Singapore's Gardens by the Bay has won World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival, yet another project with Australian design input making its mark in 2012.

Officially the prize went to Wilkinson Eyre Architects for the design of the Cooled Conservatories, but festival director Paul Finch stressed at the awards ceremony that this was a magnificent team effort and that the whole team should be recognised - in addition to the architect, the landscape architect Grant Associates and engineers Atelier One and Atelier Ten.

Two of the largest climate-controlled conservatories in the world form the architectural centrepiece of Singapore’s new 54-hectare Bay South Garden, with irrigation design completed by Australian group WET (Water Equipment Technology).

Finch said: “Choosing a winner was a tough decision, but the winner is a scheme of the highest quality. The jury was insistent that the project should be recognised in the round and that all the design team should have recognition.”

Images copyright: Craig Sheppard

WAF is the world’s largest festival dedicated to celebrating and sharing architectural excellence from across the globe, and in 2012 Australian firms won  won eight out of the thirty-three categories.

 

  • The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne by Billard Leece Partnership and Bates Smart took out the Completed Building – Health category.
  • Martin no.38, Singapore by Kerry Hill Architects has won the Completed Building – Housing category.
  • Common Ground, Sydney by HASSELL received a High Commendation in the Completed Building – Housing category.
  • Darling Quarter, Sydney by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FMJT) was awarded the top prize in the Completed Building – Offices category.
  • The Shearer’s Quarters, Tasmania by John Wardle Architects won the ‘World’s Best Villa’ Award in the Completed Building – Villa category.
  • Perry Park, Sydney by HASSELL won the Future Projects – Competition Entries category.
  • Man-Built Dongqian Lake Concept Design, China by HASSELL took top honours in the Future Projects – Experimental category.
  • Tianjin Binhai New District, China by HASSELL received the ‘World’s Best Future Infrastructure Project’ Award in the Future Projects – Infrastructure category.
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  • The Australian Institute of Architects' CEO David Parken commented that “It is wonderful to see this worldwide recognition of Australian Architects for their design talent across such a broad range of building types and locations.”

“The challenge to do more with less while incorporating sustainable design principles is a universal one which I believe has been successfully addressed by the Australian winners.”

Australian design teams had more than 50 projects shortlisted in the awards.

Two unique short films were also launched to support the Australian entrants, in a creative collaboration involving 15 of the short listed Australian firms, assisted by the Australian Institute of Architects. You can view them here.