A new pedestrian and cyclist crossing, Canberra Airport’s first luxury hotel and a well-designed compact house ‘on a tight site with a tight budget’ were among the big winners at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2016 ACT Architecture Awards announced at the National Arboretum.

Bowen Place Crossing, an underpass designed specifically for pedestrians, cyclists and walkers won Lahznimmo Architects the top honour of the night, the Canberra Medallion, in addition to the Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design.

According to the jury, "the project is an exemplar of a thoughtfully instigated competition procurement process. Led by the National Capital Authority (NCA) it sought a design led outcome befitting the contextual significance of the siting.

"The foresight to imagine the scope and possibility for an urban landscape element of poetic scale and enduring contribution, adjoining Lake Burley Griffin in the Central National Area, is the key to the success of the intervention."

Photography by Brett Boardman

The Bates Smart-designed Airport Hotel in Canberra (pictured below) won the Award for Commercial Architecture, the Award for Interior Architecture, and the Light in Architecture Prize.

Photography by Brett Boardman

In the residential category, King House by Cox Architecture (pictured below) won the Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New). The jury described the project as "an exceptionally clever house that maximises amenity and functionality on a tight site with a tight budget." The jury added, "there is much to applaud on this project. It demonstrates how, with good design, one can build a highly liveable house filled with light, joy and outlook within a compact footprint."

Photography by Ben Wrigley

Congratulating all the winners and entrants, ACT Chapter President, Rob Henry said ACT architecture has seen a revival in the past few years with some world-class projects coming to fruition. He added that it was an exciting time to see the role the profession can play in making Canberra’s spaces better for locals and visitors alike.

The 2016 ACT Architecture Awards saw forty-six projects being entered for the competition with award winners now progressing to the National Architecture Awards, which will be announced in November.

2016 ACT Architecture Awards Winners' List:

CANBERRA MEDALLION

Bowen Place Crossing by Lahznimmo Architects. Photography by Brett Boardman

COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE AWARD

48 Macquarie Street by Guida Moseley Brown Architects. Photography by Rodrigo Vargas Commercial-Architecture_Award_48-Macquarie-Street_Guida-Moseley-Brown-Architects_RodrigoVargas-2.jpg

Ben Chifley Building by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp. Photography by John Gollings Commercial-Architecture_Award_Ben-Chifley-Building_francis-jones-morehen-thorp_JohnGollings-2.jpg

Canberra Airport Hotel by Bates Smart. Photography by Brett Boardman

EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

ENRICO TAGLIETTI AWARD

St John Paul II College by Collins Caddaye Architects. Photography by Stefan Postles Educational-Architecture_Named-Award-Enrico-Taglietti-Award_St-John-Paul-II-College_Collins-Caddaye-Architects_StefanPostles-2.jpg

ARCHITECTURE AWARD

Australian Defence Force Academy – New Indoor Sports Centre by HDR | Rice Daubney. Photography by Tyrone Brannigan Educational-Architecture_Award_Australian-Defence-Force-Academy-New-Indoor-Sports-Centre_HDR-RiceDaubney_Tyrone-Branigan-2.jpg

Australian Defence Force Academy – Auditorium by HDR | Rice Daubney. Photography by Tyrone Brannigan

ENDURING ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE AWARD

Rivendell by Laurie Virr, 1975

HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE

J S MURDOCH AWARD

ANU – Florey Building by CCJ Architects. Photography by Ben Wrigley Heritage_Named-Award-J-S-Muroch-Award_ANU-Florey-Building_CCJ-Architects_BenWrigley-2.jpg

COMMENDATION

Ainslie Arts Centre by Philip Leeson Architects

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

W HAYWARD AWARD

Ben Chifley Building by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp. Photography by Andrew Chung Interior-Architecture_Named-Award-W-Hayward-Morris-Award_Ben-Chifley-Building_francis-jones-morehen-thorp_AndrewChung-2.jpg

ARCHITECTURE AWARD

Canberra Airport Hotel by Bates Smart. Photography by Rodrigo Vargas Interior-Architecture_Award_Canberra-Airport-Hotel_BatesSmart_RodrigoVargas-2.jpg

COMMENDATION

TJ House by Ben Walker Architects (interiors) and Dezignteam (base building)

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS)

ARCHITECTURE AWARD

Flanagan Lewis House by Arquitectura. Photography by Pedro Geleris Residential-Alts-and-Adds_Award_Flanagan-Lewis-House_Arquitectura_Pedro-Geleris.jpg

LF House by Ben Walker Architects. Photography by Light Studies Residential-Alts-and-Adds_Award_LF-House_Ben-Walker-Architects_Lightstudies.jpg

Clerestory House by Rob Henry Architects. Photography by Light Studies Residential-Alts-and-Adds_Award_Clerestory-House_Rob-Henry-Architects_Lightstudies.jpg

COMMENDATION

Campbell House by Philiip Leeson Architects

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (NEW)

MALCOLM MOIR AND HEATHER SUTHERLAND AWARD

King House by Cox Architecture. Photography by Ben Wrigley Residential-New_Named-Award-Malcolm-Moir-and-Heather-Sutherland-Award_King-House_Cox-Architecture_BenWrigley.jpg

COMMENDATION

Claire’s House by Light House Architecture and Science

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – MULTIPLE HOUSING

ARCHITECTURE AWARD

Common Ground Housing by Collins Caddaye Architects. Photography by Stefan Postles Residential-Multiple-Housing_Award_Common-Ground-Housing_Collins-Caddaye-Architects_StefanPostles.jpg

COMMENDATION

Element by Cox Architecture

SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE AWARD

AG House by Ben Walker Architects. Photography by Light Studies Small-Project-Architecture_Award_AG-House_Ben-Walker-Architects_LightStudies.jpg

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE AWARD

Westside Acton by Cox Architecture. Photography by Rodrigo Vargas Sustainable-Architecture_Award_Westside-Acton_Cox-Architecture_RodrigoVargas.jpg

URBAN DESIGN

SIR JOHN OVERALL AWARD

Bowen Place Crossing by Lahznimmo Architects. Photography by Brett Boardman Urban-Design_Named-Award-Sir-John-Overall-Award_Bowen-Place-Crossing_Lahznimmo-Architects_BrettBoardman.jpg

SPECIAL PRIZES

COLORBOND AWARD FOR STEEL ARCHITECTURE

TJ House by Ben Walker Architects (interiors) and Dezignteam (base building)

ART IN ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Kim Harvey School of Dance by Clarke Keller

LIGHT IN ARCHITECTURE PRIZE
Canberra Airport Hotel by Bates Smart

MERVYN WILLOUGHBY-THOMAS RENOVATION AWARD WINNER
Sunny Room Additions by Allan Spira Architects

PRESIDENT’S MEDAL
Alastair Swayn

CLEM CUMMINGS MEDAL
Harris Hobbs Landscapes

EMERGING ARCHITECT PRIZE
Erin Hinton

ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR PRIZE
Dean McPherson

ACT CHAPTER STUDENT MEDALLION
Will Headland

DARYL JACKSON ALASTAIR SWAYN GRADUATE PRIZE
Will Headland

JOHN REDMOND PRIZE
Ursula Embry

COX ARCHITECTURE STUDENT DESIGN PRIZE
Postgraduate Commendation – Wooden Housing Complex by Stewart Youngblutt
Undergraduate Prize – Outside In by Chloe Yin
Undergraduate Commendation – Dickson Mixed Use Apartment by Brenton Reis
Undergraduate Commendation – Residential, Dickson by Billy Ileris

Architecture & Design Team

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