Adelaide Zoo ‘has all of a sudden come of age’ – taking out five awards to dominate this year’s Australian Institute of Architects’ 2010 South Australian Architecture Awards.
At a special ceremony in Adelaide tonight (Friday 2 July), the recently opened Adelaide Zoo Entrance Precinct by Adelaide-based national practice HASSELL was awarded the prestigious Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture, the top Robert Dickson Award for Interior Architecture, an Urban Design Architecture Award and a Sustainable Architecture Award. The Adelaide Zoo Panda Exhibit by HASSELL also received a Public Architecture Commendation. |
Adelaide Zoo Entrance Precinct by HASSELL
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In awarding HASSELL and the Adelaide Zoo Entrance Precinct, the jury said: “With the removal of the former introverted entry wall and gate and the establishment of a new integrated entry precinct accessed off Botanic Park, the Adelaide Zoo has all of a sudden come of age.” They added: “From a major conceptual level to the detailed, the new entry precinct exhibits an excellent integration of urban design, landscape and architecture.”
In an overview of this year’s awards, Jury Chair Andrew Vorrasi said: “With a total of 81 submissions this year, it appears that the GFC has had little or no impact on the projects already committed or on the quality of work being delivered by South Australian architects. Once again interstate architects have returned to South Australia to collect a share of awards – of the 28 awards presented, four went to interstate architects. |
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He added: “But the standout practices – HASSELL and Phillips/Pilkington Architects are Adelaide-based. HASSELL received five awards in total, with four different awards being for the same project – the Adelaide Zoo Entrance Precinct. Phillips/Pilkington Architects received four awards in total, two in their own right and two in association with H2o architects.”
This year’s Keith Neighbour Award for Commercial Architecture was presented to the University of Adelaide – Plant Accelerator, by H2o Architects & Phillips/Pilkington Architects, which also won a Sustainable Architecture Commendation. The jury said they were “impressed by the execution of a strong design concept for this highly functional building with unique operational characteristics. What could have been a series of glass houses and sheds has been erected as a refined whole.” In a strong year for Phillips/Pilkington Architects, they also received a Public Architecture Award and an Interior Architecture Award for the Seymour College Performing Arts Centre. |
Awarding the honour, the jury said: “If architecture needs a champion to fight for sensitive, compact and space efficient, environmentally appropriate detached suburban residential design, this house has got its gloves on.”
The Newell Platten Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, went to Affordable Housing Mansfield Park for James Brown Memorial Trust by Flightpath Architects Pty Ltd, with the jury saying: “This project is one of those with a brief which calls for all the things architecture should bring to our community such as supported housing with respect, residential character, private space and also sense of community, contribution to the streetscape, environmental responsibility and human delight.” The jury added: “It is also one of those which invariably does not offer the budget for easy solutions and so too often ends up being a composite of project housing. This project is different.”
The conservation of a humble pub first licensed in 1840, and one of only around two dozen buildings remaining in Adelaide from that period – the Conservation of Former Beresford Arms Hotel by Flightpath Architects - was awarded the David Saunders Award for Heritage. It was described as “an important, tangible link to the early inns and hotels of South Australia” and as “a credit to all involved, illustrating the benefits of sound conservation practice in the restoration and adaptation of significant heritage buildings for new uses”.
The Adelaide City Council’s Adelaide Prize was presented to the River Torrens Bridge by Oxigen, with the citation reading: “The jury agreed that the new River Torrens Bridge, delivered under budget, well exceeded the vision of its brief and is a delight for users on cycle and foot alike.”
An existing house in Glen Osmond “rebirthed” due to the “strong use of steel elements” – the Pied a Tierre for Loose Living at Glen Osmond by Troppo Architects SA was awarded this year’s Colorbond ® Award for Steel Architecture.
The Leabrook House by Noxon Giffen received the Archicentre Alterations & Additions Architecture Award, with the jury describing it as “A delight-filled home that sits in beautiful tree-lined surroundings and managed to remain relatively stylistically true to its original form over the years”.
The Sir James Irwin Presidents Medal was awarded this year to architect Nick Tridente, with retiring SA Chapter President Tim Horton saying: “In 2010 the President’s Medal recognises the breadth of contribution made by an individual – an architect – over two decades in the parallel realms of design excellence, committed advocacy, and architectural education. Active in all three spheres for more than 20 years, this years’ Sir James Irwin President’s Medal is awarded to one of the leaders in our profession.”
The awarding of the President’s Medal was Tim Horton’s last official act as SA Chapter President, with the energetic, award-winning architect last week accepting the key role of SA Commissioner for Integrated Design, effective on Monday (5 July). The Institute also announced at the awards ceremony the appointment of 36-year-old architect David Holland, of DaSH Architects, as the new incoming SA Chapter President.
All awards recipients* are now in the running for National Architecture Awards, to be announced on Thursday 28 October in Canberra.
*National Award categories only
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