Places for people dominate 2017 ACT Architecture Awards

Canberra's highest architecture honour, the Canberra Medallion, has been awarded to Constitution Avenue by NCA, JILA, Hill Thalis, SMEC and AECOM at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2017 ACT Architecture Awards.

Constitution Avenue, which also received the Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, has realised Griffin’s vision with a project that ‘negotiates the macro and micro scale with consistency, clarity and vision’.

The jury noted its character is responsive to its particular location and adjacency, with subtle changes in scale and detail - from civic to boulevard, bushland to ceremonial, yet it successfully conveys integrated design aspirations.

"The NCA in its wisdom gathered a team of collaborators to achieve an outcome of immense public worth, and in doing so, have given us an exemplar to plan, design and deliver public domain works," it said.

Fender Katsalidis Architects won the Sydney Ancher Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing and an Award for Commercial Architecture for their NewActon Nishi development receiving 

"In an era where housing needs to be denser, more compact, of high quality, and closer to civic centres, Nishi NewActon provides a compelling exemplar," the jury stated.

"A remarkable example of how seemingly impossible constraints can be deftly handled in the hands of a skilled architect,’ saw MD House by Ben Walker Architects take home the Gene Willsford Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions).

"The result clearly speaks of the fruitful engagement between architect and clients in delivering a well-considered outcome sensitive to their needs and aspirations."

ACT Chapter President, Rob Henry, praised the entrants and winners for their clear commitment to designing places for people.

‘Continued population growth in our small territory, with its limited boundaries, must be managed with a commitment to urban renewal and densification," he said.

"It is the ‘voids’ that will provide the ACT with sustainable opportunities for future growth. Underpinning any successful densification will be the inclusion of places for people that enrich sociocultural environments.