2021 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture

Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design by Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University

Jury citation

In all great works of architecture, the structure and the uses, the architecture and the senses, the space and its composition have a proclivity toward a deeper understanding of the way a perfect form can develop one’s consciousness about universal values in nature. The form in many of the great buildings seeks such a oneness with internal alignments and considered structural rhythms. The universality provided to this building through structure, daylight and amenity, through order in the plan and poetry in the whole, brings to light the architectural discipline like no other building noted by the jury this year. It is precise and poetical without idly seeking novelty of form. This highly resolved building develops a relationship to the ironbark forest into which it is sited and around which it exists. The careful composition of colour and form is not blithely considered but rather seriously and carefully delivered with loving precision. This can be seen in the simple decisions made with great judgement about the alignment of wall and structure, corridor and light, room and form. There is nothing missing in this building’s understanding of what it is offering and, in this understanding, there is also something brought to bear that has little tangibility or measure.

This building embraces a concept of architecture that is deeply rooted in historical precedent yet which understands that architecture is something that can develop both comfort and joy within structure and space, and all of this with an absence of trinkets.

Buildings can become assets to society through their adherence to something simple and apprehensible but also something profound and intangible. It is for this reason that the jury unanimously promoted this work to be a work of public status. For this work is indeed a very public building with universal reach.

Project credits

Architect: Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University; Project team: Andrew Cortese, Michael Janeke, Cristian Castillo, Sarah Gilder, Carolin Funcke, Benjamin Donohoo, Damon Van Horne, Ivana Pejic, Tomasz Rejowski, Gaspard Michaud, Benjamin Chew, Gilbert Yeong, Robert Held, Alberto Sangiorgio, Nicole Allen, Pamela McGirr, Mark Marin, Lee Sawyer, Alan Tier, Ana Subotic, Takanori Hanai, Wayne Henkel, Carolina Rodriguez Dias, Yawen, Michaela Coe, Merridith Bergstrom, Michael Edmonds, Rose Fan, Susana Loureiro, Tom Donald, Benjamin Baertschi, Patricia Salgado, Amalia Mayor, Karolina Wlodarczyk; Builder: Lendlease; Structural, ESD, civil, fire, mechanical, electrical, lighting, hydraulic and acoustic engineer: Aurecon; Landscape consultant: Aspect Studios; Certifier: BSGM; Facade consultant: Minesco; Project manager: Root Projects; Other consultants: Six Ideas, Bollinger and Grohman.

Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design is located in Clayton, Victoria on the land of the people of the Kulin nations.

Source

Award

Published online: 4 Nov 2021
Words: 2021 National Architecture Awards Jury
Images: Rory Gardiner

Issue

Architecture Australia, November 2021

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