The 2020 Victorian Architecture Awards winners have been announced, showcasing the best architecture in the state. Revivals of heritage projects featured heavily in the winners’ list as well as those that offer excellent design outcomes to the public.
Across 15 categories, 63 awards were given including named awards, architecture awards and commendations from 108 shortlisted entries.
A notable project in this year’s awards was the State Library of Victoria Redevelopment by Architectus + Schmidt Hammer Lassen, winning the Melbourne Prize and architecture awards for Heritage – Conservation and Public Architecture.
The redevelopment has opened up 40 per cent more public access space in a transformation of the much-loved institution that is a link between Melbourne’s past and future.
Victorian Architecture Awards chair of juries, Ingrid Bakker, says that the project’s redevelopment leads the way with its contribution to the public and the treatment of heritage buildings.
“Projects such as the State Library offer a major benefit to Melburnians and the way it has been brought back to life is a real gift to the city,” she says.
“The project has been highly collaborative and like all good architectural outcomes, there has been a significant focus on the diverse community users and the context of the building being in the heart of Melbourne.
“This landmark is something that can be enjoyed for generations to come and is an exemplar of the enhancement of existing buildings. It demonstrates the important consideration that needs to be championed by clients, architects, consultants and contractors in understanding the projects inherent value and impact of that building will have over time.”
Also featuring prominently in the awards was the Broadmeadows Town Hall by Kerstin Thompson Architects, receiving the Victorian Architecture Medal, a named award for Heritage Architecture and a commendation for Public Architecture.
This year, Monash University has proven to be outstanding in the educational architecture realm with Monash University Chancellery and Gillies Hall both gaining recognition across three categories.
Other noteworthy public projects in the winners’ list are the University of Melbourne by John Wardle Architects, Penguin Parade Visitor Centre by TERROIR, RMIT Capitol Theatre by Six Degrees Architects and the Ian Potter Southbank Centre by John Wardle Architects, which won the Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture.
Bakker continued: “The Ian Potter Southbank Centre is an excellent example of public architecture that strives for longevity and legacy. The project has actively sort to give back to the public realm.
“Outstanding design, as showcased by the projects recognised in these awards, is about much more than simple aesthetics. It is about creating resilient, sustainable and adaptive places, sensitive to their context that will be fit for purpose and serve our communities not just today, but for decades to come.
“We understand the importance of stimulating the economy with construction projects; with a national poll of Institute members revealing almost two thirds of respondents have had projects stalled due to COVID-19.
“However much-needed stimulus and support must be delivered in a way that makes quality paramount so the enduring value of a project and its contribution to the public good can be fully realised.
“Rushed and ill-conceived projects with a short life span have disastrous ramifications when it comes to sustainability outcomes and preserving the identity of a public space.”The Enduring Architecture Award, which recognises a significant project of at least 25 years old has gone to the MCG’s Great Southern Stand by Daryl Jackson in association with Tompkins Shaw and Evans for the experience it continues to offer sports spectators.
Projects that received an architecture award or a named award will now progress to compete in the National Architecture Awards program. The shortlist will be announced by the Australian Institute of Architects in the coming months.
The winners were announced via a digital ceremony on the evening of 10 July.
