Sixty projects from around Australia and overseas have been shortlisted for the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 National Architecture Awards, the largest awards program of its kind in the world.

The shortlisted projects were selected by an eminent jury led by Immediate Past President of the Institute, Shelley Penn.

‘Almost 900 entries were received this year, exceeding the amount of entries in both the British and American Institute’s award programs. This demonstrates a strong engagement from members and is a tremendous effort and to be commended given our relative population size.

‘The high calibre of entries this year is testified by the number of awards given at the regional, local and state level, with almost 140 projects considered by the national jury and a sign that a lot of great work is happening all around the country.

‘I feel I can speak on behalf of the National Jury in saying we were all so impressed with all of the projects eligible for national awards, and it was a challenging and inspiring process to determine a shortlist,’ Ms Penn said.

All states and territories have been represented in the selected works, which span commercial, public, small project, sustainable, heritage, interior, international, residential and urban design categories. In total 83 entries made the shortlist with many of the 60 projects selected in multiple categories.

The shortlist is marked by a strong community focus and includes several social housing projects.

The featured projects illustrate an emphasis on social engagement around the country be it an affordable housing development in Brisbane, an adaptable cultural pavilion in a remote Northern Territory Indigenous community, or a large-scale commercial development in Sydney that seeks to give space back to the locals.

‘We were thrilled to see so many buildings and places that were engaging with social impacts beyond their immediate brief, offering something really significant to society at a higher level – architecture which is not merely responsible, but which is generous,’ Ms Penn reflected.

An iconic accomplishment of such architecture, the Sydney Opera House will play host to the National Architecture Awards ceremony on Thursday 7 November following a range of public events celebrating the national treasure’s 40th anniversary.

Tickets are on sale now.

2013 National Architecture Awards – Jury Shortlist

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture (5)

Djakanimba Pavilions – Insideout Architects (NT)
Perth Arena – ARM & Cameron Chisholm Nicol – Joint Venture Architects (WA)
RMIT Design Hub – Sean Godsell Architects in association with Peddle Thorp Architects (Vic)
Waterloo Youth Family Community Centre – Collins and Turner with City of Sydney (NSW)
West Kimberley Regional Prison – TAG Architects and iredale pedersen hook architects; Architects in Association (WA)

Commercial Architecture (6)

4 National Circuit – Fender Katsalidis (ACT)
Brookfield Place – HASSELL and Fitzpatrick + Partners (WA)
Darling Quarter – Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) (NSW)
Mountain Retreat Medical Clinic – Circa Morris-Nunn (Tas)
National Centre for Synchrotron Science – Bates Smart (Vic)
One One One Eagle Street – Cox Rayner Architects (Qld)

Heritage Architecture (5)

2 National Circuit – Fender Katsalidis (ACT)
Brookfield Place – HASSELL, Fitzpatrick + Partners and Palassis Architects (WA)
Cairns Foreshore Redevelopment – CA Architects and Cox Rayner Architects in association with O’Neill Architecture (Qld)
Good Shepherd Chapel – Abbotsford – Robert Simeoni Architects (Vic)
Hamer Hall – ARM Architecture (Vic)

Interior Architecture (9)

2 National Circuit – Fender Katsalidis (ACT)
Hamer Hall – ARM Architecture (Vic)
John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) Kindergarten – Beechboro Campus – Brooking Design Architects (WA)
Lilyfield Warehouse – Virginia Kerridge Architect (NSW)
Meeting Room St Mary’s Cathedral Centre – Circa Morris-Nunn (Tas)
One One One Eagle Street Foyer – Cox Rayner Architects (Qld)
Perth Arena – ARM & Cameron Chisholm Nicol – Joint Venture Architects (WA)
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre – BVN Donovan Hill (NSW)
Translational Research Institute – Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill; Architects in Association (Qld)

International Architecture (7)

28th Street Apartments – Koning Eizenberg Architecture Inc. (United States)
387 Tamaki Drive – Ian Moore Architects (New Zealand)
Australia House – Andrew Burns Architect in association with Atelier Imamu (Japan)
Finding Country Exhibition 13th Venice Architecture Biennale 2012 – Kevin O’Brien Architects in association with the Finding Country Collective and Venti di Cultura (Italy / Qld)
Martin No.38 – Kerry Hill Architects (Singapore)
Silver House – Peter Stutchbury Architecture (Russia)
Sobieski House – Koning Eizenberg Architecture Inc. (United States)

