Australian Architecture is Optimistic in the Face of Adversity
Australia’s best new architecture has been revealed in the Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards. The 34 winners represent the best new homes, commercial buildings and community projects across the country. The awarded projects include world-leading examples of First Nations collaboration, sustainable design and contemporary residential and public architecture from Australia’s leading architects.
The Awards provide insights into how our best designers are addressing the most urgent concerns in contemporary Australia. Across the winning projects, architects are responding to housing affordability, climate and cost of living pressures through more modest homes, lower carbon design and resourceful approaches to Place and community. Notably, in the current climate of societal turmoil many projects displayed a resilient sense of joy, optimism and delight in the face of adversity.
Australian Institute of Architects 2026 National Architecture Awards Jury Chair, Adam Haddow, commented on this sense of optimism and common themes amongst the winners.
“There was an energy of hope in the projects we saw this year, a sense of communities coming together to challenge assumptions. Architects responded to briefs and looked for more, amplifying the possible, to deliver delight and joy – beyond what they were asked to do. The value of good architecture is projecting a sense of joy and delight. This year’s winning buildings are optimistic, with bright outlooks onto the future,” said Haddow.
“The cost-of-living crisis is heavily impacting housing in Australia. These economic pressures and a rethinking of scale have given rise to more modest, sustainable, efficient and flexible homes that are scaled appropriately to occupants, not sprawling properties. These winners prove you can have a smaller house and live very well.”
“This year’s winners delivered significant carbon reductions and are globally or nationally leading in terms of sustainability. The jury observed significant sustainability targets were firmly embedded as a leading design strategy.”
“Australia is a diverse and changing landscape that requires architectural responses that are site-specific, and sometimes idiosyncratic. The 2026 National Awards jury aimed to recognise projects that amplify the diversity of architectural excellence across the country, celebrating moments where the local is revealed.”
“Good architecture is about trusting people. Not designing to exclude people but designing things to include. This is architecture that assumes that generally, people are good; people want to live in great places and be connected to their friends, family and the people around them. It is important that the communities can see themselves in the buildings that are delivered, that buildings are accessible and speak to community ambition.”
“It is incredibly heartening to see how engagement with First Nations cultures has grown in recent years. These awarded projects understand Indigenous histories and place. They are a true partnership between the architect, community and First Nations people, holding the pen together. These winners think about the way in which architectural projects can help to reconcile and truth-tell, and how that connection to Country can create a sense of pride in communities at large, not just for First Nations people.”
“The winning small projects are perfect expressions of architecture – carefully and meaningfully stripped back to its essential elements, made with exceptional resourcefulness, craftsmanship and detail on an ultra-small budget. These are deeply site-responsive works that reveal the extraordinary potential of architecture to connect with Place. Creative endeavours that are sublime arrangements of absolute forms that offer a divine experience for users.”
National Architecture Awards are the highest honour for built design bestowed in Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for architecture.
A comprehensive judging process by a jury of industry experts determined the winners of the National Architecture Awards. The jury travelled to each Australian project in person. This year, the jury included:
- Adam Haddow, LFRAIA, Immediate Past President, Australian Institute of Architects, Partner, SJB (Jury Chair)
- Alice Hampson, Director, AHA Alice Hampson Architect
- Jeremy McLeod, Design Director, BREATHE ARCHITECTURE
- Isaac McCormack, Architect, GHD Design
- Dr Helen Norrie, Associate Head of School (Students), University of Tasmania
The winners of the National Architecture Awards were announced at the 2026 National Architecture Awards gala event in Brisbane on 29 October.
The 2026 National Architecture Awards are made possible by our National Corporate Partners. Thank you to Dulux, Alspec, Bondor Metecno, Bluescope, Brickworks, Fielders Lysaght, Swatchbox, Allegion and Total Synergy.
Find more info on each project below via our Awards Project Gallery available here.
