The winners of the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2011 North Queensland Regional Architecture Awards were announced last week, with the Lavarack Barracks 3rd Combat Engineering Regiment, 4th Field Regiment Precincts by BVN Architecture awarded the William Hodgen Award for Building(s) of the Year.

Lavarack Barracks by BVN Architecture. Photography: Christopher Frederick Jones

The Lavarack Barracks project consists of over 80 buildings accommodating 600 soldiers on the base, including sports facilities, offices, computer support and heavy vehicle maintenance.

Gym at Lavarack Barracks by BVN Architecture. Photography: Christopher Frederick Jones

Queensland State Awards Director Malcolm Middleton described the project as “a consistently well researched and environmentally and visually flexible suite of solutions to the individual building requirements.”

“The buildings offer built form variety and environmental performance based on strong principles of cross ventilation and low maintenance,” Middleton said.

“The end result is a successful complex of simple execution with the potential for further density and built form development from future stages.”

Out of 11 projects entered in this year’s awards, 4 were given regional commendations.

Unit 1201 Aquarius on the Beach by Architects North. Photography: Robert Parson

Unit 1201 Aquarius on the Beach by Architects North, an adaptive reuse of a 33 square metre site, was described by the jury as “a significant repositioning of a former hotel room to an elegant and considered living space” where “small scale design decisions offer flexible living arrangements and responsive settings for the sole occupant client.”

Unit 1201 Aquarius on the Beach by Architects North. Photography: Robert Parson

JCU Discovery Rise by Architectus was commended by the jury as a complex initiative – a masterplanning strategy for James Cook University involving high density pockets at the campus’ main circulation points, in response to the campus’ growing needs.

Australian Tropical Science Innovation Precinct at JCU. Photography: Jon Linkins

Guymer Bailey’s Opposite Lock, a 4WD showroom and retail/sales centre in Townsville, was recognised for providing visual interest and identity to an otherwise uninspiring commercial street setting.

Opposite Lock by Guymer Bailey (and hero image). Photography: Scott Burrows

Finally, the jury commended Tranquillity Base by ARM – a contemporary Queensland house that responds to surrounding rock formations and offers splendid panoramic views of its surroundings.

Tranquillity Base by ARM. Photography: A Rankin

All commendation recipients will now enter the running for the Queensland Architecture Awards, announced on Friday 24 June – stay tuned for more on this event on Indesignlive.

Australian Institute of Architects
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