Public Architecture (13)

Bridgewater LINC and Child & Family Centre – Liminal Architecture (Tas)
Hamer Hall – ARM Architecture (Vic)
Penleigh and Essendon Grammer School – McBride Charles Ryan (Vic)
Perth Arena – ARM & Cameron Chisholm Nicol – Joint Venture Architects (WA)
Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law – Architectus in association with Guymer Bailey Architects (Qld)
RMIT Design Hub – Sean Godsell Architects in association with Peddle Thorp Architects (Vic)
Swanston Academic Building – Lyons (Vic)
The Braggs University of Adelaide – BVN Donovan Hill & Hames Sharley in association (SA)
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre – BVN Donovan Hill (NSW)
Translational Research Institute – Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill; Architects in Association (Qld)
Village Centre: National Arboretum Canberra – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (ACT)
Waterloo Youth Family Community Centre – Collins and Turner with City of Sydney (NSW)
West Kimberley Regional Prison – TAG Architects and iredale pedersen hook architects; Architects in Association (WA)
Residential Architecture – Houses (10)

(-) Glass House – Charles Wright Architects (Qld)
Balmain House – Fox Johnston (NSW)
Bisley Place House – James Russell Architect (Qld)
Blue House – Neeson Murcutt Architects (Vic)
Cowshed House – carterwilliamson architects (NSW)
Edward Street House – Sean Godsell Architects (Vic)
Fairhaven Residence – John Wardle Architects (Vic)
Merricks Beach House – Kennedy Nolan (Vic)
Taringa House – Loucas Zahos Architects (Qld)
Tír na nÓg – Drew Heath Architects (NSW)

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing (5)

29-35 Prince Street Cronulla – Candalepas Associates (NSW)
Constance Street Affordable Housing – Cox Rayner Architects (Qld)
Lime Street – Formworks Architecture (WA)
McIntyre Drive Social Housing Altona – MGS Architects (Vic)
Silk Apartments – Tony Caro Architecture (NSW)

Small Project Architecture (7)

7th Heaven, Ormond College – Nest Architects (Vic)
Abbotsford Convent Breezeway – Jackson Clements Burrows (Vic)
Art Gallery of NSW Forecourt Upgrade – Johnson Pilton Walker (NSW)
Djakanimba Pavilions – Insideout Architects (NT)
Keperra House – A-CH (Atelier Chen Hung) (Qld)
Re-Newell – Charles Wright Architects (Qld)
Third Wave Kiosk – Tony Hobba Architects (Vic)

Sustainable Architecture (8)

(-) Glass House – Charles Wright Architects (Qld)
Constance Street Affordable Housing – Cox Rayner Architects (Qld)
Cowshed House – carterwilliamson architects (NSW)
Darling Quarter – Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) with ASPECT Studios, Lend Lease, E.G.O. Group and Davenport Campbell (NSW)
Djakanimba Pavilions – Insideout Architects (NT)
One One One Eagle Street – Cox Rayner Architects (Qld)
Waterloo Youth Family Community Centre – Collins and Turner with City of Sydney (NSW)
West Kimberley Regional Prison – TAG Architects and iredale pedersen hook architects; Architects in Association (WA)

Urban Design (8)

2 & 4 National Circuit Precinct – Fender Katsalidis (ACT)
Brookfield Place – HASSELL and Fitzpatrick + Partners (WA)
Darling Quarter – Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) with ASPECT Studios, Lend Lease, E.G.O. Group and Davenport Campbell (NSW)
Flinders Street Revitalisation – Cox Rayner Architects (Qld)
GASP Stage 1 – Room 11 Studio (Tas)
Hamer Hall – ARM Architecture (Vic)
Pitt Street Mall Public Domain Upgrade – Tony Caro Architecture (NSW)
Revitalising Central Dandenong: Lonsdale Street Redevelopment – BKK/TCL Partnership (Vic)

2013 Jury

Shelley Penn – Immediate Past President of the Institute, Shelley Penn Architect (Chair)
Richard Hassell – WOHA Founder and Director
Ben Hewett – South Australian Government Architect
Hannah Tribe – Tribe Studio Founder and Director
Justine Clark – Architectural editor, writer and critic (Lay Juror)

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the opening of Sydney Opera House, the Australian Institute of Architects and the Opera House are presenting an Architecture and Design Symposium on Friday 25 October.

