Empire take out top prize at ACT Architecture Awards

The 2019 ACT Architecture Awards’ top prize has been won by a contemporary extension to an inner-south bungalow.

The prestigious Canberra Medallion was presented to Austin Maynard Architects for the Empire house (pictured above).

Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman handed over the award.

The project also won the Gene Willsford Award for  Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions).

Australian Institute of Architects ACT Jury Chair, Sarah Truscott, said the project displayed an understanding of the building’s heritage.

"Empire is located on a road that forms a key part of Burley Griffin’s masterplan,” said Truscott.

“The architects have shown respect for Canberra’s built heritage by preserving the best of this home and creating smart additional living spaces inside and out for all seasons."

Other major winners include Edgeworth Apartments, which won the Sydney Ancher Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing for COX Architecture, and the Concrete House by Rob Henry Architects won the Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).

Clarke Keller and dwp|design worldwide partnership received the Enrico Taglietti Award for Educational Architecture for their work on ANU’s Hanna Neumann Building. The building also won the W Hayward Morris Award for Interior Architecture and the Pamille Berg Award for Art in Architecture.

"This new building brings together ANU’s Mathematical Sciences Institute and Computer Science in a new teaching and research hub. Embedded coding in the façade and interior details create a series of mathematical puzzles for students to decipher as they work their way up the building with the most complex on the top level," Truscott said.

A total of 30 Named Awards, Awards and Commendations were presented on the night.

ACT Chapter President, Philip Leeson, said: “This year’s awards saw 37 entries ranging from small alterations and additions to large public commercial buildings and institutions.

“Each year our awards showcase the extraordinary talent of the architecture profession and the outstanding buildings it produces and this year is no exception.

“The architects and their projects recognised by this year’s jury will enter the canon of great architecture that has contributed to the city of Canberra that we love.”

Named Award and Award winners will now progress to the National Architecture Awards to be announced on Thursday 7 November 2019. 

Full list of winners: 

• Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) 

The Gene Willsford Award – Empire by Austin Maynard Architects

Award – Yarralumla Shed by Gerard O’Connell (pictured below)

• Residential Architecture – Houses (New) 

The Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award – Concrete House by Rob Henry Architects (pictured below) 

Award – Red Hill House by Mathieson Architects

Award – Courtyard House by Rob Henry Architects

Commendation – Carwoola House by de Rome Architects

• Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing 

The Sydney Ancher Award – Edgeworth Apartments by COX Architecture

Commendation – Shophouse by JUDD.studio

Commendation – Warehouse by JUDD.studio

• Commercial Architecture

Commendation – Manuka Oval Media and Function Centre

• Interior Architecture 

The W Hayward Morris Award – ANU Hanna Neumann Building by Clarke Keller and dwp|design worldwide partnership

Commendation – Denman Village Shops by AMC Architecture (pictured below)

• Educational Architecture

The Enrico Taglietti Award – ANU Hanna Neumann Building by Clarke Keller and dwp|design worldwide partnership

Award – CGGS Early Learning Centre by Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn

• Public Architecture

Commendation – Cricket ACT by Clarke Keller

• Small Project Architecture 

The Cynthia Breheny Award – Charly_Demonstrator by Stack Space

• Sustainable Architecture 

The Derek Wrigley Award – CGGS Early Learning Centre by Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn

Award – Courtyard House by Rob Henry Architects

• Enduring Architecture 

The Sir Roy Grounds Award – Wybalena Grove (1974) by Michael Dysart

• COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture 

Award – Shophouse by JUDD.studio

• Chapter Awards and Prizes 

Canberra Medallion – Empire by Austin Maynard Architects

The Pamille Berg Award for Art in Architecture –ANU Hanna Neumann Building by Clarke Keller and dwp|design worldwide partnership

The Robert Foster Award for Light in Architecture – Red Hill House by Mathieson Architects

Architectural Professional Practice Award – Eric Martin, Eric Martin & Associates

President’s Medal – Paul Barnett, Paul Barnett Design Group

Clem Cummings Medal – Jenny Edwards, Lighthouse Architecture & Science

Emerging Architect Prize – Will Gardner, Guida Moseley Brown Architects

ACT Chapter Student Medallion – Byron Kelly, University of Canberra

Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Graduate Prize – Mark Bersolto, University of Canberra

John Redmond Prize – Justin Williams, University of Canberra