A revolutionary, naturally ventilated 66-storey apartment building in Bangkok, and its Australian-born and educated design team, have won the major Jorn Utzon Award for International Architecture at the 2010 Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards.
The award was presented to The Met in Bangkok by Singapore-based practice WOHA from a strong field of projects across the globe.
Announcing the award at a ceremony at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra last night, 28 October, jury chair and leading architect Melinda Dodson says: “The Met in Bangkok, Thailand, is a seminal project representing major advances towards a possible future vision of ecologically responsible highly dense urban housing.”
The jury notes: “It is often claimed that high rise buildings, particularly in hot climates, cannot be naturally ventilated, and that if we are to intensify urban density we are therefore doomed to inhabit closed, air conditioned glass boxes.
“The Met proves that claim wrong, by creating tropical houses in the sky, with breezeways, outdoor living areas, planters, gardens, and communal facilities on open-air terraces. Here, innovation and brilliant architectural strategic thinking answer extremely challenging climatic conditions.”
The jury also awarded an unprecedented three National Awards for International Architecture and two National Commendations for International Architecture. In a triple win for WOHA, the practice also received a National Award for the Bras Basah Mass Rapid Transit Station (Singapore), and a National Commendation for the Alila Villas Uluwatu (Bali, Indonesia).
What was labeled an extraordinary house ‘of rare beauty and serenity’ in Japan for one of the world’s most revered designers — the Wall House by Sydney-based architects Peter Stutchbury Architecture with Keiji Ashizawa Design - received a National Award for International Architecture, with the jury saying: “From a country with an ancient tradition of exquisite refined landscapes and architecture, it is perhaps surprising that an Australian architect would be asked to add to that culture. The Wall House doesn’t disappoint.”
They add: “Australia’s growing international reputation for unique residential architecture that relates to landscape is further enhanced by this simple, elegant house that beautifully demonstrates the richness of cultural fusion.”
