The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) has revealed a shortlist of 57 entries in the pre-eminent contest of architectural design excellence that now spans four decades, the National Architecture Awards.
Selected from a field of 807 entries, the shortlisted projects span the full range of architectural practice, from residential to commercial, educational to public architecture and urban design.
Collectively they represent the best in Australian architecture with projects drawn from around the country in the cities and the regions.
This year marks a notable milestone for the awards program, celebrating 40 years since its commencement.
Jury Chair and Immediate Past National President, Alice Hampson, reflected on the importance the program has accrued over this period.
“The peer-reviewed judging process is vital as it creates benchmarks for the betterment of the profession, practice and architecture,” Ms Hampson said.
“Judging the National Architect Awards is a once-in-a-lifetime experience of delightfully potent architectural discourse.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated this task, but no matter how one visits, truly exceptional work resonates powerfully, and our conversations with the committed, passionate and gifted designers responsible for them were most memorable.”
Ms Hampson said the jury also “makes the observation that public architecture of great standing is increasingly rare and, as a profession, we must advocate for this as a foundation of architectural endeavour.”
Importantly, the awards program provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the enduring value great architecture brings to clients and communities.
This celebration was shared for the first time in 2020 with a global audience resulting in more than 30,000 views of the awards ceremony, which more than 3,100 people watched live on the night.
This year’s National Architecture Award Winners will be announced on Thursday 4 November 2021 and will again be live-streamed to the world at 7pm AEDT.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award also opens today giving members of the public until midnight on 2 November to nominate their favourite residential project from the shortlist. All those who vote can then enter the running to win one of three $500 Bunnings gift vouchers.
FULL SHORTLIST
COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture (4)
| TAS | Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre | Cumulus Studio |
| QLD | Land 121 Facilities Project, Lavarack Barracks | BVN |
| NSW | Maitland Regional Athletics Complex | Maitland City Council with Studio Dot |
| VIC | Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University |
Commercial Architecture (6)
| VIC | Collins Arch | Woods Bagot and SHoP Architects |
| QLD | Land 121 Facilities Project, Lavarack Barracks | BVN |
| SA | Meals on Wheels SA Head Office | JPE Design Studio |
| TAS | MOSS 25 | Circa Morris-Nunn Chua Architects |
| NSW | Smart Design Studio | Smart Design Studio |
| VIC | Wangaratta Street | MAArchitects |
Educational Architecture (5)
| NSW | Barker College Rosewood Centre | Neeson Murcutt + Neille |
| QLD | Fortitude Valley State Secondary College | Cox Architecture and ThomsonAdsett |
| VIC | Geelong College Junior School | John Wardle Architects |
| VIC | Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University |
| VIC | Penleigh Essendon Grammar School Music House | McBride Charles Ryan |
Enduring Architecture (2)
| VIC | Olympic Swimming Pool | Kevin Borland, John and Phyllis Murphy and Peter McIntyre, with engineer Bill Irwin |
| WA | Town Council Offices (fmr) & Library, Northam | Iwan Iwanoff |
Heritage (2)
| NSW | Australian Museum Project Discover | Cox Architecture with Neeson Murcutt + Neille |
| VIC | Bendigo Former Mining Exchange | Williams Boag Architects |
Interior Architecture (5)
| NSW | Australian Museum Project Discover | Cox Architecture with Neeson Murcutt + Neille |
| WA | Bilya Marlee | Kerry Hill Architects |
| VIC | Divided House | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects |
| VIC | Olderfleet | Grimshaw with Carr |
| NSW | Smart Design Studio | Smart Design Studio |
International Architecture (3)
| International | One & Only Desaru Coast, Malaysia | Kerry Hill Architects |
| International | National Museum of Qatar Gift Shops | Kochi Takada Architects |
| International | Sir John Monash Centre | Cox Architecture with Williams, Abrahams and Lampros |
Public Architecture (5)
| TAS | Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre | Cumulus Studio |
| NT | george brown darwin botanic gardens visitor and event centre | hully liveris design company pty ltd |
| NSW | Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre | Andrew Burges Architects and Grimshaw with TCL in collaboration with the City of Sydney |
| WA | WA Museum Boola Bardip | Hassell + OMA |
| QLD | Waltzing Matilda Centre | Cox Architecture |
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) (4)
| WA | Beaconsfield House | Simon Pendal Architect |
| QLD | Beck Street | LineburgWang |
| NSW | SRG House | Fox Johnston |
| NSW | The Hat Factory | Welsh + Major Architects |
Residential Architecture – Houses (New) (6)
| VIC | 8 Yard House | Studio Bright |
| NSW | Bunkeren | James Stockwell Architect |
| VIC | Divided House | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects |
| NSW | Federal House | Edition Office |
| NSW | Night Sky | Peter Stutchbury Architecture |
| NSW | Pearl Beach House | Polly Harbison Design |
Residential Architecture Multiple Housing (3)
| NSW | Arkadia | DKO Architecture with Breathe Architecture and Oculus |
| NSW | Harbord Diggers Club Redevelopment | Architectus + CHROFI + JMD Design |
| VIC | The Lothian | Kennedy Nolan |
Small Project Architecture (4)
| TAS | Floating Sauna Derby | Licht Architecture |
| VIC | Jackalope Pavilion | March Studio |
| VIC | NGV Triennial 2020 Outdoor Pavilions | BoardGrove Architects |
| NSW | Plastic Palace | Raffaello Rosselli Architects |
Sustainable Architecture (3)
| VIC | Burwood Brickworks | NH Architecture, in partnership with Russell & George on the interior design |
| VIC | Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University |
| NSW | Smart Design Studio | Smart Design Studio |
Urban Design (5)
| TAS | Cradle Mountain Gateway Precinct | Cumulus Studio |
| NSW | Harbord Diggers Club Redevelopment | Architectus + CHROFI + JMD Design |
| QLD | QUT Campus to Country | BVN |
| NSW | Sub Base Platypus | lahznimmo architects and Aspect Studios |
| WA | WA Museum Boola Bardip | Hassell + OMA |
