A business park that has been “humanized” with warm materials and fine details has won the top prize in the 2023 ACT Architecture Awards, announced on 3 June.
Bates Smart won the Canberra Medallion and the John Andrews Award for Commercial Architecture for Brindabella Business Park, a six-storey business plaza.
“Brindabella is a finely crafted, incredibly elegant pair of commercial buildings that demonstrates extreme beauty in complex simplicity,” the jury said.
The project was one of seventeen new works awarded across the categories, including new homes alterations and additions, public projects and interiors. There were also seven named prizes for individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their work.
Jury Chair Jeremy Mather noted the breadth of architectural creativity and technical skill on display among the winners.
Kaleen House by Ben Walker Architects.
Image: Ben Guthrie
“It was exciting to see the wide range and scale of projects presented – from the macro to the micro, the highly complex to the finely tuned, creative placemaking and adaptive reuse, humble home renovations and climate conscious new homes to multi-generational housing precincts and everything in between,” he said.
“Across this broad spectrum of beautifully designed and executed projects, not just sustainability, but environmentally responsible design was a standout principle.
“It was extremely evident and a guiding influence in the buildings created, demonstrating the in-tune role that architecture and design must play in lowering our carbon footprint and providing an energy efficient and sustainable built environment for future generations.”
Winners in the Chapter Awards will progress to the National Awards.
Canberra Medallion
Brindabella – Bates Smart
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Kaleen House – Ben Walker Architects
Awards
Narrabundahaus – Envelope Architecture
Bach House – Light House Architecture and Science
Commendation
Fossil House – Rob Henry Architects
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
Awards
Hyde Place Modern – The Mill: Architecture and Design
Best Foot Forward – Allan Spira Architects with Enfold
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Commendation
Common Ground Dickson – Collins Pennington Architects
Commercial Architecture
The John Andrews Award for Commercial Architecture
Brindabella – Bates Smart
Commendation
Dairy Road – Craig Tan Architects
Research School of Physics Stage 1 Building, Australian National University by Hassell.
Image: John Gollings
Educational Architecture
The Enrico Taglietti Award for Educational Architecture
Research School of Physics Stage 1 Building, Australian National University – Hassell
Commendation
Johns XXIII College, ANU – Cox Architecture
Interior Architecture
The W Hayward Morris Award for Interior Architecture
Government Fitout - Civic – Cox Architecture
Award
Canteen – Craig Tan Architects
Commendations
Defence Housing Australia, Gungahlin Offices – CK architecture (Australia) with Guida Moseley Brown Architects
Kingston Apartment Reconfiguration – Tynan Freeman Architect
Small Project Architecture
Commendation
Hotel Mottainai – Cox Architecture
Urban Design
Award
Dairy Road – Craig Tan Architects
Sustainable Architecture
The Derek Wrigley Award for Sustainable Architecture
Narrabundahaus – Envelope Architecture
Commendation
Best Foot Forward – Allan Spira Architects with Enfold
The Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture
The Chancery, Government House – Pegrum/Ciolek Architects (Roger Pegrum)
Colorbond Award for Steel in Architecture
Narrabundahaus – Envelope Architecture
Chapter Prizes
The Pamille Berg Award for Art in Architecture
Such and Such – My My My Architecture
The Robert Foster Award for Light in Architecture
Research School of Physics Stage 1 Building, ANU – Hassell
EmAGN Project Award
Best Foot Forward – Allan Spira Architects with Enfold
President’s Medal
Ben Walker
Clem Cummings Medal
Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
Architecture Professional Practitioner Award
Byron Kelly
Emerging Architect Prize
Vlasta Jeftic
The John Redmond Prize
Julia McGrath
ACT Chapter Student Medallion
Frank Tottingham
DJAS Architecture Graduate Prize
Frank Tottingham
