2012 Northern Territory Architecture Awards

The 2012 Northern Territory state jury spent an intense three days in April exploring projects in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. We were struck by the wide range of entries in the public architecture category; this was the biggest category in 2012. From a “sobering up” shelter, to a medical education training facility for training indigenous doctors, to a cutting-edge museum experience, these projects were exciting, ambitious and highly attuned to the specificity, challenges and opportunities of their local contexts.

But while the overall ambitions for the built environment and for architecture’s role in society seemed impressive, less impressive was the relative paucity of high-quality design outcomes in the entries. Often it seemed project boundaries had not been pushed, in design terms, and there was a certain lack of exploration in architectural form making, especially concerning design that was exploring regionality, context and identity at a sophisticated or experimental level. Accelerated timeframes and small budgets compounded and contributed to this issue.

In conclusion, as a jury, we made a commitment that excellence should be critical in our decision-making. We were therefore mindful that despite the relatively small pool of entries that the Northern Territory generates annually, it was contingent on us, as judges, to maintain the necessary standards to demonstrate that awarded architectural projects in the Northern Territory Chapter are at the highest levels, and could hold their own at the national awards. We were very pleased to award the projects we decided on, all of which are well deserving of the recognition.

—Melanie Dodd, jury chair

Awards

Tracy Memorial Award NT Medical Program and Allied Health Infrastructure (Pharmacy) Facility by DKJ Projects.architecture and Woodhead.

Public Reverend John Flynn Award NT Medical Program and Allied Health Infrastructure (Pharmacy) Facility by DKJ Projects.architecture and Woodhead. Award Alice Springs Steiner School Stage 3 by Stephen Lumb Architect.

Urban Design Commendation Six Crerar Road by Hodgkison.

Small Project Commendation Sanderson Middle School Amphitheatre by the Design Office, Department of Construction and Infrastructure, Northern Territory Government.

Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture Alice Springs Steiner School Stage 3 by Stephen Lumb Architect. Commendation NT Medical Program and Allied Health Infrastructure (Pharmacy) Facility by DKJ Projects.architecture and Woodhead.

People’s Choice Award NT Medical Program and Allied Health Infrastructure (Pharmacy) Facility by DKJ Projects.architecture and Woodhead.