National Award for Excellence winning development 'Sartori'. Photography: Paul Smith Images

A house in the Sunshine Coast by Queensland building designer Gerard Smith has taken the highest BDA honour in 2012 with National Award for Excellence.

Smith, of Mojo Design, and from the BDANSW Chapter, won with his project ‘Satori’ in Eumundi in the hinterland of Queensland.

The renovation project had already taken both the NSW and Queensland state and regional awards before dominating the national stage.

It has also won the Queensland’s premier award for 2011.

The BDA described it as transformation of an ‘ugly duckling on a tranquil acreage into a breathtaking incarnation of contemporary rural chic’.

Other winners in 2012 included:

  • Residential Buildings — up to 250m2: Ian Picone, Ian Picone Design BDAT
  • Residential Buildings — 251m2 to 350m2: Mike Cleaver, Clever Design BDAT
  • Residential Buildings — 351m2 to 450m2: Gerard Smith, Mojo Design BDA NSW
  • Residential Buildings — over 450m2: Don Taylor, DTDA Design Team BDA WA
  • Residential alterations/additions — less than $200,000: Ueli Schmied, Ueli Schmied Design & Renovations BDA
  • NSW
  • Residential alterations/additions — more than
  • $200,000: Gerard Smith, Mojo Design BDA NSW
  • Multi residential, small lot housing and/or semi detached/duplex residences: Phillip Ker, Form + Function Building Design BDA WA
  • Low density multi residential — up to 6 dwellings: Morden O’Hare, Arcadia Building Design BDA WA
  • High density multi residential — over 6 dwellings: Ron Lane, Team Design Australia BDA NSW
  • Commercial buildings: Stephen Shircore, Meyer Shircore BDA WA
  • Industrial buildings: Mario Tascone, Tascone Design Team BDA WA
  • Public buildings & Special projects: Mark Baker, Meyer Shircore BDA WA
  • Best commercial interiors: Paul Lim, MATA Design Studio BDA WA
  • Best residential interiors: Gerard Smith, Mojo Design BDA NSW
  • Environmental & Sustainable Innovation — Residential: Mike Cleaver, Clever Design BDAT
  • Environmental & Sustainable Innovation — Commercial/Industrial: Stephen Shircore, Meyer Shircore BDA WA
  • Best student design: Daniel Bastin BDAT

All the 2012 entries and winning results are available via the BDAA website.