Winners of the 19th annual Building Designers Association of Victoria’s (BDAV) Building Design Awards have been announced, with Melbourne Design Studios awarded top honours for the new Birkenstock Australia headquarters.

Situated in a two-storey heritage listed building in Clifton Hill, Victoria, the design translated Birkenstock’s core values into spatial experiences, illustrating the brand’s commitment to quality, craftsmanship, sustainability, honesty and a healthy lifestyle.

Melbourne Design Studios’ director Marc Bernstein-Hussmann, who won the Small Commercial category at the 2013 BPN Sustainability Awards for the same project, says nature formed an integral part of the project. Sustainability was also incorporated into key elements from the outset, which meant that no late ‘add-on’ ESD initiatives were left out because of budget constraints.

“This project does not just pay lip-service to sustainability. It is obvious that staff wellbeing and connectivity, customer experience and the Birkenstock philosophy have all been carefully considered,” said Paul Hassall, chair of the judging panel.

“Refined space planning, the selection of natural and sustainable materials, recycled elements, extensive use of indoor planting and natural light show a maturity in considering the building, its users, customers, and the natural environment.”

Photography by Peter Clarke & Marc Bernstein-Hussmann

Photography by Peter Clarke & Marc Bernstein-Hussmann

Birkenstock Australia HQ also won prizes in the Non-Residential Design – Alterations and Additions, Interior Design – Non Residential, and Excellence in Use of Timber categories.

The People’s Choice Award went to Jarrod Sinclair’s 80 Grenfell Street project. The brief was to provide a concept retail branch for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank that could be drawn from for future design and specification.

According to designer Jarrod Sinclair, the new design was about different spatial experiences. As opposed to just a teller counter and an entrance, the branch features open and semi-open spaces, enclosed offices, as well as breakout areas.

Photography by Brett Hartwig

Photography by Brett Hartwig

As a high end finish, this pilot sits at the top of a three-tiered design that could see two additional specifications delivered to offer a similar look and feel from lesser budgets. So far, half a dozen branches have been rolled out based on Sinclair’s design.

Maxa Design’s Brunswick Residence won the Best Environmentally Sustainable Design for Residential project award. Aiming to create an energy efficient home for retirement years, the new home is an extension of the Victorian-style structure, and features open-plan living whilst providing for minimal maintenance.

Photography by Chris Neylon

Photography by Chris Neylon

Orientation and material selection helped the project achieve its 7 Star energy efficiency rating, with recycled ‘Brunswick reds’ – clay bricks that are a popular feature of many old homes in the area – providing a more sustainable building material.

BDAV president Michael O’Sullivan praised the winners for combining innovation, strong aesthetics and environmental considerations in their projects.

“The winners of this year’s awards once again demonstrated the high calibre of building design available to Victorians looking to build or renovate their home and for commercial projects,” said O’Sullivan.

A selection of winning design projects will now be shortlisted for the inaugural National Alliance of Building Designers Awards, which will be held at Grand Designs Live in Melbourne in October 2014.

Full list of winners:

Building Design of the Year 2014

Birkenstock Australia HQ by Melbourne Design Studios

10-Star Challenge

Double Century House by Ande Bunbury Architects

People’s Choice Award

80 Grenfell Street by Jarred Sinclair

Best Design of a Special Project

Glen Osmond Farm by Peter Jackson Design

Best Environmentally Sustainable Design – Residential

Brunswick Residence by Maxa Design

Best Energy Efficient Design

Haven 8.5 by Bios Design Build Sustain and Eco Select

Most Innovative Bathroom Design

Chilled Form by Clever Design

Most Innovative Kitchen Design

Amaroo by Peter Jackson Design

Residential Design – Alterations and Additions: $200,001-$500,000 construction cost

Brunswick Residence by Maxa Design

Commendation: Elsternwick Alterations by Sketch Building Design

Commendation: Thornbury House by Mesh Design Projects

Residential Design – Alterations and Additions: Over $500,000 construction cost

Carpenter Street Residence by Dig Design

Residential Design – New Houses: up to $300k construction cost

Eco Balanced 1 by Beaumont Concepts

Residential Design – New Houses: $300,000-$500,000 construction cost

Glyde Residence by JFK Design

Residential Design – New Houses: $500,001-$1M construction cost

Chilled Form by Clever Design

Commendation: Warragul Residence by Maxa Design

Residential Design – New Houses: Over $1M construction cost

White House by In2 Pty Ltd

Commendation: Grange by Vibe Design Group

Residential Design – Multi Residential

Heritage Conservation Project – Residential

Union of Old and New by Archsign

Heritage Conservation Project – Non-Residential

Drafting Excellence Award

A Tasty Design by Archsign

Interior Design – Non Residential

Birkenstock Australia HQ by Melbourne Design Studios

Commendation: Bundoora Dental Clinic by Cornall Building Design

Interior Design – Residential

Fairlight Residence by Hunter and Richards

Non-Residential Design – New Project

Highway Property by Brandrick Architects

Non-Residential Design – Alterations and Additions

Birkenstock Australia HQ by Melbourne Design Studios

Excellence in Use of Timber

Birkenstock Australia HQ by Melbourne Design Studios

Commendation:Glen Osmond Farm by Peter Jackson Design

Excellence in Use of Glass

Highway Property by Brandrick Architects

Excellence in Use of Steel

Money Pit Investments Pty Ltd Medical Centre by Planwise Design

Best Response to a design brief by a student

Dover Street, Cremorne by Thomas Bird (RMIT University, School of Design TAFE)

Best Digital Presentation by a student

Dover Street, Cremorne by Hung Viet Tran (RMIT University, School of Design TAFE)

Drafting Excellence by a student

Richmond Mediatheque by Sher-Lene Lebek (Homesglen Institute)

Geraldine Chua

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