The Australian Technical College, Inveresk, by Birrelli Architects, has taken out the Public Architecture Award at the 2009 Tasmanian Architecture Awards, held at Moorilla Estate on June 20.
The college for trade and secondary education impressed the jury with its bold expression and sustainability and building management systems.
"Rough and raw, cost-effective, unprecious - the shed-like construction of the Australian Technical College is convincingly brought to life with a theatrically grand entrance linking the campus to the interiors," says jury chair, Elvio Brianese.
Birrelli Architects also received a commendation for the redevelopment of Launceston's iconic coffee house, Pierre's.
Arm End House by Stuart Tanner Architects and the Smith Street (ware)House by Terroir received new residential architecture awards. A third residential project, Wing House by Richard Goodwin, took out the Colorbond Steel Award, for innovative use of steel, standing as an example of construction where minimal interference with the landscape has occurred.
Two awards were presented in the Heritage Category. Tonkin Zulaikha's work on Stage 1 of the conservation and reconstruction of Port Arthur Separate Prison earned the award for returning this convict structure to a focal part of the World-Heritage nominated Port Arthur site.
The Last Villa by Last Architects also received a Heritage award for transforming long-term leased apartments into self-contained accommodation. The Last Villa comprises of six different levels and four separate storeys connected by a journey that includes 26 stairs, bridges and stone archways.
An Interior Architecture Award was presented to 1+2 Architecture for Arts Tasmania, a project bringing together a number of previously dispersed but related government department agencies in what Brianese describes as a "lovely suprise". The project is described as a clever use of space, negotiating the layered heritage fabric of the site, from the light-infused kitchen and lunch area to the light installation which illuminates the otherwise dull end of the building.
The Woodbridge Residence by DesignInc received the James Blackburn Triennial Prize for the best residential architecture over the preceeding three years. The SWT Blythe Student Prize went to James Wong Kung Ding for the Bintulu Maritime Centre and Rebekah Verrier received an Honourable Mention for Theatre Royal Extension on Wapping Corner.
