National Architecture Awards Announce 2014 Winners

Eternity Playhouse, Prahran Hotel and 'Redfern Beach' (a.k.a. Prince Alfred Park’s re-styled pool) were among the 43 design achievements to win awards and commendations at the National Architecture Awards, held in Darwin last night. Five judges revealed their decisions across thirteen categories.

The construction that ruled them all, however, was the University of Queensland’s Advanced Engineering Building, which took home three firsts: the Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture, the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture and the National Award for Sustainable Architecture. Juror Lyndie Johnson described it as "exhilarating" and "immediately engaging".

Across the board, there was an emphasis on architecture with a public purpose. "Many of the projects, particularly the public projects, achieved not only their immediate brief but also produced other social and community benefits," jury chair Paul Berkemeier said in a Guardian Australia interview. "That was certainly something we observed as being valuable. The successors go beyond the expectations of the brief."

UQ wasn’t the only educational institution to have its facilities recognised. The CB Alexander College, Tocal, designed by Ian McKay and Philip Cox, scored the National Enduring Architecture Award. And, in addition to the Prince Alfred Park revamp nabbing both the Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design and the National Award for Public Architecture, a couple of other water-inspired designs got the thumbs up. Tasmania’s irresistibly cute Bicheno Surf Life Saving Club received the Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture, while North Bondi’s super slick new Surf Life Saving Club was acknowledged with a Commendation for Public Architecture.

Image credit: Darren Bradley.

As University of Sydney Professor of Architecture Michael Tawa points out, the judges also lauded many of the buildings for their 'celebration' of immediate surroundings, some particular aspect of the Australian lifestyle or our heritage. Eternity, for example, which inhabits a 126-year-old heritage listed building, won the Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage.

Check out the full list of 2014 winners here.