The Australian public and sense of community seem to be the big winners at this year’s National Architecture Awards.

Announced last night at a special ceremony in Canberra, the 2010 awards were presented to the nation’s most inspiring architects and their various projects at home and abroad, ranging from a public library in Sydney’s Surry Hills to a community centre and refuge for women, children and orphans in Tanzania.

The common thread running through many of the winning projects was a focus on the community and the enrichment of public space.

The Surry Hills Library and Community Centre in Sydney by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) received a National award for Public Architecture and a National Award for Sustainable Architecture.

 

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Surry Hills Library – Photography John Gollings

 

Surry Hills Library – Photography John Gollings

Pirrama Park at Pyrmont Hill by Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects/Aspect Studios/CAB received the Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, while the Paddington Reservoir Gardens by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer with JMD Design and the City of Sydney received a National Award for Urban Design and National Award for Heritage – another in a string of awards for this high-profile project.

 

Pirrama Park by Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects/Aspect Studios/CAB – Photograph by Florian Groehn

 

Pirrama Park by Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects/Aspect Studios/CAB – Photograph by Brett Boardman

Jury chair Melinda Dodson noted that Sydney, with its harbour image is beginning to sprout places where people can dangle their feet in the water:

“While the 2009 jury worried about a lack of expenditure on public urban design projects, in 2010 the opposite was true,” she said. “Most notably, Mayor Clover Moore and the City of Sydney have demonstrated a commitment to the public realm with the Pirrama Park and Paddington Reservoir Gardens projects.”

The Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage was awarded to the Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Memorial by Brian Hooper Architect and m3architecture. The memorial is yet another symbol of community, marking the shelter under which striking shearers met 120 years giving rise to the formation of the ALP.

 

The Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Memorial by Brian Hooper Architect and m3architecture – Photograph by Jon Linkins

 

The Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Memorial by Brian Hooper Architect and m3architecture – Photograph by Jon Linkins

 

The Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Memorial by Brian Hooper Architect and m3architecture – Photograph by Jon Linkins

The ANZ Centre in Melbourne’s Docklands by HASSELL also received The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture. You can read our special feature on this project in the upcoming issue 43 of Indesign magazine.

The awards, which are acknowledged as the premier awards for Australia’s architectural profession, were last year criticised by one journalist for handing out awards “like children dividing lollies”, suggesting they were too careful not to show bias, awarding 44 awards in 2009.

This year the number was reduced by a quarter to 33 awards in total.

 

Australian Institute of Architects 2010 National Architecture Awards – Winners List:

 

The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture

Epping to Chatswood Rail Link, Intermediate Stations (Sydney NSW), HASSELL

 

National Award for Public Architecture

Surry Hills Library and Community Centre (Sydney, NSW), Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt)

 

National Award for Public Architecture

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (Melbourne, VIC), Joint Venture Architects Woods Bagot and NH Architecture

 

National Commendation for Public Architecture

Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Memorial (Barcaldine, central western QLD), Brian Hooper Architect & m3architecture – Architects in Association

 

The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture

5-9 Roslyn Street Kings Cross (Sydney, NSW), Durbach Block Architects

 

National Award for Commercial Architecture

Port Phillip Estate (Mornington Peninsular, Victoria), Wood/Marsh Pty Ltd Architecture

 

The Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage

Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Memorial (Barcaldine, central western QLD), Brian Hooper Architect and m3architecture – Architects in Association

 

National Award for Heritage

Paddington Reservoir Gardens (Sydney, NSW), Tonkin Zulaikha Greer with JMD Design and the City of Sydney

 

National Award for Heritage

Former West’s Furniture Showroom (Brisbane, QLD), Riddel Architecture

 

The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture

ANZ Centre (Melbourne, VIC), HASSELL

 

National Award for Interior Architecture

Lyons Architecture Office (Melbourne, VIC), NMBW Architecture Studio

 

National Award for Interior Architecture

Port Phillip Estate (Mornington Peninsular, VIC), Wood/Marsh Pty Ltd Architecture

 

The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses

Trial Bay House (Tasmania), HBV Architects

 

National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses

Z House (Brisbane, QLD), Donovan Hill

 

National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses

Lyon Housemuseum (Melbourne, VIC), Lyons

 

The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Seaspray Resort and Spa (Zilzie, QLD), Donovan Hill

 

National Commendation for Residential Multiple

Yan Lane (Melbourne, VIC), Justin Mallia

 

National Commendation for Residential Multiple

UNSW Village (Sydney, NSW), Architectus

 

National Award for Sustainable Architecture

Surry Hills Library and Community Centre (Sydney, NSW), Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt)

 

National Commendation for Sustainable Architecture

Lyons Architecture Office (Melbourne, VIC), NMBW Architecture Studio

 

National Award for Small Project Architecture

Strangio House (Hobart, TAS), Maria Gigney Architects

 

The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design

Pirrama Park, Pyrmont Hill (Sydney, NSW), Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects / Aspect Studios / CAB

 

National Award for Urban Design

Paddington Reservoir Gardens (Sydney, NSW), Tonkin Zulaikha Greer with JMD Design and the City of Sydney

 

National Commendation for Urban Design

Adelaide Zoo Entrance Precinct (Adelaide, SA), HASSELL

 

National Commendation for Urban Design

Eastlink Freeway (Melbourne, VIC), Wood/Marsh Pty Ltd Architecture

 

The Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture

The Met, Bangkok (Thailand), WOHA

 

National Award for International Architecture

Kesho Leo Children’s Home (Tanzania), watson architecture + design

 

National Award for International Architecture

Wall House (Japan), Peter Stutchbury Architecture with Keiji Ashizawa Design

 

National Award for International Architecture

Bras Basah Mass Rapid Transit Station (Singapore), WOHA

 

National Commendation for International Architecture

Aman New Delhi (India), Kerry Hill Architects

 

National Commendation for International Architecture

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali (Indonesia), WOHA

 

25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture

Supreme Court Complex Hobart (TAS), Department of Public Works / Peter Partridge

 

The Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture

Australian Expo Pavillion (China), Wood/Marsh Pty Ltd Architecture