Urban Design Award
The Urban Design Award is a distinguished acknowledgment of outstanding contributions to the planning and design of urban environments across Queensland. This award honours projects that create vibrant, sustainable, and connected cities, towns, and public spaces, while showcasing Queensland’s unique identity and way of life.
This category encompasses a wide range of urban initiatives, including precinct planning, public spaces, streetscapes, and mixed-use developments. These projects are recognised for their ability to enhance the urban experience, foster community connections, and thoughtfully address environmental and cultural contexts.
Projects in this category may be single buildings, groups of buildings or non-building projects, studies or masterplans, which are of public, civic or urban design in nature. Awarded projects must have enhanced the quality of the built environment or public domain or contribute to the wellbeing of the broader community.
Award Winners Throughout the Years
2024
The Karl Langer Award for Urban Design
BRADBURY PARK PLAYSCAPE | ALCORN MIDDLETON
Jury citation
The Bradbury Park Playscape transcends traditional playground design to offer an urban attraction of surprising magnitude and delight. It transforms the social value of existing parkland, deep in Brisbane’s suburbs, and remaps connection through the creation of a thriving, active place that is adored by community.
The abstract sculptural forms feature self-shading elements and eschew typical playground fixtures for a more authentic challenge: to navigate the lofty structures with their wild array of connections.
The project weaves narratives of Country into its design, with detail, material and colour evoking the surrounding flora and fauna. Going far beyond the client’s initial vision, the playscape’s infinite possibilities for play and adventure ignite curiosity and delight for young and old.
This project serves as an exemplary model for equitable and inclusive play, and it highlights the value of creativity in making community spaces of exceptional quality and success.
Australian Institute of Architects Social Impact Prize
Mari-Mari-Ba AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BUSHLAND COMMUNAL HUB | Deicke Richards
Jury citation
The Mari-Mari-Ba Affordable Housing and Bushland Communal Hub is an essential addition to the redevelopment of the former Joyce Wilding Hostel. Since the 1970s, the site has served as a refuge for vulnerable First Nations women and children.
The new development directly confronts the societal challenges related to domestic violence and at-risk women and children by establishing a safe, accessible, and culturally appropriate campus.
This project makes a significant contribution to supporting cultural sustainability and exemplifies the positive impact architecture can have on our communities, addressing critical social issues with care and purpose.
Australian Institute of Architects Regional Project of the Year Prize
Mundingburra Housing | Counterpoint Architecture
Jury citation
The Mundingburra Housing Complex, recognised as the regional project of the year, has significantly transformed perceptions of social housing.
As an exemplar social housing project, it stands out in regional Queensland. The seamless integration of this development into the surrounding community fabric is a remarkable achievement given the context and is one that few projects of this kind ever achieve.
These well planned and modest units serve as a positive example for all future social housing endeavours, fostering healthy living environmen
Australian Institute of Architects People’s Choice Prize
Whitsunday Anglican School - STEAM Centre | BSPN Architecture
Australian Institute of Architects Art & Architecture Prize
MUSEUM OF BRISBANE, THE LOCAL | SPECULATIVE ARCHITECTURE
Jury citation
Speculative Architecture collaborated with Artist in Residence Taloi Havini to reframe how audiences see themselves within the Museum of Brisbane. Together, they have created an immersive experience that breaks away from the traditional gallery space.
Opting for a spatial experience that evokes familiarity—a Queensland Pub—The Local showcases artwork and artefacts drawn from the museum’s collection. Concurrently, the building’s quirks and constraints have been used to create a shopfront experience, allowing visitors to view how others interact with the artwork.
The exhibition cleverly utilises the juxtaposition of architectural experiences to explore themes such as ephemera, ‘high art’, sociability, and prejudice, asking audiences to consider their own role in the ongoing construction of Brisbane’s evolving identity.
The Local serves as an exemplary example of collaboration between architect and artist.
Australian Institute of Architects Art & Architecture Prize - Commendation
Upper House | Koichi Takada Architects
Jury citation
Upper House is a multistorey residential development in the Fish Lane Precinct in South Brisbane. Throughout the development, a thoughtfully curated artwork strategy showcases the work of emerging and established artists, with a collection that gifts sublime beauty and enjoyment to residents and a sound investment to the body corporate.
The five-storey high façade features the artwork ‘Bloodlines Weaving String and Water’, by renowned Waanyi artist Judy Watson, while the backlit folded metal façade comes to life at night with mesmerising references to Country, memory, and cultural practices, orienting the building to Country and contributing authentic stories of place to the surrounding urban context.
This project shows what can be achieved when an ambitious architect, art curator, and developer work in alignment.
National Partners
