The Australian Institute of Architects has awarded its highest honour - the Gold Medal - to “master craftsman” Sean Godsell. At the 2022 National Prizes announcement, the jury commended Godsell’s body of work, describing it as demonstrating “an extraordinary commitment to excellence in design, detail and resolution.”
Godsell’s portfolio was described as architecture that is “as unwavering as it is singular” and that responds to a “deeply moral and territorial ethos.” His most renowned projects include Carter/Tucker House, Peninsula House, St Andrews Beach House and House in the Hills. He was also one of 10 international architects to be commissioned for the Vatican’s first exhibition at Venice Architecture Biennale in 2018.
“For a small practice that has completed a relatively small number of dedicated projects, his level of international recognition is unparalleled. Godsell’s work has contributed significantly by expressing, on a global stage, an architectural response to Australia’s unique landscape,” the jury said. Read more from the jury’s citation here.
Elsewhere in the National Prizes, South Australian furniture maker Khai Liew has been awarded the National President’s Prize. “His advocacy of beautiful and purposeful architecture to clients, government and institutions, and the passing of this knowledge to students, has demonstrated what is possible through deliberate design rather than mass production,” said national president Tony Giannone.
The Leadership in Sustainability Prize was awarded to Kenneth Yeang who, for decades, has responded to the twin planetary emergencies of climate change and biodiversity loss. The jury has described Yeang as a “pioneer” in sustainable built environent research, inspiring concern for ecology in the next generation of architects and planners.
For her efforts as a role model for women in industry, Fiona Gardiner received the Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equality Prize, which ws announced on International Women’s Day in March. Gardiner graduated from the University of Queensland in 1978 as one of only three women in her cohort, defying the obsticles the construction sector posed to supposed outsiders. As the chief executive and director of heritage at the Department of Environment and Science, she now creates opportunities for other women to rise the ranks through fair representatioin and a flexible, supportive work environment.
The Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture was jointly awarded to Thomas Huntingford and Isabella Reynolds. Huntington was recognised for his substantial contributions to the advancement of architectural education by promoting student engagement and inspiring camaraderie amongst his peers. Reynolds was acknowledged for work at the intersection of the student experience and broader profession.
2022 National Prizes winners are:
Gold Medal – Sean Godsell
National President’s Prize – Khai Liew
Leadership in Sustainability Prize – Kenneth Yeang
Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize – Fiona Gardiner
Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture – Thomas Huntingford and Isabella Reynold (joint winners)
