner exhibits an energy and focus beyond her years. Her nomination had a rare spark, offering a universal reach at two levels. Having joined ACT-based interdisciplinary practice Light House Architecture and Science soon after graduation, she rose to become principal architect within two years. She leads a team of 11 under the directorship of building scientist Jenny Edwards.

Sarah’s generous vision of an architecture for the masses is underpinned by her dedication to climate-change responsiveness. She aims to simplify sustainable design for homebuilders, and to make thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient homes part of the mainstream. This may sound straightforward, but it constitutes nothing short of revolutionizing Australia’s domestic building industry.

Sarah’s initiative has transformed Light House Architecture and Science’s early ideas about modular design into a fully-fledged service, architecturally integrating sustainability, design and specification. She has made quality, architect-designed homes more affordable, capturing homebuilders who previously believed this to be out of their reach. Many architects dream of making architecture more accessible; Sarah is actually doing so.

Sarah’s munificent desire to give back to the profession is also reflected in her commitment to young architects entering the industry. Underpinned by her website, “My first architecture job,” and her book, 101 things I didn’t learn in architecture school (and wish I’d known before my first job), Sarah is continuing to provide invaluable resources to the profession. It is a noble act to share knowledge and maintain an interactive conduit through publishing and establishing an online community. Sarah’s reach via her chosen platforms inspires young architects, arming them with knowledge and demystifying a world that can too often feel overwhelming.

Jury: Alice Hampson (chair and national president of the Australian Institute of Architects), Rodney Eggleston (director at March Studio and 2019 National Emerging Architect Prize winner), and Ksenia Totoeva (associate director at Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects)