The Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland Architecture Awards have been announced via a virtual presentation. The jury, made up of renowned architects and design industry leaders from across the state, awarded more than 41 projects across 13 categories including residential, commercial, sustainable architecture and urban design.
Jury Chair and Director of Deicke Richards, Eloise Atkinson, described the winning designs as “high calibre” throughout the state with strong environmental influences from entrants this year.
“We have seen a particularly strong year in education,” Ms Atkinson said. “Public buildings have also been impressive particularly in the regions, and as always in Queensland, residential projects – both ‘new’ and ‘alterations and additions’ – have been large categories and of a very high standard. We have seen the integration of landscape in all building types from the north to south and way out west.”
Cairns Performing Arts Centre, designed by CA Architects and Cox Architecture in collaboration, received top honours for public architecture, taking out the The FDG Stanley Award. The jury commended the precinct as setting a new benchmark for performing arts centres in Australia.
“The building is undeniably of its place, reflecting the colours, filtered light, lush vegetation and lifestyle of the wet tropics,” Ms Atkinson said.
“CPAC is a significant cultural asset for a city – a public building that will enable more cultural experiences as well as economic growth.”
Riverbank House, by Wilson Architects, received The Robin Dods Award – Queensland’s top accolade for new residential architecture. The project, situated in Brisbane’s Highgate Hill, leverages the remnant riparian setting and unencumbered views of the Brisbane River.
Using a restrained palette of raw materials, the living areas are imbedded into the landscape. The remainder of the home ‘floats’ above ground behind a raw timber brise-soleil motif, offering a distinct presence to the street.
The state’s top interiors award, The GHM Addison Award for Interior Architecture, was presented to m3architecture for the Mary Rice Early Learning Centre.
The newly opened childcare centre, attached to St Joseph’s Nudgee College campus, rescued a challenging 1980s building from demolition and transformed it into a ‘metaphoric city’ across nine different activity rooms.
“The careful and playful assemblies of materials and pattern making, referenced from the existing site, adds a layer of wayfinding and fun to an interior setting that inspires the imagination for children and parents alike,” the jury said in its citation.
The Harry Marks Award for Sustainable Architecture went to JCU Ideas Lab in Cairns. Wilson Architects with Clarke and Prince were behind the project, designed to bring together creative minds to translate ideas and research into commercial products and processes to drive economic growth and diversity in Australia.
Ideas Lab achieved a LEED Gold certification. The three-storey building is wrapped in a striking ‘origami’ screen that speaks to the innovation encouraged within the building. A spectacular wall of tropical tendril hanging plants are planted both inside and outside and provide a genuine sense of being in the tropics, while reducing both heat and glare.
The Jury cited JCU Ideas Lab, which opened in late 2020, as already “a beacon for innovate collaboration in the region” and for “making a significant contribution to economic growth”.
The Queensland Architecture Medallion — the highest honour awarded to any project in the state — will be awarded at a special ceremony on Saturday, June 26, when the Enduring Architecture Award and the Australian Institute of Architects’ Art & Architecture Prize (QLD) will also be named.
All projects that received a ‘named’ award and/or ‘state’ award will now be eligible for the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Architecture Awards (winners to be announced later in the year).
2021 QUEENSLAND ARCHITECTURE AWARDS JURY
Eloise Atkinson
Lada Bodnaruk
Shy Tay
Dirk Yates
Read on for the full list of Queensland Architecture Award winners and commended projects.
Colorbond Award
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Land 121 Facilities Project, Lavarack Barracks (North Queensland) | BVN
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
ModWest, The University of Queensland (Brisbane) | Drummond Architecture
Commercial Architecture
The Beatrice Hutton Award for Commercial Architecture
12 Creek Street, The Annex (Brisbane) | BVN
Award for Commercial Architecture
Land 121 Facilities Project, Lavarack Barracks (North Queensland) | BVN
Commendation for Commercial Architecture
111 Campbell Street (Darling Downs) | Sims White Architects
Education Architecture
The Jennifer Taylor Award for Educational Architecture
Fortitude Valley State Secondary College (Brisbane) | Cox Architecture and Thomson Adsett
Award for Educational Architecture
Brisbane Girls Grammar School Science Learning Centre (Brisbane) | m3architecture
St Rita’s College Trinity Centre (Brisbane) | m3architecture
JCU Ideas Lab (Far North Qld) | Wilson Architects with Clarke and Prince
Commendation for Educational Architecture
Indooroopilly State High School 6FC Building (Brisbane) | Hayball Pty. Ltd.
