The Australian Institute of Architects has announced the winners of 2020 National Architecture Awards, celebrating projects of all types that “go above and beyond” and enliven their surroundings.
A total of 44 projects were recognized, 25 receiving national awards and 19 given commendations.
Jury chair and immediate past national president Professor Helen Lochhead said the jury looked for projects that could demonstrate their value beyond the limits of their brief and the confines of their site.
“Creative adaptation, along with social and environmental sustainability featured strongly as themes running through this year’s award-winning projects,” she said.
“In the context of the pandemic and a rapidly changing climate, it is clear that we need to be designing in new ways and many of these projects show that architects are uniquely positioned to adapt and meet these challenges.”
The prestigious Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture was shared by two projects in Sydney in this year’s awards: the Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension by Johnson Pilton Walker with the Government Architect NSW and Marrickville Library by BVN. Marrickville Library also received the David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture. “BVN have created a library that is both breathtakingly beautiful and outstanding from a functional perspective,” said the jury.
In the housing categories, New South Wales projects did well in the New Houses category, while Victorian and South Australian projects featured in the Multiple Housing and Alteration and Additions categories.
“It was encouraging to see housing projects of all types challenging expectations and delivering high-quality buildings imbued with amenity and delight, even with limited means,” said Lochhead.
In the Small Project Architecture category, Edition Office won the Nicholas Murcutt Award with Kudjla/ Gangalu artist Daniel Boyd for their memorial projects For Our Country, and also won a national award with Kokatha and Nukunuartist glass artist Yhonnie Scarce for In Absence, their NGV Commission.
“The National Architecture Awards represent one of the Institute’s most important advocacy programs, in which we acknowledge and celebrate the creative capacities of our profession and the enduring value that outstanding architecture brings to people’s lives,” said Lochhead.
She was joined on the jury by Jefa Greenaway, Jennie Officer, Kerry Clare and Tim Greer.
The winners are:
Public Architecture
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award – joint winners
Joint winner of the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture: Marrickville Library by BVN.
Image: Tom Roe
Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension – Johnson Pilton Walker with the Government Architect NSW
Marrickville Library – BVN
National Commendations
Parks Victoria Albert Park Office and Depot – Harrison and White with Archier
State Library Victoria Redevelopment – Architectus and Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Joint winner of the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New): Basin Beach House by Peter Stutchbury Architecture.
Image: Michael Nicholson
The Robin Boyd Award – joint winners
Basin Beach House – Peter Stutchbury Architecture
East Street – Kerstin Thompson Architect
National Award
Glebe House – Chenchow Little
National Commendation
Breezeway House – David Boyle Architect
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions): Redwood by Chenchow Little.
Image: Peter Bennetts
The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award
Redwood – Chenchow Little
National Commendations
Outside [the] box – Troppo Architects
Rae Rae House – Austin Maynard Architects
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing: Studio Apartments by Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects.
Image: The Guthrie Project
The Frederick Romberg Award
Studio Apartments – Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects
National Award
Napier Street for Milieu – Freadman White
National Commendations
Gillies Hall – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Salisbury Townhouses – NTF Architecture
Verve Residences – CKDS Architecture with Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects
Educational Architecture
The Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture: Ian Potter Southbank Centre, University of Melbourne by John Wardle Architects.
Image: Trevor Mein
The Daryl Jackson Award
Ian Potter Southbank Centre, University of Melbourne – John Wardle Architects
National Awards
Curtin University Midland Campus – Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley
MLC School Senior Centre – BVN
National Commendation
Carlton Learning Precinct COLA – Law Architects
Commercial Architecture
The Harry Seidler Award
The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture: Phoenix Central Park by Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects.
Image: Martin Mischkulnig
Phoenix Central Park – Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects
National Commendations
9 Cremorne St – Fieldwork
Daramu House – Tzannes
Three Capes Track Lodges – Andrew Burns Architecture
Interior Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture: Phoenix Central Park by Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects.
Image: Martin Mischkulnig
The Emil Sodersten Award
Phoenix Central Park – Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects
National Award
Grant Pirrie House – Virginia Kerridge Architect
National Commendation
Napier Street for Milieu – Freadman White
Heritage
Joint winner of the Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage: Bozen’s Cottage by Taylor and Hinds Architects.
Image: Adam Gibson
The Lachlan Macquarie Award – joint winners
Bozen’s Cottage – Taylor and Hinds Architects
Hollow Tree House – Core Collective Architects
National Award
Regent Theatre, Melbourne – Lovell Chen
Small Project Architecture
The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture: For Our Country by Edition Office and Daniel Boyd.
Image: Benjamin Hosking
The Nicholas Murcutt Award
For Our Country – Edition Office and Daniel Boyd
National Award
In Absence – Edition Office and Yhonnie Scarce
National Commendations
Marsden Park Amenities – Chrofi
Protagonist – Cumulus Studio
Urban Design
The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design: Metro North West by Hassell, in collaboration with Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture.
Image: Brett Boardman
The Walter Burley Griffin Award
Metro North West – Hassell, in collaboration with Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture
National Award
Campbell Section 5 Master Plan – Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects
National Commendations
Bridge of Remembrance – Denton Corker Marshall
Sustainable Architecture
The David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture: Marrickville Library by BVN.
Image: Tom Roe
The David Oppenheim Award
Marrickville Library – BVN
National Commendations
Mon Repos Turtle Centre – Kirk
Pingelly Recreation and Cultural Centre – Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects with Advanced Timber Concepts Studio
International Architecture
The Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture: The Arroyo Affordable Housing by Koning Eizenberg Architecture.
Image: Eric Staudenmaier
The Jørn Utzon Award
The Arroyo Affordable Housing – Koning Eizenberg Architecture
Enduring Architecture
National Award
Palm Garden House – Richard Leplastrier
National Enduring Architecture Award: Palm Garden House by Richard Leplastrier.
Image: Kathlyn Loseby
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
National Award
Carlton Learning Precinct COLA – Law Architects
National Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture: Carlton Learning Precinct COLA by Law Architects.
Image: Law Architects
National Commendation
Bankwest Stadium – Populous
![National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions): Outside [the] box by Troppo Architects.](https://media5.architecturemedia.net/site_media/media/cache/e4/6c/e46c55395a3b760f71643681d4d56123.jpg)
