Boral Design Awards 2011/12 professional winner, ‘Flamingo Lane’ by Phillip Nielsen (Monochromat)

Brisbane-based architect Phillip Nielsen has been awarded the major prize in the 6th annual Boral Design Awards competition for a design scheme that embraces its urban setting and creates a socially sustainable residential community.

The jury noted that the project contributed to the vibrancy of the city and kept the scale of the streetscape while still using elements of the existing building.

Its blend of medium density housing options, offering 19 dwellings as well as five 50 sqm tenancies, creates a precinct that promotes community.

The Awards brief sought a creative response to an urban challenge: to adaptively repurpose an existing city fringe commercial property into a medium density residential or mixed-use development.

Professional architects and architectural students submitted concepts that addressed sustainability, construction viability and overall design innovation. A creative integration of Boral products was also encouraged, with an aim to preserve 50 per cent of the original building fabric.

The new emerging professional category was awarded to Casey Bryant for his design. Using the commercial building’s façade, the scheme considered the need to provide privacy yet allow natural light to permeate. The diverse development preserves the character of the original structure, enhanced with garden and a range of both residential and commercial spaces.

In the student category a joint entry from Jannette Lee and Seung Hyuk Choi, both studying at the University of Melbourne, was judged as the most creative and innovative scheme. Stating that the re-use of a building should have remnants of its previous use the ‘A thousand shelves at my doorstep’ project cleverly combined medium density housing with a warehouse-style retail concept, allowing browsers to scan and purchase items on display.

“Rooftop gardens and the use of brick and timber were dominant themes across this year’s submissions,” said Glenn Simpkin, Boral divisional marketing manager.

“Given the complexity of the brief we were thrilled with the quality, innovation and level of detail applied across all categories. It’s clear that even within the constraints of urban development, the architectural community can provide unique and engaging solutions for sustainable, affordable and healthy inner city living.”

Professional

Winner: Phillip Nielsen (Monochromat studio) with 'Flamingo Lane'

Commended:

Morq with 'The Hanging Gardens Building' - Emiliano Roia and Andrea Quagliola

INDEX Architecture with 'Suburban Dreaming' - John Doyle and Laura Mártires

Emerging Professional

Winner: Casey Bryant with '< Insert House Here >'

Commended: Steven Lam Cham Kee with 'Urban Jenga'

Student

Winner: Seung Hyuk Choi and Jannette Le with 'A thousand shelves at my doorstep'

Commended: Jemima Retallack and Mitchell Thompson with 'The Castle, an update of the Australian home'