A sustainable home built on passive design principles and carefully curated materiality, an education building with a demountable design and a forested atrium, the renewal of a much-loved public venue that choreographs a connection between the hall and the adjoining park, and an amenities pavilion for the Aboriginal community that also honours the sanctity of its setting are some of the big winners at the 2026 Tasmanian Architecture Awards announced last weekend.

01_11338_commercial_BlackSwan_PrestonLane_AdamGibson.jpg — *Tasmanian Chapter Colin Philp Award for Commercial Architecture | Black Swan | Preston Lane | Photo: Adam Gibson*

Thirty-one projects were honoured at the 2026 Awards, highlighting innovative approaches to design, conservation and community-focused architecture across the state.

Presented by the Australian Institute of Architects, the Awards celebrate excellence in architecture across Tasmania and highlight projects that are helping shape the future of communities, public spaces and the broader urban and regional landscape. This year’s winning projects reflect a diverse range of architectural achievements, from adaptive reuse and heritage conservation to environmentally conscious design and innovative new developments defining Tasmania’s contemporary built environment.

00_11209-small_The Ablutions at Wybalenna_TaylorandHindsArchitects_AdamGibson.jpg — Tasmanian Chapter COLORBOND Award for Steel Architecture Award & Tasmanian Chapter Peter Willmott Award for Small Project Architecture | The Ablutions at Wybalenna | Taylor and Hinds Architects with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania | Photo: Adam Gibson

“The Australian Institute of Architects Tasmanian Architecture Awards recognise projects making significant contributions to Tasmania’s built environment and community,” explains Jury Chair Martin Stephenson.

“Winners range from exceptional examples of complex adaptive reuse and reduced embodied carbon, to projects which are significant not for what is added but for what is removed – seeking meaningful and compelling truth-telling and reconciliation through subtraction and revelation.  

“Notable across many of the projects is the respect for existing buildings and a careful and restrained approach to conservation and integration of the new. Whether it be a significant civic building extension or a reinterpretation of the humble Tasmanian Shack, a clear theme of respect for physical and social history prevails in this year's entries and highlights what outstanding architecture can achieve,” he adds.

00_10707-resnew_Sandford_12Architecture_Adam Gibson.jpg — *Tasmanian Chapter Esmond Dorney Award for Residential Architecture - Houses (New) | Sandford | 1+2 Architecture | Photo: Adam Gibson*

The awards are determined through a comprehensive judging process involving site visits and in-person assessments by a panel of industry experts. This year’s jury included Martin Stephenson, Rosevear Stephenson (Jury Chair); Kate Symons, Studio Ilk Architecture & Interiors; Maddie Sewell, Up to Something; Felix Blackman, BE-Architects; and Dr Julian Worrall, University of Tasmania - Architecture & Design School.

05_10719-educational_TheForest_WoodsBagot_PeterBennetts.jpg — *Tasmanian Chapter Sydney Blythe Award for Educational Architecture | The Forest | Woods Bagot | Photo: Peter Bennetts*

2026 Tasmanian Architecture Award Winners

Commercial Architecture        

Tasmanian Chapter Colin Philp Award for Commercial Architecture | Black Swan | Preston Lane

Educational Architecture    

Tasmanian Chapter Sydney Blythe Award for Educational Architecture | The Forest | Woods Bagot
Tasmanian Chapter Educational Architecture Award | Bowen Road Primary School | MANA Architects
Tasmanian Chapter Educational Architecture Commendation | Cambridge Primary School | Bence Mulcahy
Tasmanian Chapter Educational Architecture Commendation | Legana Primary School | Cumulus Studio

Enduring Architecture

Tasmanian Chapter Enduring Architecture Award | Dorney House at Fort Nelson | Esmond Dorney

Heritage Architecture

Tasmanian Chapter Roy Sharrington Smith Award for Heritage | The Homestead Renewal at Wybalenna | Taylor and Hinds Architects with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania

Public Architecture

Tasmanian Chapter Alan C Walker Award for Public Architecture | Albert Hall Renewal | TERROIR

05_10985-public_Albert Hall Renewal_TERROIR_Adam Gibson.jpg — *Tasmanian Chapter Alan C Walker Award for Public Architecture | Albert Hall Renewal | TERROIR | Photo: Adam Gibson*

Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions)  

Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations & Additions) Award | Balfour Terrace | Cumulus Studio
Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations & Additions) Commendation | Mount Stuart Greeny Flat | Bence Mulcahy
Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations & Additions) Commendation | Boa Vista | Licht Architecture
Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations & Additions) Commendation | Mid Century River Home | Maguire and Devine Architects

Residential Architecture - Houses (New)

Tasmanian Chapter Esmond Dorney Award for Residential Architecture - Houses (New) | Sandford | 1+2 Architecture
Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Houses New Award | Spring Beach House | Scale Architecture
Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Houses New Commendation | Flowerpot | TANNER
Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Houses New Commendation | Isabel and Elsie | Christopher Clinton Architect with Core Collective Architects

Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing 

Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing Award | Queens Walk Housing | Cumulus Studio

09_10636-resmulti_Queens Walk_Cumulus Studio_Adam Gibson.jpg — *Tasmanian Chapter Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing Award | Queens Walk Housing | Cumulus Studio | Photo: Adam Gibson*

Small Project Architecture   

Tasmanian Chapter Peter Willmott Award for Small Project Architecture | The Ablutions at Wybalenna | Taylor and Hinds Architects with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

Tasmanian Chapter COLORBOND Award for Steel Architecture | The Ablutions at Wybalenna | Taylor and Hinds Architects with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania

08_9849-resnew_Isabel Elsie_Christopher Clinton Architect with Core Collective Architects_Adam Gibson Photographer.jpg — *Tasmanian Chapter Sustainable Architecture Award | Isabel and Elsie | Christopher Clinton Architect with Core Collective Architects | Photo: Adam Gibson*

Sustainable Architecture 

Tasmanian Chapter Barry McNeill Award for Sustainable Architecture | The Forest | Woods Bagot
Tasmanian Chapter Sustainable Architecture Award | Isabel and Elsie | Christopher Clinton Architect with Core Collective Architects
Tasmanian Chapter Sustainable Architecture Commendation | Mid Century River Home | Maguire and Devine Architects
Tasmanian Chapter Sustainable Architecture Commendation | Spring Beach House | Scale Architecture
Tasmanian Chapter Sustainable Architecture Commendation | Cambridge Primary School | Bence Mulcahy

Chapter Specific Awards 

Tasmanian Chapter SWT Blythe Student Prize | Jack Rose | The Archive
Tasmanian Chapter Emerging Architect Prize | Guy Edwards | BE-Architects
Tasmanian Chapter EmAGN Project Award | Albert Hall Renewal | TERROIR
Tasmanian Chapter Henry Hunter Triennial Prize | Inveresk Library, University of Tasmania | Wardle
Tasmanian Chapter President’s Prize | Professor Rufus Black | Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Tasmania
Tasmanian Chapter Tasmanian Architecture Medal | The Ablutions at Wybalenna & The Homestead Renewal at Wybalenna | Taylor and Hinds Architects with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania

Main image: Tasmanian Chapter Alan C Walker Award for Public Architecture | Albert Hall Renewal | TERROIR | Photo: Adam Gibson

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