The National Awards celebrate the diversity and quality of the nation’s built environment professionals.
The 2022 National Architecture Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate projects which the jury noted as “truly capturing the spirit of Australian architecture”. Notable among these projects was Bundanon by Kerstin Thompson Architects.
“In what is becoming a reference for the holy grail of Australian architecture, Bundanon adds to the next chapter of the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd estate”, the jury applauded the project saying “Bundanon is a layered work that has been sensitively handled and respects the original vision for the estate.”
Amongst one of the most awarded projects, Bundanon received both The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture and a National Award for Sustainable Architecture.
The jury were thoroughly impressed with the work of the Brisbane-based practice, BVN, who were awarded The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture for their very own studio, BVN Brisbane Studio, noting “Visually and viscerally connected to place, the design caresses our senses and encourages a more nature-centred approach to life”. To add to their accolades, Brisbane South State Secondary College exhibited an “exemplary outcome by BVN that will resonate beyond the borders of Queensland” earning BVN The Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture.
Another education facility, eligible for consideration in multiple categories walked away with a National Award for Heritage, a National Award in Educational Architecture and a National Commendation for Interior Architecture. Congratulations to Hassell for their work on the ANU Birch Building Refurbishment.
Studio Bright’s work on Quay Quarter Lanes – 8 Loftus Street described as “Works of this clarity are rare and cannot be executed without unusual dedication, patience and tenacity” won The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing.
“As is so often the case with works of architecture, what commences as a simple brief ends as a spatial revelation: a seat in the shade of a tree becomes a single, continuous love letter to Country”. Gathering Place by Penhale + Winter with Sandra Harben “is a subtle, considered architectural wonder” truly deserving of The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture.
In the Sustainable Architecture category, the 2022 National Jury wanted to “celebrate those who are already on this path and showcasing some of the wide-ranging ideas for the future”. “With its architecture joyfully responding to this agenda” the jury were captivated with Live Work Share House by Bligh Graham Architects which “ably shows that outer-suburban blocks can be developed in ways that help to regenerate our communities and nature” resulting in The David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture.
The jury believes that Arcadia by Architecture architecture “leads us joyfully into an apparent golden age of “additions and alterations” – a term that seemingly undersells architecture of this quality”. Winning this year’s Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – House (Alterations and Additions), the jury noted that “like a familiar friend, the additions carve out the plan, revealing courtyards and small-scaled rooms of green-filled wonder”.
“An intricate and detailed insertion into the cultural streetscapes of Surry Hills” sought the jury to award 52 Reservoir Street by SJB The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture. SJB were again celebrated along with Silvester Fuller, Studio Bright, Carter Williamson, Lippman Partnership and ASPECT Studios for their work on Quay Quarter lanes earning them The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design. The project described as a “gift to the city of Sydney” which the jury “truly hope that such skillful interventions will continue in the future and act as a benchmark for projects in other cities”.
“Masterfully transformed” Tonkin Zulaikha Greer’s works on the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct “has become a cultural heart for Sydney”. “The outcome is gloriously restrained and robust, honouring the original design” which the jury celebrated with The Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage.
The late Ken Woolley’s project, Woolley Hesketh House, won a National Award for Enduring Architecture.
Praised as a “refined celebration of the expressive and structural possibilities of steel”, The Foundry by Lead fjmtstudio, fjmtstudio + Sissons – Architects in Association to DA received this year’s COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture.
Jury Chair and Immediate Past National President Tony Giannone congratulated all winners and thanked all entrants.
“Awards judging inevitably has a subjective lens and, as a national jury, we acknowledge that all the projects listed are already winners in each of their states, and celebrated within their own communities – a huge achievement.”
“The jury congratulates all the entrants for putting forward their work and advocating for design integrity in the Australian landscape. The presentations and the storytelling were passionate, truly capturing the spirit of Australian architecture.”
The 2022 National Architecture Award Winners were announced via a sold-out in-person event at Taronga Zoo, Sydney. They were selected from a shortlist of 85 finalists drawn from a field of 184 entries eligible for consideration at the National Architecture Awards.
Tony Giannone LFRAIA was joined on the jury by Adrian Iredale RAIA, Caroline Pidcock LFRAIA, Poppy Taylor RAIA and Tim Ross.
You can view the gallery of winning projects and together with full jury citations here.
For media enquiries contact:
Rosanne Barrett | on behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects
M. +61 (0) 425 420 024 | rosanne@barrettcomms.com.au