Mary Rice Early learning Centre (Brisbane) | m3architecture
Kurrajong – Centre for Senior Learning (Darling Downs and West Moreton) | Fulton Trotter Architects
The Springfield Anglican College | (Brisbane)
St Patrick’s College East Precinct (North Qld) | m3architecture
Heritage Architecture
Commendation for Heritage
Chambers House (Brisbane) | Shaun Lockyer Architects
Interior Architecture
The GHM Addison Award for Interior Architecture
Mary Rice Early learning Centre (Brisbane) | m3architecture
Award for Interior Architecture
Transurban (Brisbane) | Cox Architecture
Public Architecture
The FDG Stanley Award for Public Architecture
Cairns Performing Arts Centre (Far North QLD) | CA Architects and Cox Architecture in collaboration
Award for Public Architecture
Waltzing Matilda Centre (Central QLD) | Cox Architecture
Commendation for Public Architecture
Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) (Brisbane) | Hassell
Queensland Country Bank Stadium (North QLD) | Cox Architecture and Counterpoint Architecture in association
Residential Architecture — Houses (alterations and additions)
The Elina Mottram Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
Beck Street (Brisbane) | LineburgWang
Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
Clayfield Fern House (Brisbane) | Paul Butterworth Architect
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Terrace (Brisbane) | Shaun Lockyer Architects
Poinciana House (Brisbane) | NIELSEN JENKINS
Residential Architecture — Houses (new)
The Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Riverbank House (Brisbane) | Wilson Architects
Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Mt Coot-tha House (Brisbane) | NIELSEN JENKINS
Long Road House (Gold Coast – Tamborine) | James Russell Architect
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Baker Boys Beach House (Brisbane) | REFRESH*DESIGN
Twin Houses (Brisbane) | John Ellway
Las Palmas (Sunshine Coast) | Tim Ditchfield Architects
Residential Architecture — Houses (multiple housing)
The Job & Froud Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Alondra Residences (Brisbane) | BVN
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Cornwall Street Affordable Housing (Brisbane) | KO&Co Architecture
Door42 (Sunshine Coast) | Push Architects
Small Project Architecture
The Hayes & Scott Award for Small Project Architecture
James Cook University Central Plaza (North QLD) | Cox Architecture and Counterpoint Architecture in association
Award for Small Project Architecture
Doggett St Showroom (Brisbane) | Cavill Architects
Commendation for Small Project Architecture
Ulster Lane (Brisbane) | Cameron & Co Architecture
Urban Design
The Karl Langer Award for Urban Design
QUT Campus to Country (Brisbane) | BVN
Sustainable Architecture
The Harry Marks Award for Sustainable Architecture
JCU Ideas Lab (Far North QLD) | Wilson Architects with Clarke and Prince
Commendation for Sustainable Architecture
ModWest, The University of Queensland (Brisbane) | Drummond Architecture
Big Small House (Far North QLD) | POD (People Orientated Design)
Emerging Architect Prize
Tamarind Taylor | Conrad Gargett
The Queensland Architecture Medallion
Cairns Performing Arts Centre (Far North QLD) | CA Architects and Cox Architecture in collaboration
Art and Architecture Award
Australian Institute of Architects Art & Architecture Prize (QLD)
James Cook University Central Plaza (North QLD) | Cox Architecture and Counterpoint Architecture in association
Enduring Architecture Award
Named Award — The Robin Gibson Award for Enduring Architecture
Church Street Public Housing 1995 | Bligh Voller, Parrish O’Neill, Cox Rayner
