The 2023 National Architecture Awards, held at the National Gallery of Australia, has shined a spotlight on Australia’s most prestigious and respected projects of the year, with this year’s ceremony reflecting an increase in regional works.
Forty-seven distinguished projects have earned an award or commendation from a pool of more than 70 shortlisted entries. Common threads among the named projects were sustainability, adaptive reuse, collaborative design, connection to Country, and a broad community focus.
Jury chair and former Australian Institute of Architects president, Shannon Battisson said the award-winning projects can be used as a source of inspiration for Australians during a time of environmental and economic crisis.
“Australia is in the depths of a once-in-a-generation housing crisis and a climate crisis. We are in dire need of new approaches to our built environment and this year the jury were united in our desire to seek out and draw attention to the best examples of design innovation in the country. There was a shared respect for what we wanted the awards to say about the broader climate, sustainability and culture situation. Our hope was to send a message to all Australians about where our industry should be going in terms of sustainability, learning and listening to Country,” Battisson said.
This year, the jury undertook one of the biggest regional tours they have ever conducted, with 28 per cent of the winning projects located in regional Australia.
“The jury felt the importance of celebrating good architecture across the breadth of Australia. Building in the regions has a different set of complexities to building in metropolitan areas – the constraints and opportunities are different. This year, the jury made a concerted effort to visit regional projects and hear the stories of architects and their clients creating amazing projects against the odds of distance, tight budgets, material and labour shortages as a result of the pandemic, and political uncertainty. The assumption that regional projects are easier to design and execute is false. They contain their own unique set of intricacies” Battisson said.
One superlative, regional project is the Rockhampton Museum of Art by Conrad Gargett, Clare Design and Brian Hooper Architect. Described by the jury as “a true public building,” this Sir Zelman Cowen Award-winning project was praised for its “immeasurable” contribution of cultural and economic benefits to the city of Rockhampton.
The 2023 jury comprised Shannon Battisson, Shaneen Fantin, William Smart, Stephanie Kitingan and Scott Burchell. You can read the jury chair’s overview here.
During the ceremony, the Australian Institute of Architects also awarded the 2003 Gold Medal, originally awarded to Peter Corrigan alone, to Maggie Edmond and Peter Corrigan. You can read Philip Goad’s tribute to Edmond here.
The winners are:
Public Architecture
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award
Rockhampton Museum of Art – Conrad Gargett, Clare Design and Brian Hooper Architects
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture: Rockhampton Museum of Art by Conrad Gargett, Clare Design and Brian Hooper Architects.
Image: John Gollings
National Awards
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Modern building – SANAA and Architectus
Melbourne Holocaust Museum – Kerstin Thompson Architects
National Commendations
Bendigo Law Courts – Wardle
Dove Lake Viewing Shelter – Cumulus Studio
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Robin Boyd Award
19 Waterloo Street – SJB
The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New): 19 Waterloo Street by SJB.
Image: Anson Smart
National Awards
Merricks Farmhouse – Michael Lumby with Nielsen Jenkins
Spring Creek Road Farm House – Architect Brew Koch
National Commendation
Mossy Point House – Edition Office
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award
Sunday – Architecture Architecture
The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions): Sunday by Architecture Architecture.
Image: Tom Ross
National Award
Balmain House – Saha
National Commendations
Harriet’s House – SO Architecture
North Perth House – Simon Pendal Architect
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Frederick Romberg Award
Nightingale Village – Hayball and Breathe and Architecture Architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan
The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing: Nightingale Village by Hayball and Breathe and Architecture Architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan.
Image: Tom Ross
National Commendations
Forrest Hall – KHA (Kerry Hill Architects)
Habitat on Juers – Refresh Studio for Architecture
Turner Avenue Homes – Push and David Pennisi
Educational Architecture
The Daryl Jackson Award
Boola Katitjin – Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley, Officer Woods, The Fulcrum Agency and Aspect Studios
The Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture: Boola Katitjin by Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley, Officer Woods, The Fulcrum Agency and Aspect Studios.
Image: Lyons
National Awards
Cranbrook School, Hordern Oval Precinct Redevelopment – Architectus
Inveresk Library, University of Tasmania – Wardle
National Commendations
Cannon Hill Anglican College, D-Block – Reddog Architects in association with Blueline Architecture
Research School of Physics Stage 1 Building, Australian National University – Hassell
Commercial Architecture
The Harry Seidler Award
Delatite Cellar Door – Lucy Clemenger Architects
The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture: Delatite Cellar Door by Lucy Clemenger Architects.
Image: Derek Swalwell
National Award
JCB Studio – Jackson Clements Burrows
National Commendations
Poly Centre 210 George Street – Grimshaw
Yirranma Place – SJB
Interior Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Renewal – ARM Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Renewal by ARM Architecture.
Image: Chris Bennett
National Award
Bass Coast Farmhouse – Wardle
National Commendation
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Modern building, Gallery Shop – Akin Atelier
Heritage Architecture
The Lachlan Macquarie Award
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Renewal – ARM Architecture
National Award
University of Melbourne Student Precinct – Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban
National Commendation
Thomas Dixon Centre – Conrad Gargett
Small Project Architecture
The Nicholas Murcutt Award
Victorian Family Violence Memorial – Muir and Openwork
The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture: Victorian Family Violence Memorial by Muir and Openwork.
Image: Peter Bennetts
National Award
The University of Queensland Cricket Club Maintenance Shed – Lineburg Wang with Steve Hunt Architect
National Commendations
Dimensions X / Farm Stay – Peter Stutchbury Architecture
Postal Hall – Trower Falvo Architects with Alessio Fini
Urban Design
The Walter Burley Griffin Award
University of Melbourne Student Precinct – Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban
The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design: University of Melbourne Student Precinct by Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban.
Image: Peter Bennetts
National Award
Herston Quarter Redevelopment Stage 1 and 2 – Hassell
National Commendations
Dairy Road – Craig Tan Architects
Nightingale Village – Hayball and Breathe and Architecture Architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan and Openwork and Andy Fergus
Sustainable Architecture
The David Oppenheim Award
Nightingale Village – Hayball and Breathe and Architecture architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan and Openwork and Andy Fergus
National Award
Boola Katitjin – Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley, Officer Woods, The Fulcrum Agency and Aspect Studios
National Commendation
Lane Cove House – Saha
International Architecture
The Jorn Utzon Award
Paris Apartment – Wood Marsh
The Jorn Utzon Award for International Architecture: Paris Apartment by Wood Marsh.
Image: Tommaso Sartori
Colorbond Award for Steel in Architecture
AB House – Office Mi—Ji
National Commendation
Celilo Springs – Western Architecture Studio
Enduring Architecture
Brambuk: The National Park and Cultural Centre – Gregory Burgess Architects
