A Merewether brewhouse featuring rammed earth walls and soaring brewery tanks has taken out the Australian Institute of Architects Newcastle Medal, the region’s highest architectural honour.
The Institute’s Newcastle Architecture Awards were announced tonight, recognising the local design excellence across the built environment across eight categories.
Local architecture firm Prevalent won the top award and the Commercial Architecture Award for its Modus Operandi Brewery project, which was also commended in the Sustainability category and the ColorbondÒ Award for Steel Architecture.
Jury Chair Cherry Parsons said their project, the Modus Operandi Brewery, had created “a place that you want to be”.
“Modus Operandi Brewery is a wonderfully conceived juxtaposition of hospitality venue, brewery experience and production facility,” they said.
“Cleverly blurring the lines between internal and external space, and patron and production space through the use of giant polycarbonate clad sliding doors, the architects have delivered a unique and varied patron experience whilst seamlessly facilitating complex production requirements.”
The brewhouse, in an urban infill area, also uses 100 per cent green energy and sought to re-use and re-interpret materials.
In the Residential awards, three Newcastle region project received the award. For the Residential Architecture – Houses (New) Peter Stutchbury Architecture’s Sacred Mountain House and Derive Architecture & Design’s JL House were awarded.
Judges said the Sacred Mountain House was “a true oasis, perfectly oriented to capture the changes in seasons as well as the daily rhythm of the environment in which this home is sited”.
The Sacred Mountain House stands confidently within the valley landscape, protected on all sides from the elements by rammed earth construction. Upon arrival from an elevated vantage point, the diagram of the courtyard house is revealed, and you are drawn down into the space through a primary point of entry.
The JL House was lauded as a highly considered, wonderful example of a compact infill project in Newcastle’s inner suburbs.
Curious Practice’s Aija’s House won the Residential Houses (Alterations and Additions) Award for its refreshing approach to an upgrade of an existing home and to sustainability. It also won an award in the Sustainable Category.
“It is a study of how to holistically improve a home and life, without major building (de)construction,” the judges said. “The alterations set an example for ongoing architectural practice, and an approach to improve everyday housing stock.”
The Newcastle Architecture Awards celebrate design excellence across the region. Citations and images can be found here: https://www.architecture.com.au/awards/2022-awards/2023-newcastle-architecture-awards-winners
The Newcastle Architecture Awards jury comprised:
- Jury Chair Cherry Parsons
- Annabel Koeck
- David Sutherland
- Jade Young.
Full list of award-winners
Newcastle Medal | Modus Operandi Brewery | Prevalent
Commercial Architecture | Modus Operandi Brewery | Prevalent | Award
Interior Architecture | Âpé Yakitori Bar | Prevalent | Commendation
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) | Aija’s Place | Curious Practice | Award
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
- JL House | Derive Architecture & Design | Award
- Sacred Mountain House | Peter Stutchbury Architecture | Award
- Hill House | SHAC | Commendation
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing | Station Street Affordable Housing | CKDS Architecture | Commendation
Small Project Architecture | Stuart Park Amenities Building/s | Port Stephens Council | Commendation
Sustainable Category
- Aija’s Place | Curious Practice | Award
- Modus Operandi Brewery | Prevalent | Commendation
ColorbondÒ Award for Steel Architecture
- Sacred Mountain House | Peter Stutchbury Architecture | Commendation
- Modus Operandi Brewery | Prevalent | Commendation
For interviews, please contact:
Rosanne Barrett on behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects
M. +61 (0) 425 420 024 | hello@barrettcomms.com.au
