The 2017 Victorian Architecture Awards winners were announced last week, revealing a huge range of architectural styles and functions, and a particular focus on creating healthy and liveable spaces.

Vanessa Bird, president of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, said living and working in well-designed buildings improves the way we think and feel; it's inspiring, promotes wellbeing, and can bring people together in new ways. 'Good architecture' is about creating places for people, she said.

Of the 223 entries, 58, or about 35 per cent, received an award or commendation.

Winning projects ranged from a tiny beach shack, to a large research hospital. Each project is said to have contributed to its local community culturally, economically, and socially.

Small Project Architecture - Kevin Borland Award, South Melbourne Beach House by Topology Studio. Image: Paul Hermes.

Forty houses were entered into the Residential New category, representing a broad range of designs. New jury chair of Residential Architecture Houses Tim Jackson said the exploration of new ideas in housing was encouraging, and showed how good design can enrich family life. 

The winner of the John George Knight Heritage award, Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub by Six Degrees Architecture, is a great example of how heritage buildings can be adapted for new roles. 

The 2017 Melbourne Prize went to two projects for the first time: Tanderrum Bridge by John Wardle Architects and NADAAA, and the 2016 NGV Architectural Commission by M@ STUDIO Architects. The bridge will sit permanently by the banks of the Yarra River, while the stylised car wash will occupy the Grollo Equiset Garden at the NGV, only for six months.

The competition revealed strong growth in health projects, suggesting that government and the design profession are alert to the importance of good design environments in delivering the best health outcomes.

Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, designed by Silver Thomas Hanley, DesignInc + McBride Charles Ryan, won both the Victorian Medal, and the William Wardell Award for Public Architecture. Dale Fisher, CEO of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and VCCC board member, said the centre is “proud and beautiful,” and said “there is nothing like this in the world.” She said the building itself has helped attract and retain the world's best cancer researchers.

The award winners will go on to compete in the National Architecture Awards. The winners of that competition will be announced in an event in Canberra in November.

Click here to read more about the Victorian Architecture Awards.

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award

• Rose House | Baracco+Wright Architects

Winner Residential Architecture – Houses (New), Rose House by Baracco+Wright Architects. Image: Andrew Kidman.

Architecture Awards 

• Dark Horse | Architecture Architecture
• House A | Andrew Walter
• Seaberg | Kerstin Thompson Architects
• Fish Creek House | Edition Office

Commendations

• True North | TANDEM design studio
• South Melbourne Beach House | Topology Studio
• Twig House | Leeton Pointon Architects + Interiors and Allison Pye Interiors

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

John and Phyllis Murphy Award 

• Sorrento House | Figureground Architecture

Architecture Awards 

• Dorman House | Austin Maynard Architects
• Perimeter House | MAKE Architecture
• Shadow Cottage Daylesford | MRTN Architects

Commendations

• Alfred House | Austin Maynard Architects
• Belmont House | Kennedy Nolan

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) - Commendation, Belmont House by Kennedy Nolan Architects. Image: Derek Swalwell.

Residential Architecture – Houses (Multiple Housing)

Beset Overend Award

• RMIT Bundoora West Student Accommodation | Richard Middleton Architects (RMA)

Architecture Awards 

• Assembly Apartments | Woods Bagot

Commendations

• Albert Street | DKO Architecture
• Monash University Turner Building Student Accommodation | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

Small Project Architecture

Kevin Borland Award 

• South Melbourne Beach House | Topology Studio

Architecture Awards 

• Balnarring Retreat | Branch Studio Architects
• Casa de Gatos | WOWOWA Architecture & Interiors

Commendations

• 2016 NGV ARCHITECTURE COMMISSION: Haven’t you always wanted…? | M@ STUDIO Architects
• Shimmerlands | Ha – Architecture, Product & Environment with Ben Sibley, Architectural Craftsperson
• Sound Cloud | Andrew Simpson Architects

Urban Design

Joseph Reed Award

• Frank Bartlett Library and Moe Service Centre | fjmt

Architecture Awards 

• Fitzroy Gardens Redevelopment Project | City of Melbourne City Design Studio

Commendations

• Reservoir Urban Nodes | Bellemo & Cat
• Upper West Side | Cottee Parker Architects

Heritage Architecture

John George Knight Award

• Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub | Six Degrees Architects

Architecture Awards 

• Hiro-En House | Matt Gibson Architecture + Design

Interior Architecture

Marion Mahony Award

• Shadow House | Matt Gibson Architecture + Design, Mim Design

Architecture Awards 

• Slack Melbourne Office | Breathe Architecture
• The Gipson Commons, St Michael’s Grammar School | Architectus

Commendations

• Belmont House | Kennedy Nolan
• Cox Box Office | Cox Architecture

Commercial Architecture

Sir Osborn McCutcheon Award

• The Coppel & Piekarski Family Disability Respite Centre | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

Architecture Awards 

• TarraWarra Cellar Door | Kerstin Thompson Architects

Commercial Architecture, Architecture Award, TarraWarra by Kerstin Thompson Architects. Image: Derek Swalwell.

Commendations

• STREAT Cromwell | Six Degrees Architects

Public Architecture

William Wardell Award

• Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre | sthDI+MCR (Silver Thomas Hanley, DesignInc and McBride Charles Ryan)

Architecture Awards 

• Bunurong Memorial Park | BVN
• Pomonal Community Hall | Workshop Architecture
• Brimbank Community and Civic Centre | Lyons

Commendations

• Frank Bartlett Library and Moe Service Centre | fjmt

Educational Architecture

Henry Bastow Award

• Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub | Six Degrees Architects

Architecture Awards 

• Arts West, University of Melbourne | ARM + Architectus
• The Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation – The University of Melbourne | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

Commendations

• Good Samaritan Primary School – Nazareth (Yr 1 & 2) Learning Village | Harrison and White

Sustainable Architecture

Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award

• South East Water | BVN

South East Water by BVN
Commercial Architecture
Photographer: John Gollings
www.bvn.com.au

Architecture Awards 

• Birkenstock Australia Headquarters | Melbourne Design Studios (MDS)
• Fitzroy Gardens Redevelopment Project | City of Melbourne City Design Studio

Commendations

• Monash University Building 56 Redevelopment | McGlashan Everist

Enduring Architecture Award

• University South Lawn Underground Car Park | Loder and Bayly in association with Harris, Lange and Associates

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

COLORBOND® Award

• Arts West, University of Melbourne| ARM Architecture + Architectus

COMMENDATION

• The Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation – The University of Melbourne| Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

Melbourne Prize – Joint Winners

• 2016 NGV ARCHITECTURE COMMISSION: Haven’t you always wanted…? | M@ STUDIO Architects

Image: NGV.vic.gov.au

• Tanderrum Bridge | John Wardle Architects and NADAAA in collaboration

Image: johnwardlearchitects.com 

Regional Prize

• Pomonal Community Hall | Workshop Architecture

Victorian Architecture Medal

• Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre | sthDI+MCR (Silver Thomas Hanley, DesignInc and McBride Charles Ryan)

Click here to read more about the Victorian Architecture Awards.

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