The unique one-day event curated by University of Technology Sydney’s Professor Anthony Burke will bring together Danish and Australian architects and designers on one stage to discuss the contemporary role of architecture and design in shaping our collective cultural imaginations and the cities in which they thrive.

‘With the Sydney Opera House as a rich source of inspiration across two unique cultures, the symposium will bring together Danish and Australian architects and designers known for award-winning designs of substantial cultural institutions, contemporary materials research, cultural policy and navigating urban politics, to look at how design shapes our cultural aspirations and our identity.

‘From its very inception, the Sydney Opera House was always going to be a world famous building, a symbol for an international audience of contemporary Australian culture, something that defined the city. The arts, media and government came together in their ambitions for this project, and as a consequence shaped the identity of an ambitious and confident young nation. In selecting Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the Danish cultural project became intimately bound to the Australian one, two cultures in one design,’ Professor Burke said.

Speakers at the Architecture makes the City symposium include:

DENMARK
Jan Utzon – Utzon Architects
Johannes Molander Pedersen and Morten Rask Gregersen – NORD Architects
Dan Stubbergaard – COBE
Jakob Fenger and Bjørnstjerne Christiansen – Superflex
Mette Kynne Frandsen – Henning Larsen

AUSTRALIA
Richard Johnson – Johnson Pilton Walker
Camilla Block – Durbach Block Jaggers
Gerard Reinmuth – Terroir
Rachel Healy – City of Sydney
John Choi – CHROFI
Matthew Bennett – Bennett and Trimble

This is a rare opportunity to hear from some of Denmark’s most exciting architectural talents, including Johannes Molander Pedersen and Morten Rask Gregersen from NORD Architects and Mette Kynne Frandsen from Henning Larsen.

Johannes Molander Pedersen and Morten Rask Gregersen established NORD in 2003 as founding partners, and since then have engaged in a broad range of assignments within architecture, urban development and societal innovation.

NORD Architects is particularly recognised for its work on public institutions, such as Copenhagen Centre for Cancer and Health, House of Natural Sciences and Vardheim Healthcare Centre – projects that redefine how architecture performs within the realm of public service.

Mette Kynne Frandsen has been part of the management team at Henning Larsen Architects since 1998 and was appointed CEO of the company in 2003. Under her leadership, Henning Larsen Architects has grown into a leading architecture company. Mette has strengthened the company internationally by expanding its network of clients and partners. Today, Henning Larsen Architects has offices in Saudi Arabia, Norway, Turkey and Germany.

Sustainability is central to Henning Larsen’s projects – both climatically and socially. A recent project is Discovery Centre in Damascus, the cornerstone of a training program designed to give Syrian children the opportunity to meet and discover the world through play.

Tickets are on sale now!

The Australian Institute of Architects joins other industry bodies in welcoming Prime Minister Rudd’s announcement for a Minister for Cities.

The Institute has lobbied for the creation of such a role for many years, through its own policy activities as well as through its involvement with bodies such as the Urban Coalition and ASBEC.

Australia is a highly urbanised nation and as our major towns and cities develop, we face a number of key challenges. From climate change, population growth and an ageing demographic, to an increasing demand for infrastructure, housing affordability pressures and traffic congestion, our cities need the right strategies, policies and processes in place to create a built environment that can sustain us into the future.

Institute CEO, David Parken, said ‘This is very welcome news. A federal champion is urgently needed to drive reforms that better connect urban policies and programs across all levels of government. This role in an expanded Major Cities Unit will bring much needed leadership and vision to the strategic planning of our cities and regions. The federal government must play a key role in ensuring our cities function as well as they can. The Institute urges the other parties to adopt similar strategies as well as to embrace a bipartisan approach, whatever the outcome of the election.’

The Institute recently surveyed the major Australian political parties about their commitment to key issues for the architecture profession, based on the Institute’s five policy priority topics, which include the creation of an Australian Minister for Cities position. The results can be read at architecture.com.au/about-us/policy-advocacy.