A building that judges say sets new benchmarks for commercial projects in Perth was named overall winner at the Australian Institute of Architects' 2011 Western Australian Architecture Awards.

Announcing this year’s winners, WA President David Karotkin said the ‘highly influential’ commercial project one40william, Perth, by HASSELL had received three major awards:

  • The George Temple Poole Award 2011, for overall winning architectural project;
  • The Ross Chisholm Award for Commercial Architecture; and
  • The John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design.

one40william, image: Peter Bennetts and Archer Imagery

In determining the George Temple Poole Award, the jury said: “In the case of this project, the State Government has shown leadership by requiring design quality commitments to be included in the tenders for the right to develop the site above the new William Street underground train station. The Office of the Government Architect are to be congratulated for leading this initiative."

“The result is a commercial project that delivers heritage, sustainability, urban and workplace outcomes that create a new benchmark for commercial projects in Perth.

“The design team, contractor and developer have worked as an integrated team to resolve the complex construction challenges associated with building over an operating train station, to incorporate heritage building fabric into the works, and to deliver a high quality addition to the urban grain of Perth's central retail and business district.

“The building also sets a benchmark in environmental sustainability, achieving a 5 star Green Star Office Design rating.”

Other major award winners included the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in Perth’s CBD by leading architecture practice Kerry Hill Architects, which also received three awards and commendations:

  • The Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture;
  • The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture; and,
  • Commendation in the Mondoluce Lighting Award category.

Presenting these awards, the jury said: “The new State Theatre Centre is a delightful addition to the city in a cultural and architectural sense.”

State Theatre Centre of WA by Kerry Hill Architects. Image: Adrian Lambert and Robert Frith

The jury added: “The procurement via the Government Architects’ office-sponsored design competition is vindicated by the resulting theatre.”

“Part of the experience of theatre is the sense of occasion, arrival, movement to and from the performance space, and the possibilities of interval, in addition to the performance itself. The new State Theatre makes it all possible and delightful.”

The Albany Entertainment Centre by Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland in association with Roberts Gardiner also received an Architecture Award in the Pubic Architecture category.

In total, the jury presented 49 awards and commendations across 12 categories from 141 entries submitted from across the State.

Albany Entertainment Centre by Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland in association with Roberts Gardiner. Image: Alison Paine

A diverse range of quality residential projects from across the State vied for top housing honours. Major winners this year included the Florida Beach House by iredale pedersen hook architects, recipients of WA’s most prestigious residential award — the Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture — Houses.

The jury described the house as ‘inspirational’, saying it had: “met the challenges presented to all sites fronting the Indian Ocean — priorities of view and orientation, shelter and exposure, appropriate use of materials, and the functional and symbolic acknowledgment of its ‘place’.”

The equally prestigious Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture — Alterations and Additions was presented to architecture practice vittinoAshe for Hope Street, described as a “beautiful and simple extension that integrates well with the existing workers cottage and yet delivers an extremely well planned, exceptionally detailed contemporary home”.

The jury also presented the project with the Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture.

A development of 60 apartments and seven terraces in North Fremantle took out the State’s top multiple housing award. The Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture — Multiple Residential was presented to the Beachside Leighton North by Kerry Hill Architects and spaceagency in association with Mirvac Design.

The Grove Library at Cottesloe by Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland received the Walter Greenham Sustainable Architecture Award.

The project includes a library, community learning centre and administration offices and is jointly funded by the Towns of Cottesloe and Mosman Park and the Shire of Peppermint Grove.

A major focus has been to include a range of leading edge sustainable design features and technologies that will provide a concrete real life example of sustainability in action and create an iconic ‘lighthouse’ library and community centre that makes the Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove and Mosman Park Councils sustainability pioneers on a national scale.

The project represents the first public building in the Perth metropolitan area to have a rainwater supply for internal potable uses (in a scheme water serviced area), onsite treatment of wastewater, a dedicated thermal maze for reducing peak cooling demand, heat exchange using groundwater and under floor displacement type air conditioning system.

The yellow water diversion component of the onsite wastewater treatment system will be a first for WA. Other key innovative features/technologies include the solar panels, wind turbine, waterless urinals and high water efficiency fixtures, argon gas filled double glazing, dimmable lighting control system and the use of natural lighting.

The Margaret Pitt Morison Award for Heritage was presented to the Legislative Council Chamber Upgrade by Oldfield Knott Architects Pty Ltd, who had “crafted a clever restrained design solution”.

The Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture was presented to the VTEC Training WA Metal Fabrication Training Facility in Kalgoorlie by Armstrong Parkin Architects.

The jury said: “A successful and inventive use of steel cladding to shelter, contain and integrate what is basically an industrial building”. A new country bakehouse and café, the Bindoon Bakehaus & Café by Fratelle Group, received the Mondoluce Lighting Award for its successful desire to “provide an inner city chic for the country customer”.