2022 National Prizes: National President’s Prize

Jury citation

The National President’s Prize recognizes an individual’s contribution to the advancement of architecture in a significant way, other than through architectural design, practice or education. The 2022 recipient of the National President’s Prize is Khai Liew.

The relationship between architecture and furniture is historically appreciated. It is often said that the furniture in a building makes the architecture look good.

Khai Liew’s influence within the architecture profession is often understated. His understated, humble manner draws together the many threads of deliberate collaboration to demonstrate what is possible around the design table when we leave our egos at home.

Liew has been at the forefront of understanding Australian historical and cultural artefacts, beginning with the repurposing of traditional settlement Barossa Valley furniture. The essence of his work is best reflected in a poster that adorns his workshop. On one side: “Beauty is goodness written in matter.” And on the other: “Spirituality, domesticity and community.” Indeed, beauty, goodness, balance, grace, emotion, rhythmic elegance and simplicity are words often referenced in the work of this designer.

From his studio and workshop based in Adelaide, Liew acts as a consultant to state and national institutions, advising on acquisition and conservation in the field of Australian material culture. He draws on his knowledge and cultivated design language to produce useful, meaningful and delightful work that speaks of its time, place, people and culture. His advocacy of beautiful and purposeful architecture to clients, government and institutions, and the passing of this knowledge to students, has demonstrated what is possible through deliberate design rather than mass production.

Liew’s designs have been exhibited at the V&A and the Design Museum in London, and the Milan Triennale . His work is represented in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Australia, Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

Liew has something that no formal design training can instill: spiritual humility that embodies the ethos of “let the work do the talking,” a principle that has been lost in this overexposed media world. His work exhibits no boundaries; it draws on life experience, family origins and Liew’s dedicated research into understanding the most intricate details of furniture-making from many cultures.

If beauty is the precursor to the work of Khai Liew, then he conveys that beauty into architecture.

Congratulations, Khai.

Jury

Tony Giannone FRAIA (Chair) – National President, Australian Institute of Architects | Director, Tectvs