Over 100 winners were announced at the 2014 Melbourne Design Awards, with a number of architecture practices leading the way with gold award winning projects.

The Quays by MAB Corporation / McBride Charles Ryan, a mixed use and apartment development in Melbourne’s Docklands, was one project that certified ‘Gold’ under the Architecture – Residential – Constructed category.

Featuring a sinuous form that offers a “sensual counterpoint to the series of sentinel towers that currently line the water’s edge”, The Quays offers an abundance of choice in design, colour, and types of spaces.

The firm also took home another gold award for the NGV Community Hall in conjunction with National Gallery of Victoria. A flexible multi-use space, the community hall draws inspiration from the social and cultural spaces of Victorian communities, and takes tradition to new heights through cutting-edge architecture and dynamic programming.

NGV Community Hall. Image: John Gollings

NGV Community Hall. Image: John Gollings

Charles Anderson / Andrew Simpson Architects were also named gold winners in the Architecture – Residential – Constructed category with A House for Hermes, a project involving the conversion of a heritage-listed chicory kiln into a couple’s residence.

The Architecture – Commercial – Constructed prize went to Melbourne Water / ARKit for the Melbourne Water Offices, a 220sqm building located within the dense woodland surrounds of the Silvan water reservoir.

Melbourne Water Offices. Image: Tobias Titz

Melbourne Water Offices. Image: Tobias Titz

In order to minimise the transition time from the old office to new, the project was designed as a series of factory built modules that were transported to site and craned on to a steel foundation system in just one day.

Safety Net and Atelier Red + Black’s ‘Saving Parkville’ proposal was also given an ‘Architecture – Proposed’ gold award. The proposal offers an alternative to plans for the East West Link project which facilitates the State’s requirements whilst treading lightly on the local environment, and could prevent 55 homes from being lost.

Silver category winners include The Design Wall – NGV by Carter LeAmon, Paragon, MPavilion – Naomi Foundation by Sean Godsell Architects, and Happy Valley Shop by Harley Vincent Architecture.

“The depth in the 2014 awards has been remarkable,” remarked design100 founder and CEO, Mark Bergin.

“A primary goal of the awards is to also provide recognition to the commissioners, who recognise that design is the premise of accelerating business and have the courage to honour their convictions by commissioning new design projects.”

The Melbourne Design Awards is now into its fifth year, and is the founding program in the [city] design awards that extend to six other cities, including New York, London, San Francisco and Hong Kong.

For the full list of winners please visit http://melbournedesignawards.com.au/mel14/winners_list.asp

Geraldine Chua

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