Winners announced: 2023 Victorian Architecture Awards

The University of Melbourne Student Precinct, designed by a diverse group of practices, is the most awarded project in the 2023 Victorian Architecture Awards, winning the Victorian Architecture Medal along with a raft of other awards.

David Wagner, Australian Institute of Architects’ Victorian chapter state president, said the student precinct project was made possible through a co-design process, “a demonstration of the transformative power of architecture that reflected broader outstanding design outcomes in this year’s awards.”

Along with the Victorian Architecture Medal, the project won the Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture, the Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design and an Architecture Award for Heritage Architecture – Creative Adaptation.

Also highly lauded was the much-hyped Nightingale Village, another collaborative project involving multiple practices. It won the Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture, the Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize, and awards for Multiple Housing and Urban Design.

The Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize is one of two new naming honours in the 2023 awards, which bear the names of influential women architects – marking the first time that awards have been named for living and practising designers.

Nightingale Village by Hayball and Breathe and Architecture Architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan

Nightingale Village by Hayball and Breathe and Architecture Architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan

Image: Tom Ross

The other new award, the Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, was awarded to Brambuk: The National Park and Cultural Centre, which has functioned as the cultural hub and interpretation centre for the Gariwerd (Grampians) National Park for more than three decades. Designed by Gregory Burgess Architects in close collaboration with Jadawadjali and Djab Wurrung people, Brambuk was constructed by using traditional building techniques married with advanced timber technology to realise a responsive, organic building.

“Since its opening in 1990, Brambuk has become a powerful symbol for the many ways in which architecture can be a tool for reconciliation,” said University of Melbourne professor Philip Goad. “Today, for its visitors and First Nation communities, Brambuk continues to speak convincingly across cultures, landscapes, and time.”

Projects that received an architecture award or a named award will now progress to compete in the National Architecture Awards program, announced in November.

Victorian Architecture Medal

University of Melbourne Student PrecinctLyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban

Public Architecture

The William Wardell Award

Bendigo Law CourtsWardle

Bendigo Law Courts by Wardle.

Bendigo Law Courts by Wardle.

Image: Tim Griffith

Awards

Dianella Community Centre – Canvas Projects
Melbourne Holocaust Museum – Kerstin Thompson Architects
Warrnambool Library and Learning CentreKosloff Architecture

Commendations

Bell to Moreland Level Crossing Removal Project – Wood Marsh Architecture
Berengarra Aged Care – Lyons
Queenscliff Ferry TerminalF2 Architecture

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Harold Desbrowe Annear Award

Spring Creek Road Farm House – Architect Brew Koch

Spring Creek Road Farm House by Architect Brew Koch

Spring Creek Road Farm House by Architect Brew Koch

Image: Thurston Empson

Award

Merricks FarmhouseMichael Lumby with Nielsen Jenkins

Commendation

AB HouseOffice Mi—Ji
Bass Coast FarmhouseWardle
Mori House – MA Architects and Aires Mateus

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

John and Phyllis Murphy Award

SundayArchitecture Architecture

Sunday by Architecture Architecture

Sunday by Architecture Architecture

Image: Tom Ross

Awards

Armadale House – Neeson Murcutt Neille
Helvetia – Austin Maynard Architects
Mary Street House – Edition Office

Commendations

Fitzroy House – Andrew Child Architect
Wrong Champ – Wowowa Architecture

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

The Best Overend Award

Kerr Street Residences – Kerstin Thompson Architects

Kerr Street Residences by Kerstin Thompson Architects

Kerr Street Residences by Kerstin Thompson Architects

Image: Derek Swalwell

Awards

38 Albermarle St, Kensington – Fieldwork
Nightingale VillageHayball and Breathe and Architecture Architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan

Commendations

Fenwick – Edition Office with Flack Studio
Viv’s Place – ARM Architecture

Educational Architecture

The Henry Bastow Award

University of Melbourne Student PrecinctLyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban

University of Melbourne Student Precinct by Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban

University of Melbourne Student Precinct by Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban

Image: Peter Bennetts

Awards

Box Hill North Primary School – Sibling Architecture
Centre for Higher Education Studies – Fieldwork and Brand Architects
Macleod College – Kennedy Nolan

Commendations

Carlton Gardens Primary School – Six Degrees Architects
Meadows Primary School – Project 12 Architecture

