The winners of the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards have been announced. These accolades highlight outstanding contributions to architectural design across Melbourne and regional Victoria, recognizing merit in collaboration, sustainability and innovation. This year’s awards underscore the power of architecture in shaping our communities.

In total, 15 Named Awards, 24 Architecture Awards and 22 Commendations were presented following assessments by independent juries, celebrating 228 projects that boast a commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Victorian State President David Wagner FRAIA praised the recipients, stating, “This year’s awards recipients have indelibly shaped our built environment, showcasing the world-class ingenuity and expertise in our state. The impressive range and diversity of winning projects are a testament to the strength of the architectural profession in Victoria, illustrating architecture’s broad reach in urban, suburban, and rural contexts.”

A noticeable trend in this year’s winners is the strength of architecture in regional Victoria, marked by sustainability and a connection to Country. Notable projects exemplifying this theme include Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre in Cowes, Phillip Island by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, which acts as a new purpose-built public building to support a range of uses including a theatre, library, gallery, museum, community function rooms and offices, and was awarded for Public Architecture. While the Wangaratta District Specialist School by Sibling Architecture won the EmAGN Project Award and received a commendation in the Educational Architecture category, for its services in the North-eastern region of Victoria, catering to students who have clinically diagnosed intellectual disabilities.

Related: Celebrating regional architecture in Yamba

The Victorian Architecture Medal was awarded to Public Realm Lab for their exceptional contribution to the built environment. The Powerhouse Place project in Mildura earned three awards: the Regional Prize, and the overall prize for Urban Design and Public Architecture. As the most awarded project of the year, Powerhouse Place is characterised by its commitment to collaborative design, sustainability and community engagement. Built on the site of the Mildura power plant, Powerhouse Place includes multiple flexible spaces for public and private events.

Victorian State Manager Daniel Moore RAIA echoed these sentiments, adding, “Winners of this year’s Victorian Architecture Awards represent a milestone in the field, showcasing the importance of sustainable design principles in the best projects.”

Victorian Architecture Awards
architecture.com/vic-awards

Winners for 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards:

Category – COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

Sweetwater House. Christopher Botterill and Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

Category: Commercial Architecture

– Sanders Place. NMBW, Openwork & Finding Infinity. The Sir Osborn McCutcheon Award for Commercial Architecture

– 54 Wellington. Wardle. Award for Commercial Architecture

– T3 Collingwood. Jackson Clements Burrows Architects. Award for Commercial Architecture

– Galkangu. Lyons. Commendation for Commercial Architecture

Category: Educational Architecture

– Mount Alexander College (MAC). Kosloff Architecture. The Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture

– Clifton Hill Primary School. Jackson Clements Burrows Architects. Award for Educational Architecture

– Xavier College Kostka Building. MGS Architects. Award for Educational Architecture

– Dandenong High School Design and Technology Hub. Kerstin Thompson Architects. Commendation for Educational Architecture

– North Melbourne Primary School (Molesworth Street Campus). ARM Architecture. Commendation for Educational Architecture

– St Patrick’s College Performing Arts Centre. Wardle. Commendation for Educational Architecture

– Wangaratta District Specialist School. Sibling Architecture. Commendation for Educational Architecture

Category: EmAGN Project Award

– Wangaratta District Specialist School. Sibling Architecture. EmAGN Project Award

Category: Heritage Architecture

– St George’s Performing Arts Centre. Kneeler Design Architects. The John George Knight Award for Heritage

– Memorial Hall – Christ Church Grammar School. McIldowie Partners. Award for Heritage – Creative Adaptation

– Princess Theatre Auditorium Conservation Works. Conservation Studio Australia. Award for Heritage – Conservation

– Riverbend Repair. Vaughan Howard Architects. Commendation for Heritage – Creative Adaptation

Category: Interior Architecture

– Geelong Arts Centre (Stage 3). ARM Architecture. The Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture

– Burnt Earth Beach House. Wardle. Award for Interior Architecture

– Fairlie Apartment. Kennedy Nolan. Award for Interior Architecture

– Koorie Heritage Trust Stage 2. Lyons with Greenaway Architects and Architecture Associates. Award for Interior Architecture

