A world-class business precinct, a luxury high-rise residential tower, a transformative elevated station, a culturally synthesised holiday home, a new educational building with layered lighting design, and a dynamic workplace design project were some of the Gold winners at the 2026 Better Future Australian Design Awards, announced earlier this month.

The Australian Design Awards is an open nomination program for studios and commissioning clients based in Australia, with nominations open most of the year, and winners announced in January each year. The Awards program recognises the courage, excellence and diversity of design-led projects that are transforming Australia across 10 major categories including Architecture, Interior Design, Space Plus, Product Design, Communication Design, Advertising & Marketing, Service & System Design, Digital Innovation, Web & App Design and Better Future, and 99+ specialist categories covering the wider design community.

Melbourne Quarter | Lendlease | Denton Corker Marshall, Fender Katsalidis, Woods Bagot and John Wardle Architects | Architecture - Commercial | Gold

Melbourne Quarter1.jpg — *Image Credit: David Michener*

Melbourne Quarter is a landmark $3 billion commercial precinct redefining large-scale urban renewal in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Spanning 2.5 hectares, the project transforms one of the city’s last major urban renewal sites into a world-class business destination delivering 150,000 square metres of premium office space across three next-generation towers to accommodate 15,000 workers. Designed by Denton Corker Marshall, Fender Katsalidis, Woods Bagot and John Wardle Architects, the precinct integrates offices with retail, hospitality, workplace amenities and generous public spaces.

A major engineering achievement was the construction of a 50-metre deck, later expanded to 110 metres, enabling commercial floorplates to be suspended above the rail reserve and Wurundjeri Way, one of Melbourne’s busiest arterial roads, adjacent to Southern Cross Station. The development prioritises connectivity, wellness and sustainability, featuring direct transport connections, a new pedestrian laneway, Melbourne’s first elevated Sky Park, accessible design, more than 50% open space, a 97% walk score, water-sensitive design, green infrastructure, and a world-leading 6 Star Green Communities rating.

AURA by Aqualand | Woods Bagot | Architecture - Multi Residence (10+ floors) | Gold

AURA by Aqualand is a striking mixed-use residential tower that redefines luxury high-rise living in North Sydney. Rising 28 storeys, the Woods Bagot-designed development introduces a sculptural form inspired by the fluidity of Sydney Harbour, contributing a new architectural landmark to the city’s evolving skyline. The project sets out to establish a new benchmark for vertical living by combining bold design, exceptional amenities, future-proofed performance outcomes and a strong sense of community.

Liveability is central to the brief, with apartments designed to maximise natural light, privacy, acoustic comfort and expansive harbour views. Curved facades, terraced podiums and layered materiality draw from the site’s coastal and sandstone contexts, creating a dynamic interplay of light and movement. AURA integrates curated hospitality, generous communal spaces, public amenity and public art, elevating it beyond a conventional residential tower. Market-first innovations include a commercial-grade tapered curtain wall system adapted for residential use, maximising internal space and panoramic outlooks for residents.

Pakenham Station | North Western Project Alliance/Genton | Architecture - Community & Civic | Gold

Pakenham Station1.jpg — *Image Credit: Peter Clarke*

Pakenham Station transforms transport infrastructure into an open, civic-focused public place that serves both commuters and the wider community. Designed by Genton, the elevated station moves beyond a traditional rail facility to become a social and cultural landmark in Melbourne’s southeast. Extensive open space, improved accessibility and connection to Country contribute to a welcoming environment that elevates both commuter experience and civic identity.

The design embraces transparency and openness by removing walls to allow daylight, airflow and clear sightlines throughout the station. A distinctive wave-like floating roof canopy provides shelter while maintaining a light, sculptural presence, with skylights drawing natural light deep into the station. Genton worked in close collaboration with the Bunurong people to embed Indigenous cultural narratives into the very fabric of the station. The project also sets new benchmarks for sustainable rail infrastructure, using advanced 3D digital fabrication and material innovation to reduce waste and lower embodied carbon, delivering a resilient, future-ready transport hub for the community.

Rosement Residence | CL Creation Co. | Interior Design - Residential | Gold

Contemporary minimalism intersects with Eastern cultural influences at this waterfront holiday home in Broadbeach Waters on the Gold Coast. Designed for a Chinese client who lives in Japan, Rosement Residence reflects a thoughtful synthesis of place, culture and modern living. The interior design respects the client’s layered cultural identity, translating that sensibility into a cohesive Gold Coast holiday retreat by using a unified material language, with the restrained palette combining the permanence of exposed concrete with the warmth of timber and the refinement of golden steel.

The interplay of natural tones with robust materials creates a sense of quiet simplicity and modern sophistication. Stepping away from the traditional Broadbeach Waters waterfront villa typology, Rosement Residence offers a serene and grounded alternative that reimagines luxury through the lens of cultural expression.

Xavier College, Kostka Building | MGS Architects/Glowing Structures | Lighting Design | Gold

Xavier College, Kostka Building.jpg — *Image Credit: Andrew Latreille, Tom Ross, Ark Lighting*

The Kostka Building at Xavier College, designed by MGS Architects, establishes an innovative model for contemporary learning environments, centred on curiosity, connection and a strong sense of place. Glowing Structures was engaged to deliver a lighting design that reinforces this vision through a considered, layered approach that enhances learning, engagement and wellbeing for students.

Developed in close collaboration with Ark Lighting, MGS Architects and the wider project team, the lighting strategy supports flexible, student-focused education for Year 7 and 8 students. Rather than serving a purely functional role, light is used as an intuitive architectural element, guiding movement, defining zones and creating moments of comfort and calm.

Different learning settings and styles called for tailored solutions, from collaborative zones and classrooms to quiet breakout areas, all unified by a cohesive design language. Natural daylight was carefully prioritised, with artificial lighting used to supplement rather than dominate the interior spaces. The result is an adaptable, welcoming environment where lighting shapes the mood, identity and rhythm of the spaces, supporting learning and activities throughout the day.

Macquarie Group Global Headquarters | Architectus, COX Architecture and Hecker Guthrie | Interior Design - Corporate | Gold

Macquarie Group Global Headquarters.jpg — *Image Credit: Alicia Taylor Photography*

Macquarie’s global headquarters at Martin Place sets a new benchmark for flexible, connected and sustainable workplace design in Sydney’s CBD. Conceived as a light-filled environment that prioritises community and collaboration, the building integrates advanced technology, wellbeing facilities and a diverse mix of amenities to support both employees and visitors.

The workplace includes a range of dedicated spaces such as an art gallery, business lounge, broadcast studio and hospitality floor, while typical work floors are designed to evolve with changing business needs. The distinctive floor plan supports this adaptability, with 25% of each floor housing fixed elements such as meeting rooms, infrastructure and shared facilities, and the remaining 75% configured as a highly flexible zone capable of accommodating different teams and workstyles over time.

Sustainability is embedded through a restrained materials strategy that favours locally sourced, recycled and reused elements, minimal overcladding and respect for the base building architecture. Supported by a fully integrated 5G network, the Macquarie Group headquarters facilitates a flexible work-from-anywhere model while enabling a globally connected and future-ready workplace.

Main image: Melbourne Quarter (Image Credit: David Michener)

All images are sourced from https://betterfutureawards.com/AUS26 with individual credits provided where stated.

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