A multi-residential building designed for the Elders of a displaced Western Australian Indigenous community has emerged as the biggest winner at the 2015 Sustainability Awards, taking home the program’s highest honour, the Best of the Best prize.
The Walumba Elders Centre by iredale pedersen hook architects (IPHA) was announced the winner of ninth annual Sustainability Awards at a gala dinner held in Sydney on 8 October, edging ahead of a formidable field of sustainable projects and products from Australia’s leading design and building industry professionals.
The Walumba Elders Centre, which also received the Multi-Density Residential Category Award, was commended by the judges for its multifaceted approach to sustainable design, one that moved beyond the common considerations of energy performance and third-party certifications to a platform of environmental sensitivity that surpassed the other competitors.
“Though there were many candidates for the overall award, the Walumba Elders Centre stole the show as it demonstrates the skills and understanding required to design truly sustainable buildings,” says the Jury.
“Where some buildings achieved great energy performance or high results through certification programs, this project illustrated sensitivity to people and culture, a respect for environment and building response and delivered it with ingenuity rather than a large budget.”
“Furthermore, the fact that this project was delivered on a very tight budget to a remote location is testament to the designers understanding of the triple bottom line of sustainability for which they must be commended.”
A total of twelve prizes were handed out on the night including 10 Category Awards, one Highly Commended award and the Best of the Best prize.
Click on the images or title of the category winners below for more information and jury citations. Alternatively, scroll to the bottom to read more about the Walumba Elders Centre.
GREEN BUILDING PRODUCT - WINNER
Nu-Rock Technology by Nu-Rock
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) by Onyx Solar
Photography by Onyx Solar
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR - WINNER
Adelaide Oval project by Enware Australia
LANDSCAPE DESIGN - WINNER
Burnley Rooftop by HASSELL
Photography by Peter Bennetts
LARGE COMMERCIAL - WINNER
Western Business Accelerator and Centre for Excellence by Six Degrees
Photography by Alice Hutchison
MULTI-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL - WINNER
Walumba Elders Centre by iredale pedersen hook architects
Photography by Peter Bennetts
OFFICE FITOUT - WINNER
Oxigen Halifax Studio by Oxigen
Photography by Dan Schultz
PUBLIC BUILDING & URBAN DESIGN - WINNER
UTS Thomas Street Building by Steensen Varming
Photography by Darren Bradley
SINGLE DWELLING (ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS) - WINNER
Rant Home Studio by Borgelt & Craig Architects
Photography by Paul Dielemans
SINGLE DWELLING (NEW) - WINNER
Carbon Positive House by ArchiBlox
Photography by Tom Ross
SMALL COMMERCIAL- WINNER
Earth Kids Childcare by Truebolt
Photography by Todd Salter
BEST OF THE BEST
Walumba Elders Centre by iredale pedersen hook architects
Photography by Peter Bennetts
The project was first conceived as a new residence for the Elders of WA’s Giga people whose home town of Warmun was devastated by a catastrophic one in 300 year flood event in 2011.
From there, IPHA’s deep respect for Giga people blossomed, and together with their understanding of the Australian landscape, a project that is practical, sustainable and responsive to the cultural requirements of its users ensued.
The Walumba Elders Centre incorporates a myriad of passive and active sustainable design considerations, from high levels of insulation and solar hot water systems to breeze paths and passive shading elements, but more importantly for the judges, it also engrains the cultural and social needs of the Giga people within the building’s very fabric.
“Here is a building which does all of the important things really well and is the epitome of sustainability,” comments the jury.
“Not only does it sit comfortably in its environment with a very appropriate climatic design response, it is clearly responsive to the often complex cultural requirements of its users.”
The project was handpicked by the judges from the 10 category prize-winners, all of which were praised by the judges for their laudable efforts in pursuing a more sustainable Australian built environment.
