Advaita Way by Paul Robertson Architect and Robina Hospital expansion by BVN Architecture have won the top awards at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2012 Gold Coast and Northern Rivers Architecture Awards.
Advaita Way received the House of the Year Award and Robina Hospital expansion received the Building of the Year Award.
Advaita Way is a rural property that enjoys the benefits of both a beautiful, natural environment and a subtropical climate zone. The clients requested a simple, minimalist design that created an understated dwelling resting harmoniously in the landscape, and which incorporated extensive sustainability principles.
The jury noted that “this house achieves sustainable design in ways that are not only particular to residential design but adaptable to other building typologies. The key element is a composition of dual skins – one glass and one a semi-permeable layer of mesh screening. With no airconditioning and several specific ESD initiatives, the house exhibits sound sustainability principles.”
The Robina Hospital expansion project has transformed a small local hospital into a major regional health facility that forms part of the infrastructure of the Gold Coast Health Services District. Within the new design, abundant natural light and views to near or far landscape give the spaces a non-institutional feel, while courtyard spaces and rooftop gardens offer patients and visitors places to rest and recover outside of the normal clinical realm.
The jury commented that “a major redevelopment for the Gold Coast Health Services District, the expansion strikes an appropriate balance between operational efficiency and healthcare environment for patients and staff. The architecture is elegant and refined, with gardens and rooftop terraces enhancing social and relaxation opportunities.”
Houses, hotels and hospitals throughout the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers region were among the twenty-three entries submitted for the 2012 awards.
An additional six projects received regional commendations, as follows:
- Park Lake State School by Suters Architects
- Surf Residence by Paul Uhlmann Architects
- Sunbrite Residence by BGD Architects
- The Oracle by DBI Design
- GCRT 2031 (Gold Coast Rapid Transit Corridor Study) by Hassell
- Metricon Stadium by Populous
The awards were judged by Leigh Shutter from Griffith University Gold Coast campus, Scott Carpenter from Scott Carpenter Architect, Matt Cooper from Aspect Architecture, Darren Greenaway from BDA Architecture, Leah Lang of Leah Lang Architect and Brian Mossop from the Gold Coast Bulletin.
