Planchonella House in Far North Queensland, designed by Queensland architect Jesse Bennett for his family, was named the Australian House of the Year at the 2015 Houses Awards. "Living in Planchonella House would be a true delight," said the judges, who admired the way the home embraces its tropical climate. The house also won the award for best new home over 200 square metres.

"For too long, subtropical architecture in Australia has been branded with a timber and tin vernacular," the judges said in their citation. "Planchonella House rethinks the subtropical condition. Obvious references to South American architecture are not misplaced given that we share the same latitude. The house is not just an object in the landscape - the building and landscape work together to enclose and expand space in plan and section."

The judges also praised the home for maintaining transparency to the landscape without compromising privacy. "The result is a materially raw building robust and ready to be engulfed by the jungle," they said.

Houses Awards were presented across nine categories. Other winners included Archier Studio, who won the emerging architecture award and whose Sawmill House at Yackandandah won the best new house under 200 square metres award. The award for best house alteration and addition under 200 square metres went to West End Cottage by Vokes and Peters Pty Ltd with Owen and Vokes and Peters. The best house alteration and addition over 200 square metres award went to Tower House by Andrew Maynard Architects. Andrew Maynard Architects also received the outdoor award for an alteration and addition to a weatherboard home in Melbourne. A 27-square metre flat in Darlinghurst designed by Brad Swartz received the best apartment or unit award. Breathe Architecture won the sustainability award for turning a former Melbourne car park into eight apartments at the base of the 37-storey QV Block. Steffen Welsch Architects Pty Ltd won the house in a heritage context award.