Prefab home leads winners’ parade at Greater Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards

A prefabricated coastal home designed by Blok Modular in collaboration with architects Vokes & Peters scored double honours at the Australian Institute of Architects 2025 Greater Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards, winning The John Dalton Award for Building of the Year as well as a commendation for Residential Architecture in the Multiple Housing category. 

Commissioned by three sisters, the prefabricated home, Blok Three Sisters is located on Point Lookout, Stradbroke Island, and features a pale blue and white modular structure resting on timber deck foundations among established native trees. The home’s thoughtfully designed facade creates a rhythmic screen, balancing privacy with filtered light and ocean views, while sliding glass doors deliver a seamless connection between the interiors and the outdoor deck.

Judges noted that “the unconventional prefabricated terrace house model provides privacy and community and sits comfortably within a relaxed island setting”. 

2025 House of the Year Award

Sydney House in New Farm, designed by Cavill Architects, was named House of the Year. 

A heritage-listed dwelling, Sydney House has been transformed into a generous family home through carefully crafted architecture. The architects managed small lot and heritage constraints as well as the home’s inner-city context to deliver a modest design that complements the fabric of the house without mimicking its original style. 

The judges praised the project as a “skilfully crafted and highly considered” example of residential architecture.

The project received two commendations in the Heritage Architecture and Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) categories. 

Regional Project of the Year

Designed by Blight Rayner Architecture, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School Sports Performance Centre was awarded Regional Project of the Year.

Judges commended the architect's use of affordable materials and creative detailing to build a sports facility in Corinda, one of Brisbane’s leafy south-west suburbs. 

Designed with a “restrained elegance”, the project “addressed key challenges, including master planning, flood mitigation, structural optimisation, futureproofing, natural ventilation, and landscape integration”.

The project also received a commendation for Educational Architecture. 

The Lord Mayor's Brisbane Buildings that Breathe Architecture Prize

COX Architecture's Somerset Indooroopilly Retirement Community was honoured with The Lord Mayor’s Brisbane Buildings that Breathe Architecture Prize. 

The judges hailed the project as an excellent example of retirement living design. 

The project also received a commendation in the Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing category.

Good Architecture in the Health Sector 

The Queensland Satellite Hospitals Program, designed by Trotter Architects with Architectus Conrad Gargett and GHD Design, was commended for Urban Design and shortlisted for the ​​Art & Architecture Prize and the EmAGN Project Award. 

Winning projects: Category | Project | Architect

The John Dalton Award for Building of the Year | Blok Three Sisters | Blok Modular in collaboration with Vokes & Peters

Regional Project of the Year | St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School Sports Performance Centre | Blight Rayner Architecture

Greater Brisbane House of the Year | Sydney House | Cavill Architects

The Lord Mayor's Brisbane Buildings that Breathe Architecture Prize | Somerset Indooroopilly Retirement Community | COX Architecture

Commendation - The Lord Mayor's Brisbane Buildings that Breathe Architecture Prize | Kingsford Terrace Francis, Lingrove, and Taylor | O’Neill Architecture

Commendation – Commercial Architecture

Mary and Edward | O’Neill Architecture

Piccadilly, 340 Queen Street | Blight Rayner Architecture

The Fortitude Music Hall | Arkhefield

Commendation – Educational Architecture   

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School Sports Performance Centre | Blight Rayner Architecture

St Marcellin Centre | Phorm architecture + design

UniSC Moreton Bay Campus Expansion | KIRK

Commendation – Heritage 

Craigerne | JDA Co

Knells | Marc&co

Mary and Edward | O’Neill Architecture

Mt Crosby Workers Cottages Conservation | Extent Heritage and Architectural Collaborative

Newstead House | Architectus Conrad Gargett

Sydney House | Cavill Architects

Commendation – Interior Architecture

Blight Rayner Architecture Studio | Blight Rayner Architecture

Caboolture Hospital Clinical Services Building | Jacobs

Everton Park Library | bureau^proberts

National Rugby Training Centre | Blight Rayner Architecture

ONA Office 3 | O’Neill Architecture

Piccadilly, 340 Queen Street | Blight Rayner Architecture

Toowong Towers | Alcorn Middleton

Commendation – Public Architecture            

Brisbane International Cycle Park, Murarrie Recreation Reserve |   COX Architecture

Caboolture Hospital Clinical Services Building | Jacobs

Everton Park Library | bureau^proberts

Logan Hospital Expansion Stage 1 | BVN

National Rugby Training Centre | Blight Rayner Architecture

UQ Soundshell | KIRK

Commendation – Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Balmoral Hillside House | Kieron Gait Architects

Ewart House + Studio | Hall and Roberts Studio

Niwa House | John Ellway

Quadrant House | Kieron Gait Architects

Sydney House | Cavill Architects

Commendation – Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Birdwood House | Marc&co

Floating Gable House | Phorm architecture + design

Gold Creek | Steendijk | Glenn Murcutt in collaboration

one mooloomba | Paul Butterworth Architect

Commendation – Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Blok Three Sisters | Blok Modular in collaboration with Vokes & Peters

Catalina | Red Door Architecture

Somerset Indooroopilly Retirement Community | COX Architecture

Commendation – Small Project Architecture

Barrambin Shelters and Amenities | Vokes and Peters

Garage and Studios | Russell Hall Architects

Sun Stadium | Amrita Hepi with Jazz Money, Dialogue Office, Five Mile Radius and Sibling Architecture

Commendation – Urban Design         

Kangaroo Point Bridge | Blight Rayner Architecture with Dissing + Weitling, concept and reference design by Brisbane City Council with Arup and COX Architecture 

Neville Bonner Bridge | Grimshaw

Queensland Satellite Hospitals Program | Fulton Trotter Architects with Architectus Conrad Gargett and GHD Design

All commended projects from the region are now shortlisted for the Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Architecture Awards, set to be announced in June. 

Images: Supplied