List of winners
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
26 entries/ 9 shortlisted projects / 1 commendation / 2 awards / 1 named
THE HAROLD DESBROWE – ANNEAR AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (NEW)
Kindred | panovscott Architects
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
The Good Life House| MRTN Architects
Fitzroy North House | Rob Kennon Architects
COMMENDATION
Two Sheds | DREAMER with Roger Nelson
Residential Architecture – Houses (New) Jury
Fiona Dunin (Chair) | FMD Architects
Clinton Murray | Clinton Murray Architects
Nick James | Architecture Architecture
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
27 entries / 9 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations /3 awards / 1 named
THE BEST OVEREND AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – MULTIPLE HOUSING
Napier Street for Milieu | Freadman White
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Gillies Hall | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Salisbury Townhouses | NTF Architecture
Piccolo House | Wood Marsh
COMMENDATIONS
Holme Apartments | John Wardle Architects
Housing Choices Australia – Dandenong | Kennedy Nolan
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing Jury
Karen Alcock (Chair) | MAArchitects
Matt Gibson | Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Aaron Roberts | Edition Office
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
37 entries / 13 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations / 3 awards / 1 named
THE JOHN AND PHYLLIS MURPHY AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS)
Frankston Mid Century Modern | MRTN Architects
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
RaeRae House | Austin Maynard Architects
Three Stories North | Splinter Society Architecture
Ruckers Hill House | Studio Bright
COMMENDATIONS
Garden House | BKK Architects
Elm Tree Place | Eastop Architects
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) Jury
Albert Mo (Chair) | Architects EAT
Hannah Jonasson | Fieldwork
Pulina Ponnamperuma | SJB Interiors
Small Project Architecture
9 entries / 4 shortlisted projects / 1 commendation / 1 award / 1 named
THE KEVIN BORLAND AWARD FOR SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE
In Absence | Edition Office and Yhonnie Scarce
ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Protagonist | Cumulus Studio
COMMENDATION
Mt Macedon Primary School | Workshop Architecture
Small Project Architecture Jury
Suzannah Waldron (Chair) | Searle x Waldron Architecture
Thom Mckenzie | Winwood Mckenzie Architecture
Anna Dutton | Bower Architecture
Urban Design
8 entries / 3 shortlisted projects / 2 awards / 1 named
THE JOSEPH REED AWARD FOR URBAN DESIGN
Carlton Learning Precinct COLA | Law Architects
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Ozanam House | MGS Architects
Sable Drop Terrace | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Urban Design Jury
Ian McDougall (Chair) | ARM Architecture
Evie Blackman | NAAU
Mark Jacques | Openwork Pty Ltd
Heritage
22 entries / 10 shortlisted projects / 3 commendations / 4 awards / 1 named
THE JOHN GEORGE KNIGHT AWARD FOR HERITAGE
Broadmeadows Town Hall | Kerstin Thompson Architects
ARCHITECTURE AWARD – CONSERVATION
State Library Victoria Redevelopment | Architectus + Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Trades Hall, Victoria | Lovell Chen
ARCHITECTURE AWARD – CREATIVE ADAPTATION
Regent Theatre, Melbourne | Lovell Chen
Abbotsford Convent Magdalen Laundry | Williams Boag Architects
COMMENDATIONS – CONSERVATION
Sorrento House | Cera Stribley
RMIT Capitol Theatre | Six Degrees Architects
COMMENDATIONS – CREATIVE ADAPTATION
Art House & Studio | Zen Architects
Heritage Jury
Roger Beeston (Chair) | RBA Architects
Nancy Mase | Emma Tulloch Architects
Jude Doyle | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
Commercial Architecture
9 entries / 5 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations / 1 award / 1 named
THE SIR OSBORN MCCUTCHEON AWARD FOR COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE
9 Cremorne St | Fieldwork
ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Light Box | Clare Cousins Architects
COMMENDATIONS
271 Spring Street | John Wardle Architects
Nagambie Brewery & Distillery | Six Degrees Architects
Commercial Architecture Jury
Ben Duckworth (Chair) | HASSELL
Julian Anderson | Bates Smart
Kelley MacKay | Kerstin Thompson Architects
Interior Architecture
40 entries / 14 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations / 3 awards / 1 named
