Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design by Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University was the most awarded project at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2021 Victorian Architecture Awards.

The Victorian architecture award winners were selected from a shortlist of 117 entries across 14 categories. Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design won the Victorian Architecture Medal, as well as The Melbourne Prize, the COLORBOND Award for Steel Architecture and an Architecture Award in both the Sustainability and Educational Architecture categories.

Chair of Juries Rosemary Burne observed that all winning projects demonstrated responses to the wider issues of our time such as urban integration, placemaking, sustainability, universal access, health and wellbeing, and new technologies.

“We are delighted to take the opportunity during these difficult times to celebrate a rapidly evolving practice of architecture that seeks to better support the communities we serve,” Burne said.

“As our cities become denser and the nature of work changes, projects in the commercial category were consistently optimistic and future-focused, often with elements of fun, freshness and flexibility.

“Similarly, in the always highly competitive residential field, we saw architectural responses evolving to adapt to our ‘new normal’. Accessibility emerged as a real concern, as well as integration of sustainability-focussed technologies that have until recently been the preserve of larger building typologies.”

Commenting on the multi-award-winning Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design project, the Jury said that it provided an optimistic vision of the future and a powerful reminder of “the fundamental role of architects in creating humanist structures that last for generations”.

Victorian Chapter president Bill Krotiris said, “A key theme among this year’s award winners was excellence at the precinct-scale, underscoring that great architecture is about people and the creation of places that best enhance their daily lives.”

Carrum Station and Foreshore Precinct by COX Architecture won The Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design for what the Jury described as “an extraordinary offer of civic generosity, elevating the commuter experience through the gift of a panoramic Port Phillip Bay view”.

Woods Bagot and SHoP Architects won The Sir Osborn McCutcheon Award for Commercial Architecture for Collins Arch, which was also awarded a commendation in the Urban Design category.

Continuing the celebration of place-making, Springvale Community Hub by Lyons won The William Wardell Award for Public Architecture for a project the Jury says “embodies the spirit of public architecture” that “balances charming Australian irreverence with evident respect for the importance of representing people and place”.

Geelong College Junior School by John Wardle Architects won both the Regional Prize and The Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture.

Burwood Brickworks by NH Architecture – the world’s first Living Building Challenge (LBC) certified retail building – received The Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture along with commendations in both the Interior and Commercial award categories.

Studio Bright won The Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) for 8 Yard House, which the Jury applauded for being “acutely attuned to the patterns of family activity, offering a multitude of functions and spatial moods that promote genuine interactivity”.

This year’s Victorian Emerging Architect Prize was jointly awarded to Jacqui Alexander and Ben Sheridan for demonstrating “the remarkable contributions emerging architects make to the culture of architecture in Australia”.

The Victorian award winners will now progress to the National Architecture Awards program.

2021 Victorian Architecture Awards Winners

Bates Smart Award for Architecture in Media

National Award | Architectural Drawings: Collecting in Australia | Miles Lewis
National Award | Architects After Architecture: Alternative Pathways for Practice | Rory Hyde, Harriet Harriss, Roberta Marcaccio
State Award | Inflection Journal Volume 7 Boundaries | Han Jiang, Louis O'Connor, Arinah Rizal

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture (VIC) | Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University
Commendation | Divided House | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

Commercial Architecture

The Sir Osborn McCutcheon Award for Commercial Architecture | Collins Arch | Woods Bagot and SHoP Architects
Architecture Award | Wangaratta Street | MAArchitects
Commendation | 35 Collins Street | Grimshaw
Commendation | Cannons House | NH Architecture
Commendation | Burwood Brickworks | NH Architecture

Educational Architecture

The Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture | Geelong College Junior School | John Wardle Architects
Architecture Award | Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University
Architecture Award | Penleigh Essendon Grammar School Music House | McBride Charles Ryan
Architecture Award | Research Primary School | Kennedy Nolan
Commendation | St Leonard's College Redevelopment | ARM Architecture
Commendation | Stawell Secondary College | Workshop Architecture

Enduring Architecture

Enduring Architecture Award | Olympic Swimming Pool | Kevin Borland, John and Phyllis Murphy and Peter McIntyre, with engineer Bill Irwin

Heritage Architecture

The John George Knight Award for Heritage | Bendigo Former Mining Exchange | Williams Boag Architects
Architecture Award | Church on Napier | Kerstin Thompson Architects and James Stockwell Architects
Commendation | d'Estaville | NTF Architecture
Commendation | Hawthorn House | Kennedy Nolan

Interior Architecture

The Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture | Divided House | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Architecture Award | ACMI Renewal | BKK Architects and Razorfish
Architecture Award | Olderfleet | Grimshaw with Carr
Commendation | Burwood Brickworks | NH Architecture, in partnership with Russell & George on the interior design
Commendation | Eastbourne | Eastop Architects
Commendation | Monash University Building 28 | Kennedy Nolan

Melbourne Prize

Melbourne Prize | Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University

Public Architecture

The William Wardell Award for Public Architecture | Springvale Community Hub | Lyons
Architecture Award | Carrum Station and Foreshore Precinct | COX Architecture with Rush Wright Associates
Commendation | Nunawading Community Hub | fjmt
Commendation | Prahran Square | Lyons

Regional Prize

Regional Prize | Geelong College Junior School | John Wardle Architects

Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions)

The John and Phyllis Murphy Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) | Elwood Bungalow | Rob Kennon Architects
Architecture Award | Fitzroy Bridge House | Matt Gibson Architecture & Design
Architecture Award | Milkbar House | Kennedy Nolan
Architecture Award | Vivarium | Architecture architecture
Commendation | Northcote Terrace | Lovell Burton Architecture

Residential Architecture - Houses (New)

The Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) | 8 Yard House | Studio Bright
Architecture Award | Divided House | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Commendation | Garden House | Austin Maynard Architects
Commendation | Kyneton House | Edition Office
Commendation | Limestone House | John Wardle Architects

Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing

The Best Overend Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing | Project 100, Trinity College Student Accommodation | Hayball
Architecture Award | La Trobe University Student Accommodation | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Architecture Award | Leith Park Independent Living | MGS Architects
Architecture Award | The Lothian | Kennedy Nolan
Commendation | 122 Roseneath St | Fieldwork
Commendation | Rushall Park Independent Living | MGS Architects

Small Project Architecture

The Kevin Borland Award for Small Project Architecture | NGV Triennial 2020 Outdoor Pavilions | BoardGrove Architects
Architecture Award | Jackalope Pavilion | March Studio
Commendation | Conservatory Adaptation | Architecture Associates

Sustainable Architecture

The Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture | Burwood Brickworks | NH Architecture, in partnership with Russell & George on the interior design and Wurundjeri-willam artist Mandy Nicholson for the ceiling mural and façade artwork
Architecture Award | Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University
Commendation | Ona Coffee | Breathe
Commendation | PICAC Narre Warren | FMSA Architecture

Urban Design

The Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design | Carrum Station and Foreshore Precinct | COX Architecture with Rush Wright Associates
Architecture Award | Springvale Community Hub | Lyons with Rush Wright Associates
Commendation | Collins Arch | Woods Bagot and SHoP Architects
Commendation | Prahran Square | Lyons

Victorian Architecture Medal

Victorian Architecture Medal | Monash Woodside Building for Technology and Design | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University

Architecture News & Editorial Desk

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