SA Architecture Awards 2018

These projects are then peer reviewed by a jury of architects and specialists in a process that includes review of submitted documentation, a public presentation to the jury and a visit to the project site. For those involved it is a rigorous but rewarding process.

To those outside the process, however, it may appear to be self-congratulatory and even nepotistic, with architects awarding accolades to their own. The reality is that jurors are carefully selected for their knowledge and experience and with close consideration of conflicts of interest. The process has been tested and refined over many years and includes numerous checks and balances.

Architects are also exacting critics of each other’s work. They critique from a highly educated standpoint and with an exacting eye for detail, noticing things that most clients, building occupants and casual passers-by generally don’t give a moment’s thought to: how a project provides excellent environmental performance while also capturing west-facing views; how a particular material has been used to achieve a well-resolved façade while responding to harsh site conditions and minimising construction waste; the manner in which complex and possibly conflicting brief requirements have been satisfied to deliver a solution that exceeds the client’s expectations. The criteria considered are as varied and specific as the projects, each of which is a prototype that will never be exactly replicated, even where prefabricated and modular construction is employed.

There may also be decisions that the community question considering the media attention and debate that some of the projects attract. This is a product of the complexity of construction projects, which is rarely fully understood or considered in these discussions.

A project may be deemed successful as a work of architecture, in that it responds innovatively to the client brief, delivers a high level of technical resolution, is designed and documented to achieve a high standard of construction, low operating costs, ease of maintenance and a long service life and creates an environment that is delightful and sustainable. This does not prevent the same project from being the subject of debate from other perspectives. These may include whether the brief was well resolved, whether the community supports the underlying premise for the project and personal preferences regarding aesthetics.

In addition to these considerations, an architect is not a free agent but is subject to direction from the client, as well as operating within technical, budgetary, regulatory and legal frameworks. And even within these constraints, architects are not always employed in a traditional capacity and may have limited or no input in a project once a certain stage – concept design, development approval, a percentage of documentation – has been achieved. Given all of this, awarding those projects that achieve a high level of resolution within this complex and constrained operating environment is merited.

Ultimately, the awards program recognises the excellence achieved in a highly varied range of contexts. Each project encapsulates the ideas and aspirations of its authors – client, architect, contractors, engineers… – and contributes to the public realm. We hope that you enjoy the beautiful projects that were successful in the 2018 SA Architecture Awards and also encourage you to look beyond the aesthetics to the other factors that make them worthy of an award.

2018 SA Architecture Award Winners

Urban Design

The Gavin Walkley Award for Urban Design
Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building (AHMS) by Lyons

Public Architecture

The Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture
Adelaide Convention Centre Redevelopment: East by Woods Bagot

Award of Merit
The Playford Tennis Centre by JPE Design Studio

Commendation
Royal Adelaide Hospital by Silver Thomas Hanley DesignInc

Educational Architecture

The Dr John Mayfield Award for Educational Architecture
St John’s Grammar School John Bray Centre for Performing Arts by Walter Brooke

Award of Merit
Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building by Lyons

Commendation
Concordia College Nautilus Centre by Russell and Yelland

Commendation
Old Watulunga by Grieve Gillett Andersen

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

The John S Chappel Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
PR House by Architects Ink

Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Cedar House by JPE Design Studio

Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Hyde Park Townhouses by Con Bastiras Architect

Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Aldgate House by Wood Marsh Architecture

Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Tess and Michael’s House by Max Pritchard

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)

The John Schenk Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)
Millswood House by studio-gram with Kate Russo

Award for Residential Architecture – Alterations & Additions
Bowden Bajko House by Davis and Davis Architects

Commendation for Residential Architecture – Alterations & Additions
Timberland by sw-architects

Commendation for Residential Architecture – Alterations & Additions
MH House by Architects Ink

Commendation for Residential Architecture – Alterations & Additions
JR House by Architects Ink

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

The Newell Platten Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Ivy Apartments, WEST by Davis + Davis Architects

Commercial Architecture

The Keith Neighbour Award for Commercial Architecture
The Darling Building by Williams Burton Leopardi

Sustainable Architecture

The Derrick Kendrick Award for Sustainable Architecture
trop_pods@ robe by Troppo Architects

Award for Sustainable Architecture
The Darling Building by Williams Burton Leopardi

Commendation for Sustainable Architecture
Last Stand by BB Architects

Commendation for Sustainable Architecture
Royal Adelaide Hospital by Silver Thomas Hanley DesignInc

Commendation for Sustainable Architecture
Tess and Michael’s House by Max Pritchard Gunner Architects

Commendation for Sustainable Architecture
Timberland by sw-architects

Small Project Architecture

The Marjorie Simpson Award for Small Project Architecture
84 Halifax Street by Oxigen

Award for Small Project Architecture
trop_Pods@ Robe by Troppo Architects

Commendation for Small Project Architecture
Sturt Street Office Home by Taylor Buchtmann Architecture

Commendation for Small Project Architecture
Bird in Hand Block by sw-architects and Enoki

Commendation for Small Project Architecture
UniSA Mobile Art Architecture and Design Studio
School of Art Architecture and Design University of South Australia

Heritage

The David Saunders Award for Heritage
The Darling Building by Williams Burton Leopardi

Award for Heritage
Queen Adelaide Room by Swanbury Penglase

Interior Architecture

The Robert Dickson Award for Interior Architecture
GA House by Architects Ink

Award for for Interior Architecture
WBL Studio by Williams Burton Leopardi

Award for Interior Architecture
Royal Adelaide Hospital by Silver Thomas Hanley DesignInc

Commendation for Interior Architecture
Melt by studio-gram

Steel Architecture

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
Millswood House by studio-gram with Kate Russo

The City of Adelaide Prize

The City of Adelaide Prize
84 Halifax Street by Oxigen

The City of Adelaide Prize – Commendation
The Darling Building by Williams Burton Leopardi

The City of Adelaide Prize – Commendation
Queen Adelaide Room by Swanbury Penglase

Enduring Architecture

The Jack Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture
Pritchard House 1990 by Max Pritchard

Sir James Irwin President’s Medal

Douglas Alexander, Flightpath Architects

South Australian Emerging Architect Prize

Alison McFadyen, Phillips/Pilkington Architects

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