THE MARION MAHONY AWARD FOR INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Ian Potter Southbank Centre, University of Melbourne | John Wardle Architects
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Monash University Chancellery | ARM Architecture
Napier Street for Milieu | Freadman White
Gillies Hall | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
COMMENDATIONS
RMIT Capitol Theatre | Six Degrees Architects
Three Stories North | Splinter Society Architecture
Interior Architecture Jury
Adriana Hanna (Chair) | Kennedy Nolan
Edwina Brisbane | Cumulus Studios
Brett Wittingslow | Clare Cousins Architects
Public Architecture
20 entries / 9 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations / 3 awards / 1 named
THE WILLIAM WARDELL AWARD FOR PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
Penguin Parade Visitor Centre | TERROIR
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
State Library Victoria Redevelopment | Architectus + Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Gandel Wing, Cabrini Malvern | Bates Smart
Parks Victoria Albert Park Office and Depot | Harrison and White with Archier
COMMENDATIONS
South Melbourne Life Saving Club | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Broadmeadows Town Hall | Kerstin Thompson Architects
Public Architecture Jury
Catherine Duggan (Chair) | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
Stephen Staughton | Hayball Pty Ltd
Deb Adams | BKK Architects
Educational Architecture
27 entries / 10 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations / 3 awards / 1 named
THE HENRY BASTOW AWARD FOR EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
Monash University Chancellery | ARM Architecture
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
The Swift Science and Technology Centre | McBride Charles Ryan
Monash University Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
Ian Potter Southbank Centre, University of Melbourne | John Wardle Architects
COMMENDATIONS
Richmond High School | Hayball
GPFLA LEARNING CENTRE | BRANCH STUDIO ARCHITECTS
Educational architecture Jury
Rowan Opat (Chair) | Opat Architects
Chris Godsell | Nettletontribe
Anne Clisby | Denton Corker Marshall
Sustainable Architecture
9 shortlisted projects / 3 commendations / 2 awards / 1 named
THE ALLAN AND BETH COLDICUTT AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
Wunggurrwil Dhurrung | GresleyAbas and Gregory Burgess Architects
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Bayswater Early Years Hub | K20 Architecture
University of Melbourne Old Quad | Lovell Chen
COMMENDATIONS
Mernda Rail Extension – Stations | Grimshaw
Gillies Hall | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Nightingale 2.0 – Fairfield | Six Degrees Architects
Sustainable Architecture Jury
Jose Alfano (Chair) | Alfano Studio
Ande Bunbury | Ande Bunbury Architects
Maia Close | Studio Bright
COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
4 shortlisted projects / 1 named
COLORBOND® AWARD FOR STEEL ARCHITECTURE (VIC)
Monash University Chancellery | ARM Architecture
COLORBOND® Award Jury
Sarah Zahradnik (Chair) | NH Architecture
Michael Larionoff | Onoff Architecture
Cathi Colla | Cathi Colla Architects
Regional Prize
6 shortlisted projects / 1 named
Penguin Parade Visitor Centre | TERROIR
Regional Prize Jury
Alison Nunn (Chair) | Alison Nunn Architect
Rimmon Martin | e+ architecture
Justin Noxon | Noxon Giffen
Melbourne Prize
3 shortlisted projects / 1 named
State Library Victoria Redevelopment | Architectus + Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Melbourne Prize Jury
Reno Rizzo (Chair) | Inarc Architects Pty Ltd
Madeline Sewall | Breathe Architecture
Minnie Cade | John Wardle Architects
Bates Smart Award for Architecture in Media
11 entries / 6 shortlisted projects / 3 named
ADVOCACY AWARD
Our City, Our Square | Citizens for Melbourne
VICTORIAN AWARD
Beaumaris Modern: Modernist Homes in Beaumaris | Fiona Austin; Simon Reeves; Alison Alexander; Melbourne Books
NATIONAL AWARD
International Indigenous Design Charter | Jefa Greenaway | Russell Kennedy | Meghan Kelly and Brian Martin
Enduring Architecture Award
MCG Great Southern Stand | Daryl Jackson in association with Tompkins Shaw and Evans
Awards Committee
Ingrid Bakker | HASSELL
Mel Bright | Studio Bright
Rosemary Burne | Conrad Gargett
Matt Gibson | Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Simon Knott | BKK Architects
Hamish Lyon | NH Architecture
Emerging Architect Prize
Thom McKenzie | Winwood McKenzie Architecture
Victorian Architecture Medal
Broadmeadows Town Hall | Kerstin Thompson Architects
