2012 Sunshine Coast Regional Architecture Awards
Currimundi Beach House by Loucas Zahos Architects.
Viridian Noosa: Stage 3 by JMA Architects.
Caboolture Hub by Peddle Thorp and James Cubitt Architects.
Hervey Bay Community Centre by BAC Group Architects.
Tinbeerwah Residence by Richard Kirk Architect.
North Maleny House by Stephen Cameron.
Mike Ahern Centre by Project Services.
Warran by Base Architecture.
Pool House by Bark Design Architects.
Montville Residence by Sparks Architects.
Three projects – Currimundi Beach House, Viridian Noosa: Stage 3 and Caboolture Hub – were awarded top honours at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2012 Sunshine Coast Regional Architecture Awards on Friday 27 April.
Currimundi Beach House, designed by Loucas Zahos Architects, received the House of the Year Award. Viridian Noosa: Stage 3 by JMA Architects and Caboolture Hub by Peddle Thorp and James Cubitt Architects were jointly awarded the Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year. All three projects were also recognized with regional commendations and were presented with their awards by Queensland State Awards jury director Michael Raynor.
Currimundi Beach House is a series of pavilions, each varying in scale, that creates a journey from the street to the beach. The pavilions change from consisting of two storeys (on the street side) to one storey (on the beach side). The final structure on the beach is a canvas roof over a simple timber deck, representing the simple beach fly.
The jury noted: “The Currimundi Beach House captures the essence of being away from the routine, inviting relaxation, retreat and enjoyment of the spectacular beachfront location it shares.”
Viridian Noosa: Stage 3 is the third and final stage of the residential / resort project Viridian Village, and is designed by JMA Architects. The footprint sits mainly within a valley that is bounded by wildlife corridors, connecting the cosmopolitan Hastings Street on Laguna Bay to the north with the national park to the east.
The jury commented that “a direct response to the complex site is refelected in individual variations in each unit, focusing on rainforest, ocean or hillside views, while maintaining privacy. The strategy for materials is site responsive with heavier masonry for the hotel, sitting on the flatter zones, and lightweight villas occupying the challenging steep hillsides. The project displays a high level of attention to planning, detail and material selection.”
Designed to offer the people of Caboolture and the Moreton Bay Region a centre for local culture, art, history and learning, the Caboolture Hub houses over five thousand square metres of built floor space including a modern library, regional art gallery, learning centre and cafe alongside the Caboolture Town Square.
“A light-filled central atrium connects the primary spaces, including a public library, art gallery and learning centre. Moving through the building, there is delight in the transition between spaces, which, through careful design and selection of materials and furnishings, each offer their own character and experience. This exemplary building demonstrates a high level of public accessibility and engagement and represents an optimistic and commendable investment of public resources by the regional council,” the jury noted of the project by Peddle Thorp and James Cubitt Architects.
Eight other projects received high commendations:
Montville Residence – Sparks Architects
Noosa Junction Station – Bark Design Architects
Mike Ahern Centre – Project Services
Pool House – Bark Design Architects
Warran – Base Architecture
Hervey Bay Community Centre – BAC Group Architects
North Maleny House – Stephen Cameron
Tinbeerwah Residence – Richard Kirk Architect
The 2012 awards jury consisted of Jo Case, principal of Jo Case Architect; Riq de Carvalho, principal of Design Carvalho; Andrew Cooksley, senior urban design advisor at the Office of the Queensland Government Architect; Robyn Hewitt, principal at Robyn Hewitt Architect; and Lin Martin, director at Indigo C.
