For the second year in a row a university building designed to link its campus has received the prestigious Sulman Award for public buildings in the NSW Architecture Awards conducted by The Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA).
Having reviewed 135 entries, the jury was impressed by the high standard in this year’s Architecture Awards and have given three named awards, 16 architecture awards and 6 commendations.
Recipient of the 2001 Sulman Award is the Life Sciences Building, University of Newcastle that was design by Suters Architects with Stutchbury Pape.
Most impressed by its siting, the jury found the Life Sciences Building “environmentally responsible, unapologetically bold and sensitively detailed, generating an appropriate iconic image for the University of Newcastle campus.”
A timeless beach house, designed by architect Craig Rosevear, that respects the site and the local surfing community was given the highest award for housing design in NSW, the Wilkinson Award.
The jury commended the architect for meeting the client’s brief to offer a view from the street “that allowed passing surfers to stop their cars on the street above the house and see through the living area to check the surf at the Wedge.”
Harry Seidler received the Blacket award for a house in the Southern Highlands described by the jury as “a meticulously detailed and extraordinary house that takes full advantage of its magnificent setting.”
This is the 37th architecture award Harry Seidler and Associates has received, which together with the Gold Medal that Mr Seidler was given in 1976 forms one of the most impressive records of achievement in the history of the RAIA architecture awards.
Architects Hassell Pty Ltd received an architecture award in the public buildings category for the North Sydney Olympic Pool where, said the jury, they “have sensitively laid the pool across the park and over the existing grandstand to open up views over the site to the harbour beyond.”
Three outstanding commercial buildings received architecture awards. ‘Office Wrap’ Port Botany Industrial Estate by architects Lacoste & Stevenson; Ansett Sydney Domestic Terminal, architects Bligh Voller Nield Pty Ltd; and the St James Station Environs, architects Lahz Nimmo with City Projects.
Four extraordinary houses also received architecture awards. The House for Pam by architect Clinton Murray also received the ESD Environment Award. The other three awards went to: Killcare House, architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer & Ellen Woolley; Jenkins/Robson House, architect Andrew Nolan; and Newtwon House, Castlecrag, architect Stanic Harding.
The Altair apartment building, designed by Engelen Moore, received an architecture award for “setting a new standard for the modern apartment building.”
In the conservation category an architecture award was given to architects Alexander Tzannes Associates for their “elegant and restrained” work within strict conservation guidelines to provide catering facilities on For Denison.
Two award were given in the Interior category. One went to architects Crone Associates for the Establishment Hotel. The other was given for the offices of Clemenger BBDO Sydney, by architects Bligh Voller Nield in association with Stephen Collins Interior Design.
In the Civic Design category two awards were given. Cook & Philip Park Landscape and Art Works by architects Bligh Voller Nield in joint venture with Spackman & Mossop were recognised for providing “a worthy addition to the city’s civic realm.” St Mary’s Cathedral Conservation and Completion by the Government Architects Office received an award for “providing a major civic market in the city context and skyline.”
Yet another of the Olympic facilities met the high design standards of the awards with the jury giving the ESD Energy Efficiency award and the Colorbond Award to the Velodrome by architects Ryder Associates, Ryder SJPH Architects.
A special jury award was given to Marci-Webster Mannison, Design Director for Charles Sturt University who was recognised as “fundamental to the design and delivery of the masterplan and buildings emerging at Charles Sturt University’s new campus at Thurgoona.”
Six projects received commendations: Bear Cottage, architects McConnel Smith & Johnson; Information Resource Centre, St Peters Primary School, architects Tony Caro Architecture; Car Park, Fox Studios, architects Hassell Pty Ltd; Mason House alterations and additions, architect Chenchow Little; McCarthy Residence, architect Stephen Varady Architecture; Public Realm, East Circular Quay, architect Peddle Thorp & Walker Pty Ltd.
The six member jury was chaired by Bob Nation and included Kim Cretani, Phil Moore, Diane Jones, Che Wall and Cerentha Harris.
The Presidents Award was given to Peter Myers for, amongst other things, his “outstanding record of careful work for the indigenous people of western NSW.”
Diane Jones and Christine Vadasz shared the Marion Mahoney Griffin Award for “demonstrating principled professionalism as well as courage in their pursuit of good architecture.”