– Up There. Kennedy Nolan. Commendation for Interior Architecture

– Wilam Ngarrang Retrofit. Kennedy Nolan with Finding Infinity. Commendation for Interior Architecture

Category: Public Architecture

– Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre. Jackson Clements Burrows Architects. The William Wardell Award for Public Architecture

– Geelong Arts Centre (Stage 3). ARM Architecture. Award for Public Architecture

– Munro Development and narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services. Six Degrees Architects. Award for Public Architecture

– Preston Level Crossing Removal Project. Wood Marsh Architecture. Award for Public Architecture

– The Boronggook Drysdale Library. Antarctica Architects and Architecture Associates. Award for Public Architecture

– The Round. BKK Architects + Kerstin Thompson Architects. Commendation for Public Architecture

-Koorie Heritage Trust Stage 2. Lyons with Greenaway Architects and Architecture Associates. Commendation for Public Architecture

Category: Regional Prize

– Powerhouse Place. Public Realm Lab. Regional Prize

Category: Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

– Mansard House. Studio Bright. The John and Phyllis Murphy Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

– Bob’s Bungalow. Blair Smith Architecture. Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

– Ember. MRTN Architects. Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

– Smith House. Fowler and Ward. Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

– Brunswick Galley House. Topology Studio. Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Category: Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

– Naples Street House. Edition Office. The Harold Desbrowe Annear Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

– Burnt Earth Beach House. Wardle. Award for Residential Architecture

– Courtyard House. Clare Cousins Architects. Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

– Six Ways House. Kennedy Nolan. Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

– Sweetwater House. Christopher Botterill and Jackson Clements Burrows Architects. Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

– Adelaide Street House. Robert Simeoni Architects. Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Category: Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

– Ferrars & York. Six Degrees Architects. The Best Overend Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

– Markham Avenue. Architectus. Award Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

– Melbourne Indigenous Transition School Boarding House. McIldowie Partners. Award Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

– The Nursery on Brunswick. Clare Cousins Architects. Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

– Inkerman + Nelson. MA+Co. Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Category: Small Project Architecture

– Thornbury Canopy. Gab Olah. The Kevin Borland Award for Small Project Architecture

– Macarthur Street Amenities Pavilion. Searle x Waldron Architecture. Award for Small Project Architecture

– Melbourne Now: Community Hall. BoardGrove Architects. Commendation for Small Project Architecture

 (This Is Air). Nic Brunsdon. Commendation for Small Project Architecture

Category: Sustainable Architecture

– Powerhouse Place. Public Realm Lab. The Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture

– Northcote House. LLDS. Award for Sustainable Architecture

– Preston South Primary School. Kerstin Thompson Architects. Commendation for Sustainable Architecture

– Wilam Ngarrang Retrofit. Kennedy Nolan with Finding Infinity. Commendation for Sustainable Architecture

Category: Urban Design

– Powerhouse Place. Public Realm Lab. The Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design

– Preston Level Crossing Removal Project. Wood Marsh Architecture and Tract. Award for Urban Design

– Munro Site – Queen Victoria Market Precinct. Bates Smart and Six Degrees. Commendation for Urban Design

– Tarakan Street Social and Affordable Housing. NH Architecture, Bird de la Coeur Architects and

Openwork with Tract. Commendation for Urban Design

Category: Enduring Architecture

– Knox Schlapp Public Housing. Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design. Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award

Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize

Koorie Heritage Trust Stage 2. Lyons with Greenaway Architects and Architecture Associates

Bates Smart Award for Architecture in Media

John Andrews: Architect of Uncommon Sense. Paul Walker

Bates Smart Award for Architecture in Media

Papulu-ku Nyinjjiki (seeing houses). Simon Robinson

Bates Smart Award for Architecture in Media

Peter + Dione McIntyre 1950-1962 – Counterbalancing Forces

Victorian Emerging Architect Prize winner

Bradley Kerr, director of Winsor Kerr

Next up: FK on designing hotels for the modern age and redefining their place within communities