2022 Victorian Architecture Awards winners showcase culturally inclusive, community-centric design
The winners of the 2022 Victorian Architecture Awards have been announced, honouring the state’s best architecture. This year’s winners list highlights the integral role architects play in building communities and driving the evolution of the built environment, with standout projects responding to key issues of sustainability, equity, and access.
Across 14 categories, a total of 66 projects were granted named awards, architecture awards and commendations, drawn from a pool of 125 shortlisted projects – one of the largest ever selected for the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects’ awards program.
Kerstin Thompson Architects’ Balfe Park Lane received the top award in the multi-residential category, setting a gold standard for designing healthy communities and embedding genuine liveability among a list of winners that highlighted the importance of housing as an essential social infrastructure.
The Melbourne local designed the project, which comprises a mix of apartment types, along with commercial and retail spaces, newly created public access linkages, and shared courtyard and outdoor amenities.
Victorian State Manager, Tim Leslie FRAIA said the undeniable quality of this year’s submissions caused significant debate among the Jury.
“This year’s winners stand as a testament to the vitality of Melbourne’s cultural life, providing world-class venues for sport, the arts, education, community, faith and commerce – it is hugely buoying to see these new additions to our city that that will serve their communities for generations to come,”
Leslie said the winners list further revealed how architectural processes can be creatively utilised to educate clients and stakeholders in shifting perspectives on how to implement viable structures for economic and social concerns.
Recognised for their holistic approaches for modern-day structures, ANZ Breathe, Terrace House, and Shepparton Art Museum were projects awarded for their innovation and excellence in environmental sustainability.
Showcasing the potential of bespoke residential architecture, Corner House, Autumn House, and Arcadia also received top awards in the residential categories.
Emerging practice, Prior Barraclough received the newly implemented EmAGN Project Award for their work on Object 07, a multi-residential project in Fitzroy.
Among other notable winners were 405 Bourke Street, Wesley Place, the Clendon Centre, Yakimono & Society.
The architecture awards were revealed at an awards ceremony hosted by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects on Friday 17 June. Projects that received an Architecture Award or a named award will now progress to compete in the National Architecture Awards program, with the shortlist to be announced by the Australian Institute of Architects in the coming months.