Commercial Architecture

The Sir Osborn McCutcheon Award

Delatite Cellar Door – Lucy Clemenger Architects

Delatite Cellar Door by Lucy Clemenger Architects

Delatite Cellar Door by Lucy Clemenger Architects

Image: Derek Swalwell

Awards

Encore Cremorne – Fieldwork
JCB Studio – Jackson Clements Burrows

Commendation

CONO Business Park – Particular Architects

Interior Architecture

The Marion Mahony Award

Three Springs Architectural Interiors – KGA Architecture

Three Springs Architectural Interiors by KGA Architecture

Three Springs Architectural Interiors by KGA Architecture

Image: John Gollings

Awards

Bass Coast FarmhouseWardle
Science Gallery Melbourne – Smart Design Studio

Commendations

Hermon – Wowowa Architecture
Somers House – Kennedy Nolan
The Mental Health Beds Expansion Program at McKellar Centre – NTC Architects with BG Architecture

Heritage Architecture

The John George Knight Award

Queen Victoria Markets Shed Restoration A-D, H-I – NH Architecture with Trethowan Architecture

Queen Victoria Markets Shed Restoration A-D, H-I by NH Architecture with Trethowan Architecture

Queen Victoria Markets Shed Restoration A-D, H-I by NH Architecture with Trethowan Architecture

Image: Dianna Snape

Awards – Conservation

Fitzroy Town Hall Ceiling Conservation – Conservation Studio Australia
Prahran Arcade Facade Conservation – RBA Architects and Conservation Consultants
Royal Exhibition Building - Promenade – Lovell Chen

Commendation – Conservation

Doherty House – RBA Architects and Conservation Consultants

Award – Creative Adaptation

University of Melbourne Student PrecinctLyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban

Commendation – Creative Adaptation

Albert Park Primary School Performance Hub – Searle x Waldron Architecture

Small Project Architecture

The Kevin Borland Award

Victorian Family Violence MemorialMuir and Openwork

Victorian Family Violence Memorial by Muir and Openwork

Victorian Family Violence Memorial by Muir and Openwork

Image: Peter Bennetts

Award

Joyce Chapel BridgeSearle x Waldron Architecture

Commendations

Firbank Sandringham Curiosity Centre – Studio Bright
Lily’s Shed – Oscar Sainsbury Architects

Urban Design

The Joseph Reed Award

University of Melbourne Student PrecinctLyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban

University of Melbourne Student Precinct by Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Archi-tects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban

University of Melbourne Student Precinct by Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Archi-tects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban

Image: Peter Clarke

Award

Nightingale VillageHayball and Breathe and Architecture Architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan and Openwork and Andy Fergus

Commendation

Bell to Moreland Level Crossing Removal Project – Wood Marsh Architecture

Sustainable Architecture

The Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award

Nightingale VillageHayball and Breathe and Architecture architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan and Openwork and Andy Fergus

Nightingale Village by Hayball and Breathe and Architecture architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan and Openwork and Andy Fergus

Nightingale Village by Hayball and Breathe and Architecture architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan and Openwork and Andy Fergus

Image: Tom Ross

Award

ANMF House – Bayley Ward

Commendations

Bendigo Law CourtsWardle
Glenroy Community HubDesigninc Melbourne
Spring Creek Road Farm House – Architect Brew Koch

Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture

AB HouseOffice Mi—Ji

AB House by Office Mi—Ji

AB House by Office Mi—Ji

Image: Benjamin Hosking

Commendation

That Old Chestnut – Figr Architecture Studio

Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize

Nightingale VillageHayball and Breathe and Architecture architecture and Austin Maynard Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and Kennedy Nolan and Openwork and Andy Fergus

Regional Prize

Warrnambool Library and Learning CentreKosloff Architecture

Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award

Brambuk: The National Park and Cultural Centre – Gregory Burgess Architects

EmAGN Project Award

AB HouseOffice Mi—Ji

Emerging Architect Prize

Claire Scorpo, Agius Scorpo Architects

Bates Smart Award for Architecture in Media

Advocacy Award

The Age / Opinion Pieces – Michael Smith

State Award

Architectural Criticism in The Saturday PaperNaomi Stead, RMIT, The Saturday Paper

National Award

Deadly Djurumin Yarns – Deadly Djurumin and Parlour

Related topics

More awards

See all
Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards shortlist

The Australian Institute of Architects has revealed the shortlist for the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards.

Today Design by Studio Edwards. 2024 Australian Interior Design Awards shortlist

The shortlist for the 21st Australian Interior Design Awards (AIDA) has been revealed.

Most read

Latest on site

LATEST PRODUCTS