The winners of the 2014 ArchiTeam Awards have been announced, with five small to medium-sized Victorian architecture firms taking out award wins or commendations from a record number of entries.

This year’s award recipients represent a mixture of commercial, residential, unbuilt, community and sustainability projects.

As with most awards programs, the residential category was hotly contested and the judges could not split the joint winners. Skin Box House by man|architects and Merton Street by Thomas Winwood Architecture were chosen from a pool of 32 finalists which also included the commended Magnolia House by RMR Architects and Woodend House by Studio OSK.   

A renovation and extension of the Pamela Coyne Library at St Monica’s College in Epping was awarded the 2014 Community category prize as well as the Sustainability Architecture prize. The architects were Branch Studio Architects and they were commended for their holistic and integrated design approach as well as their commitment to sourcing local materials.

Now in its seventh year, the ArchiTeam Awards aim to raise the profile of small to medium sized architecture firms and celebrate their contribution to Victoria’s architectural landscape.

“85% of architects in Victoria work in small practices or are sole practitioners. One of the many challenges facing architects in small practices is getting their names out into the public realm. The ArchiTeam Awards aim to give them exposure and promote their contribution to the design community,” said Gray Smith, Awards Director at ArchiTeam.

Judging the entries this year was Dr Paul McGillick (Independent writer & editor on architecture, art and design), architect Shelley Penn and Prof. Des Smith, (Deakin University).

2014 ARCHITEAM AWARD WINNERS:

RESIDENTIAL AWARD JOINT WINNERS:

  • Merton Street by Thomas Winwood Mckenzie (Thomas Winwood Architecture)

Jury Citation: “Located in Albert Park, this refurbishment saw the existing home’s internals modernised and carefully reoriented to cater to new light sources created through additional window installations.”

  • Skin Box House by Rob Nerlich and Kate McMahon (man|architects)

Jury Citation: “located in Windsor, this extensive addition saw the integration of a large, floating upper storey extension that was finished with a luminescent external skin. The elegant design of the overhanging upper storey is a simple solution to the home’s extremely restrictive building envelope.”

Residential Award COMMENDATIONS:

  • Woodend House by Ben Waters (Studio OSK)

Jury Citation: “integrating unobtrusive heating and cooling elements into the creation of a cosy modern cottage, this design focused on delivering extensive countryside views without compromising the home’s insulation. Featuring an engineered and extended roofline, the eaves on the main living and sleeping areas have been designed to block direct sunrays, while the predominantly northerly aspect windows light up the length of the home.”

  • Magnolia House by Renuka Roorigo (RMR Architects)

Jury Citation: “part of an extension and refurbishment of an existing home in Ivanhoe, this design featured the addition of a sweeping staircase to a new upper storey. Continuing the heritage design of the existing living spaces, the staircase features an integrated fireplace, reading nook and concealed bookcases finished with dark timber.”

COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE

  • Pamela Coyne Library by Brad Wray (Branch Studio Architects)

Jury Citation: “A renovation and extension designed to revitalise what had been an underutilised school space at St Monica’s College in Epping. The final design integrated a multi-functional Swiss-army-knife style librarian’s desk and Spanish Steps to join the room’s split levels.”

Community architecture award COMMENDATION:

  • Lemur Exhibit Melbourne Zoo by Phil Snowdon (Snowdon Architects)

Jury Citation: “A refurbishment project to integrate a new visitor experience for the zoo. The resulting design allows visitors to interact with the lemurs at special points, or walk through the entirety of the exhibit through an aviary tunnel. Keeping to strict time and budget constraints, the architects repurposed over 90 per cent of the existing exhibit brought the project from conception to fruition within 14 months.”

UNBUILT ARCHITECTURE AWARD WINNER:

  • The Tinderbox by Index Architecture

Jury Citation: “A stunning concept design pitch for the refurbishment of the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Denmark. This design integrated secret subterranean passages and gallery spaces to increase the museum’s usable space without encroaching on the heritage fairy garden.”

SUSTAINABILITY ARCHITECTURE AWARD WINNER:

  • Pamela Coyle Library by Brad Wray (Branch Studio Architects)

Jury Citation: “Crafted with energy-saving in mind, the final design has reduced the library’s running costs through improved window insulation and ventilation, increased external sunshade and use of timed lights. Sustainable local resources were used throughout the building process, while the school’s maintenance team as well as local tradespeople were employed to carry the build from start to finish.”

COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD WINNER:

  • Middle Park Studio by Jean-Paul Rollo (Jean-Paul Rollo Architects)

Jury Citation:  “Located on a narrow block of land in a busy residential area, the design involved the addition of an artist’s studio to the roof of an existing garage. Managing the restrictive footplate of the block, the studio is disguised as two asymmetrically stacked miniature shipping containers. The overhanging features allow for the provision of treated fibreglass glass windows, studio amenities and storage.”

Winners and general submissions will be displayed at “No Vacancy Gallery”, in QV Melbourne, corner of Lonsdale and Swanston Streets, Tuesday to Saturday 11am-5pm and Sundays 12pm-5pm from November 12-23.

Images: Supplied.