The Design Hub designed by Sean Godsell Architects and the The Yardmaster's Building by McBride Charles Ryan are winners in the inaugural Architizer A+ Awards while other Australian firms to make the finalist list are Robert Mills Architects for Sorrento House and Andrew Maynard Architects for Nebula Portable Arts Space.
There were over 50 categories and more than 200 jurors for the Awards with the Design Hub taking out the Higher Education Institutions and Research Facilities category and the Yardmaster's Building recognised as the best in the Bus and Train Station category.
The Design Hub was designed by RMIT alumni, Sean Godsell in association with Peddle Thorp Architects with the aim to incorporate design academics, industry practitioners and postgraduate researchers in a cross-disciplinary collaborative hub.
Peddle Thorp design director Peter Brook said their firm had worked with Sean Godsell from the beginning of the project.
“It has been a good relationship encompassing design and innovative technologies,” said Brook.
The Hub incorporates a number of ESD features including strategies for water conservation and waste and recycling management.
The outer skin of the Hub incorporates automated sunshading that includes photovoltaic cells, evaporative cooling and fresh air intakes that improve the internal air quality and reduce running costs.
The Yardmaster’s Building by McBride Charles Ryan is located in Melbourne and is a multi-use facility for the various workers and operations associated with the Southern Cross Rail Yard.
Although inaccessible to the public, it is visible from a number of vantages and the designers wanted to use the inaccessibility to add design elements.
"The no-mans land of the rail yard environment, became an opportunity: what was proposed was a jewellery box of exquisite proportions".
The façade minimises energy consumption and the materials were chosen for their robustness, with the patina chosen to match the rusted charcoal of its environment.
The Yardmaster’s Building by McBride Charles Ryan. Photography by John Gollings
