Seven outstanding local projects have been honoured at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2014 Far North Queensland Regional Architecture Awards, held tonight at the Cairns Foreshore, The Wharf Shed 2.

Ten projects including a research institute, educational medical facilities, houses, public infrastructure and tourism buildings were entered in the Awards with six projects (see list below) being awarded Regional Commendations by the jury and progressing to the Queensland Architecture Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 20 June.

In addition to a Regional Commendation, JCU Dental by Phillips Smith Conwell Architects was presented with the Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year.

‘JCU Dental flips the typical clinical arrangement by putting a positive experience for the client first and foremost. The spaces focus on the lush landscape through well placed and expansive shaded glazing. An interior palette uses a fan palm motif that creates wayfinding and visual interest for patients. This building sets a benchmark for this building type in the tropical regions,’ the jury commented.

Stamp House by Charles Wright Architects was awarded the Far North Queensland House of the Year by the jury.

‘This house is an extraordinary response to a very personal and adventurous brief for a new type of tropical house in a remnant paddock in the rainforest. The concrete fabric chosen for permanence, robustness and thermal mass is placed on a man-made lake and shaped and patterned around its quirky personal spaces to somehow make its otherworldly presence take its place in the world’s oldest and most pristine landscape.’

To celebrate the work of local architects, Far North Queensland regional jury members selected Malanda Falls Visitors Centre by Charles Wright Architects as the inaugural recipient of the Regional Project of the Year.

‘The simple and strong idea of directly linking the building to country has generated a unique form that is fitting for its role as a tourist catcher and a symbol of the Malanda landscape. The approach has helped such a building be realised from a challenging brief and delivery process.’

A special Enduring Architecture Prize was presented to Mareeba Uniting Church by Eddie Oribin.

‘This church is an exquisitely conceived and executed building that has a sense of completeness from its external brick and timber fabric to its bespoke furniture and religious elements. The building has a sense of enduring quality – and has endured – due to the skillful use of beautiful materials and details that are used sparingly yet are absolutely suited to their purpose,’ the jury noted.

Regional Commendations:

Architectural Project	Architectural Practice	Location
JCU Dental	Phillips Smith Conwell Architects	Smithfield
Clare Street Townhouse	Studio Mango	Parramatta Park
William McCormack Place 2	CA Architects & Cox Rayner Architects	Cairns
The Cairns Institute	Woods Bagot in collaboration with RPA Architects	Smithfield
Malanda Falls Visitors Centre	Charles Wright Architects	Malanda
Stamp House	Charles Wright Architects	Cape Tribulation

Far North Queensland Regional Jury Coordinator and Juror Belinda Allwood (People Oriented Design), Jurors Peter Pierce (mmp Architects), Paula Newman (Thomson Adsett) and lay Juror Ashley Balderson (Status Plus) assisted the 2014 Awards Jury Director, Liam Proberts (bureau^proberts), Deputy Director Paul Uhlmann (Paul Uhlmann Architects), and State Jurors Catherine Baudet (Ferrier Baudet Architects), Mark Jones (Architectus Brisbane) and Paul Curran (PUSH) with selecting the worthy recipients of Regional Commendations, the Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year, Far North Queensland House of the Year, Regional Project of the Year (local prize) and the Enduring Architecture Prize (local prize).