The shortlist for the 2024 Sustainability Awards – presented by Architecture and Design – has been unveiled, spotlighting some of the most innovative and groundbreaking entries in the programme’s history. As Australia’s longest-running awards dedicated to sustainable design and architecture, the Sustainability Awards have, for 18 years, recognised outstanding achievements in the field. This year, the programme takes on even greater significance, reflecting the pressing need for sustainable solutions in the built environment.

The 2024 edition is a major milestone, marking nearly two decades of excellence in the industry. On 14th November, 2024 at Sydney’s Town Hall, 18 winners will be announced across 17 categories, including a highly anticipated Best-of-the-Best award and a Lifetime Achievement award. The gala event will celebrate sustainability at the forefront of design and, for the first time, an International Design category has been introduced, showcasing exemplary environmentally responsible designs from outside Australia.

These projects are lauded for their sensitivity to local surroundings and adaptive reuse.

The shortlist was meticulously compiled by a panel of esteemed jurors through a rigorous live judging process. Juror Georgios Anagnostou emphasised the role of these awards in drawing attention to sustainability excellence: “In the current climate – pun intended! – it is almost an obligation for everyone to search deep within their practice and the industry to look for something that could demonstrate sustainable design excellence.”

Related: More on the awards with Anagnostou

The shortlist spans across three main categories: People, Projects and Innovation, covering various aspects of sustainable design and architecture. The categories include:

People:

• Emerging Sustainable Architect / Designer
• Lifetime Achievement (to be announced on the gala night)

Projects:

• Commercial Architecture – Small
• Commercial Architecture – Large
• Education & Research
• Multiple Residential Dwelling
• Single Dwelling – New
• Single Dwelling – Alteration/Addition
• Adaptive Reuse – Alteration/Addition
• Landscape & Urban
• Public Building
• Interior Design
• Hospitality & Tourism
• International Design

Innovation:

• Green Building Material/Product
• Small Sustainable Practice
• Editor’s Choice

The jury members for this year’s awards include prominent figures in sustainable design such as Dick Clarke from Envirotecture, Jeremy Spencer from Positive Footprints, Christian Hampson of Yerrangbin, and William Chan from the City of Sydney, among others. Their combined expertise ensures that the awards reflect the highest standards of sustainability and innovation.

Meanwhile, the awards wouldn’t be possible without the support of key partners, including Autex Acoustics, GH Commercial, Bluescope, Electrolux Group, and others, who contribute to advancing sustainable practices in the industry.

With 105 entries making it to the shortlist, the 2024 Sustainability Awards continue to serve as a platform for recognising and celebrating the most forward-thinking sustainable projects in design and architecture. As the industry looks to the future, these awards provide an important opportunity to reflect on the progress being made and the ongoing challenge of addressing environmental concerns through innovative design. Below are some notable shortlisted projects in key categories, while the full shortlist is available here.

• Multi-Residential Dwelling:
  • East Brunswick Village
  • Hope St Housing by MDC Architects & Officer Woods
  • HousingFirst Marlborough Street by Baldasso Cortese
  • Nightingale Marrickville by SJB
  • Park Street by Breathe
  • Skyblox Co-Living Housing by TKCA Architect
• Landscape & Urban:
  • Redfern Station Upgrade by DesignInc Sydney
  • Towradgi Station Upgrade by DesignInc Sydney
• Single Dwelling (New):
  • Anglesea Passive House by Zen Architects
  • GardenHaus by Envirotecture
  • Hinderwell St House by MDC Architects
  • Sapling by Anderson Architecture
  • Sweetwater House by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
  • Warrawee Passive House by Marvel Homes

Explore the full shortlist here!