2021 National Award for Commercial Architecture

Jury citation

The resilience of brutalism in our architectural landscape is testimony to the enduring appeal of its super-direct use of materials and structural integrity. Located in Melbourne’s inner suburb of Richmond, Wangaratta Street is a monolithic and finely crafted addition to an industrial setting and a building with an inherent capacity to withstand future site evolution. Eschewing the singularity of the glazed format preferred by most facades of its type, the office envelope is a balanced composition primarily of board-formed concrete. Deep, chamfered reveals harness the drama of ever-changing sunlight and celebrate window openings while resolving the practical task of housing window furnishings. The stepped facade references adjacent pre-war warehouse structures.

A simple side core plan considers tenancy subdivision within the narrow site. The strictly allocated floor area is arranged unevenly across seven levels, creating a variety of plate sizes and provision for external terraces. The minimal palette extends to grey terrazzo, natural aluminium and stainless steel. Mirrored operable walls cleverly conceal services while extending the scale of the lobby and enhancing the impact of a single linear light fitting. The entry door pull has been customized for grasp and is indicative of the architect’s attention to detail.

Wangaratta Street has created an architectural landmark from a modest brief and a special and considered home for small businesses.

Project credits

Architect: MA Architects; Project team: Karen Alcock, Rachael McNally; Builder: Coben; Structural engineer: Brogue; Project manager: Neoscape; Services consultant: Lucid Consulting; Building surveyor: Floreancig Smith Building Surveyors

Wangaratta Street is located in Richmond, Victoria on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation.