16 June, 2017

The Northern Territory’s best architecture has been celebrated at the 2017 NT Architecture Awards held on Friday 16 June in Darwin.

Bullocky Point Education Precinct by MODE was the most awarded project of the night being lauded by the jury as a building that ‘is most assuredly a work of the Northern Territory’ and that ‘represents excellence in architecture and site planning, respect for context, the best interpretation of heritage and an outstanding resolution of client requirements’.

The project received the chapter’s most prestigious honour, the Tracy Memorial Award, along with the Northern Territory Chapter Award for Educational Architecture and an Award for Interior Architecture.

Troppo Architects took home an Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing for Tropology for DHA, a tiny pair of two-storey small-lot houses that represents a new and welcome alternative to current Territory housing options that increase density without the loss of lifestyle or amenity.

‘Dual occupancy is no longer a frightening concept for good tropical housing or for the DHA. Tropology leads the charge for the future densification of the tropical north’, the jury noted.

Remote and regional projects were also recognised in this year’s Awards. ‘A critical addition to the development of the Ghunmarn Cultural Precinct’, Djilpin Arts Pavilion by Insideout Architects, Tania Dennis was honoured with the Indigenous Community Architecture Award.

‘The success of the Djilpin Arts Pavilion is reflective of the collaborative spirit between the local community and architects that continues to underpin the evolving nature of the precinct. The jury was briefed by members of the Indigenous community who expressed enthusiasm for the project and the way in which it had enhanced their enterprise.’

The Yali McNamara Award for Small Project Architecture went to Bower Studio, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne for their ‘legacy project’, Wave Hill Walk-Off Pavilions, which commemorates a defining moment in Australia’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous history.

Finally, in an acknowledgment to the importance that well-designed interpretive facilities play in the visitor experience of the unique Northern Territory landscape, the Watarrka National Park Visitor Information Shelter by Tangentyere Design was awarded The George Goyder Award for Urban Design as well as the COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture. The jury commented that ‘this project enhances the visitor environment and has seamlessly combined the spiritual needs of the traditional owners with the functional requirements of rangers for the wellbeing of visitors’.

Winners were selected from a field of 20 entries with Named Award and Award winners now progressing to the National Architecture Awards to be announced in Canberra on Thursday 2 November.

 

Full list of winners:

Commercial Architecture
The Peter Dermoudy Award – Casuarina Square, The Quarter by Altis Architecture Pty Ltd

Casuarina Square, The Quarter by Altis Architecture Pty Ltd.
Photo: Darwin Photography Professionals

 

Educational Architecture
The Northern Territory Chapter Award – Bullocky Point Education Precinct by MODE
Award – Braitling Preschool by Susan Dugdale and Associates
Commendation – New Henbury School by Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Northern Territory Government with MKEA Architects Pty Ltd
Commendation – CDU Theatre Redevelopment by DKJ.projects.architecture

Bullocky Point Education Precinct Interior Fitout by MODE. Photo: Gary Annett