Twenty-eight Premier’s Design Marks were awarded in 10 categories in the 2008 Premier’s Design Awards.
The use of Victoria’s first closed loop black water treatment plant in a commercial setting and solar-control glazed curtain walls gave architectural firm Ashton Raggatt McDougall a Premier’s Design Mark in the Commercial Interior Design category for its work on the interior of 1010 La Trobe St, Docklands.
Rather than a conventional curtain wall, the façade is generated by alternating precast concrete panels and solar-control glazed curtain walls, arranged in parallel layers, with a coloured horizontal line at each floor level. The visual effect of rows appearing non-horizontal and non-parallel is called the Münsterberg illusion.
A second Melbourne building, Monaco House, won McBride Charles Ryan a Premier’s Design Mark in the Commercial Architecture category. The judges commented, “This design is the result of a comprehensive understanding of the spatial unfolding of the city of Melbourne crystallised in a small building that contributes a big moment in this city’s fabric”.
Sustainable Living Fabrics was presented a Premier’s Design Mark for its production of a commercial carpet fabric, Ecostyle. The fabric removes the need for glue or backing for upholstering. Designing the fabric to utilise an ecowool warp that is readily available minimises waste by enabling the weaver to produce only what is required rather than weave the whole warp out. The fabric meets the GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) Ecolabel standard for textiles.
The Premier’s Design Marks were also given in Fashion Design, Exhibition Design, Graphic Design, Hand Made Objects, Industrial/Product Design, Landscape Design, Multimedia Design and Textile Design categories.