The 2026 National Architecture Award Winners:
COLORBOND® AWARD FOR STEEL ARCHITECTURE
- COLORBOND Award for Steel Architecture
Yitpi Yartapuultiku (The Soul of Port Adelaide) | Ashley Halliday Architects together with the Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Working Group and Wax Design
COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE
- The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture
205 North Quay | Hassell REX Richards & Spence - National Award for Commercial Architecture
New Sydney Fish Market | 3XN in association with BVN and ASPECT Studios
- National Commendation for Commercial Architecture
65 Dover Street, Cremorne | Fieldwork
EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
- The Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture
Green Square Public School and Community Spaces | BVN - National Award for Educational Architecture
ECU City | Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins - National Award for Educational Architecture
Plant Futures Facility | m3architecture - National Award for Educational Architecture
The Forest | Woods Bagot
ENDURING ARCHITECTURE
- National Award for Enduring Architecture
Clubbe Hall | AJC Architects
HERITAGE
- The Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage
Adelaide Town Hall | Swanbury Penglase - National Award for Heritage
Entertainment Hall White Bay | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design with Placemaking NSW - National Commendation for Heritage
The Lands by Capella | Hassell in collaboration with Purcell Architecture
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
- The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture
Studio8 | Partners Hill - National Award for Interior Architecture
GOLDEN AVENUE | J.AR Office - National Commendation for Interior Architecture
Gugan Gulwan | COX Architecture with ck architecture Australia
INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
- The Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture
Santa Monica Vermont Apartments | KoningEizenberg Architecture - Australian Award for International Architecture
Further | MORQ - Australian Commendation for International Architecture
TDX Ice Factory | NU architecture & design
PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
- The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture
Yitpi Yartapuultiku (The Soul of Port Adelaide) | Ashley Halliday Architects together with the Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Working Group and Wax Design - National Award for Public Architecture
Central Station | Woods Bagot in collaboration with John McAslan + Partners - National Award for Public Architecture
New Footscray Hospital | COX Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership - National Commendation for Public Architecture
Pier Pavilion | Besley & Spresser
RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS)
- The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
Woodside Cottage | ME - National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
Palmerston Street House | Robert Simeoni Architects - National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
Stuartholme House | Nielsen Jenkins with Michael Lumby
RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (NEW)
- The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Eric Street | Officer Woods Architects - National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
EA House | Bokey Grant - National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
eton | vittinoAshe architects - National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Birdwood | Peter Besley
RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – MULTIPLE HOUSING
- The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Lacebark | Smart Design Studio - National Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
443 Queen St | WOHA with Architectus & Kris Kowalski Architects - National Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
9 Wilson Ave | MA+Co - National Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Merri Northcote | Six Degrees Architects - Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Habilis | Collins and Turner
SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE
- The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture
St Thomas More Columbarium | Simon Pendal Architect - National Award for Small Project Architecture
Magenta Outhouse | Atelier Marks Gaal - National Award for Small Project Architecture
The Ablutions at Wybalenna | Taylor and Hinds Architects with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
- The David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture
Yitpi Yartapuultiku (The Soul of Port Adelaide) | Ashley Halliday Architects together with the Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Working Group and Wax Design - National Award for Sustainable Architecture
The Forest | Woods Bagot - National Award for Sustainable Architecture
Younghusband | Woods Bagot
URBAN DESIGN
- The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design
Sydney Harbour Bridge Northern Access Cycleway | Collins and Turner with Aspect Studios, Eckersley O’Callaghan and Design 5 – Architects - National Award for Urban Design
Balam Balam Place | Kennedy Nolan - National Commendation for Urban Design
St Kilda Pier Redevelopment | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects with Site Office Landscape Architecture and AW Maritime
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
- Special Jury Prize
The Ablutions at Wybalenna & The Homestead Renewal at Wybalenna | Taylor and Hinds Architects with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania
For all media inquiries, please contact: Senior Publicist Adam Valentine on behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects (M. +61 (0) 411 302 769 | E. [email protected])