Pimpama Sports Hub, a multi-use sports facility, has won the Philip Follent Award for Building of the Year at the 2023 Australian Institute of Architect’s Gold Coast and Northern Rivers Regional Architecture Awards.
Pimpama Sports Hub, by Liquid Blu and Place Design Group, includes a state-of-the-art aquatic centre housing five pools (including a 50-metre pool), eight tennis courts, 12 netball courts, a community playground, an outdoor event space with a natural amphitheatre, a community centre, and a fitness centre. A walking trail, extensive landscaping and a café are also part of the precinct.
The jury said: “Pimpama Sports Hub has become its community’s backyard. The project provides an inspirational and aspirational template for community infrastructure”.
Alongside the community benefits, the building was also honoured for its sustainable design.
“The project considers both the climate change impacts it must respond to and those it creates in great depth, with a design that integrates climatic response, energy, and water systems with the building form and fabric,” the jury said. “The resulting building dramatically reduces the energy and water demands typical of this type of usage.”
Pimpama Sports Hub also has the capacity to be a self-sufficient disaster shelter and recovery centre.
Alongside the Building of Year Award, Pimpama Sports Hub received a Regional Commendation in the Urban Architecture Design category and a Regional Commendation in the Sustainable Architecture category.
Other projects commended in the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers 2023 Australian Institute of Architects’ Regional Architecture Awards demonstrate the breadth of architectural innovation in the region.
Gold Coast and Northern Rivers Regional Commendations
Justin Humphrey Architects’ The Cottage received the region’s House of the Year award. The project also received the Regional Project of the Year Award and a Regional Commendation in the Residential Architecture – Alterations and Additions category.
The jury celebrated the renovated Burleigh Waters family home for its “modesty”, noting that the project “stands out in a city that has long favoured more muscular forms of development and the erasure of older houses”.
Through downsizing the existing backyard pool, the architects created new, expanded space for family life within the home. A “striking” zig-zagging roofline references the terracotta tiles of the original building.
Four new houses showcasing the best in Gold Coast and Northern Rivers living received Regional Commendations in the Residential Architecture – New category: Kingfisher House GC by ptma Architecture, Cloudview by Paul Uhlmann Architects, Cypreś by Shane Denman Architects, and Alcheringa by Robin Spenser Architects. Kingfisher House GC also received a Regional Commendation in the Sustainable Architecture category.
Medium density projects Mali Residences by BDA Architecture and Labrador Social Housing by Cox Architecture received Regional Commendations in the Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing category.
Alongside new and altered residential architecture, interior and civic projects were also honoured.
272 Hedges Avenue Pedestal, by Contreras Earl Architecture, was awarded a Regional Commendation in the Interior Architecture category. The jury described the two-storey sculptural base of the 40-storey Mermaid Beach residential building as “architectural couture”.
A Regional Commendation in the Public Architecture category went to the Gold Coast Recreation Centre by Cox Architecture for its “thrifty extension to a well-loved local sports hub” that demonstrates architectural “bang for buck”.
The Ken Newton and Brian Mossop People’s Choice Award winner was Cloudview by Paul Uhlmann Architects.
The 2023 Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Coast and Northern Rivers Architecture Awards are generously sponsored by EMF Griffiths (Premier), Don Kibble (Partner), City of Gold Coast (Partner), Fielders Lysaght (Partner), Architectural Technical Services (Supporter) STP Consultants (Supporter), Mark Traucnieks Consulting Engineers (Supporter) and Allegion (Supporter).
All of the region’s commended projects have now been shortlisted for the Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland Architecture Awards. The state awards will be judged and awarded on June 22.
