National Architecture Awards: 3 New Homes Winners
Step inside these new builds to see how Australia's best architects designed the magnificent homes
This year, many of us have spent more time at home than ever before, putting a greater focus on what our built environments can deliver. Those projects that go above and beyond to enrich our immediate surroundings have been honoured in the prestigious, peer-reviewed architectural awards held by the Australian Institute of Architects. Now in their 40th year, the awards highlight the immense value architects bring to their communities through exceptional design.
Here, we report on the three winners complete with thoughts from the jury and the homeowners.
Here, we report on the three winners complete with thoughts from the jury and the homeowners.
Photo by Patrick Bingham-Hall
Client’s perspective
Our primary objective was to create a home that provided a balance of shared and private spaces for our large family. The communal areas flow seamlessly on the same level, allowing family and guest to spend time together or seek intimate spaces.
Our kids can play inside or in the garden within sight, but without feeling watched. The bedrooms and work spaces are more secluded and give privacy. An escape into one’s own space. The stone room and cellar are our hidden gems that we use as a quiet retreat individually or as a family.
Looking to connect with an architect? Find one near you on Houzz
Client’s perspective
Our primary objective was to create a home that provided a balance of shared and private spaces for our large family. The communal areas flow seamlessly on the same level, allowing family and guest to spend time together or seek intimate spaces.
Our kids can play inside or in the garden within sight, but without feeling watched. The bedrooms and work spaces are more secluded and give privacy. An escape into one’s own space. The stone room and cellar are our hidden gems that we use as a quiet retreat individually or as a family.
Looking to connect with an architect? Find one near you on Houzz
Photo by Patrick Bingham-Hall
Jury citation
Called Bunkeren by the owners, as the design has been evoked by coastal military fortifications, robust and uncompromising, the project is situated upon a spectacular east-facing site, south of Newcastle.
The house grows out of and into the landscape and allows the building elements and vegetation to be unified into an overall composition.
Historically, the location was described as a ‘botanical wonderland’, and new vegetation has been extensively planted on, in and around the new constructions using endemic species.
Jury citation
Called Bunkeren by the owners, as the design has been evoked by coastal military fortifications, robust and uncompromising, the project is situated upon a spectacular east-facing site, south of Newcastle.
The house grows out of and into the landscape and allows the building elements and vegetation to be unified into an overall composition.
Historically, the location was described as a ‘botanical wonderland’, and new vegetation has been extensively planted on, in and around the new constructions using endemic species.
Photo by Patrick Bingham-Hall
A spacious five-bedroom house for parents and a family of four children under 10, it creates a rocky landscape for outside living that reaches out from the interiors.
In a unique tour de force, cleverly engineered off-form, board-marked concrete of high quality is used externally and internally, with almost total exclusion of internal finishes.
The site has probably been discovered during construction and has revealed a wonderful subterranean horseshoe-shaped sanctuary cave and wine cellar.
Although grid-connected, a large solar system supplies the house and exports surplus energy. Water is collected for laundry and irrigation.
A spacious five-bedroom house for parents and a family of four children under 10, it creates a rocky landscape for outside living that reaches out from the interiors.
In a unique tour de force, cleverly engineered off-form, board-marked concrete of high quality is used externally and internally, with almost total exclusion of internal finishes.
The site has probably been discovered during construction and has revealed a wonderful subterranean horseshoe-shaped sanctuary cave and wine cellar.
Although grid-connected, a large solar system supplies the house and exports surplus energy. Water is collected for laundry and irrigation.
Photo by Michael Nicolson
The Robin Boyd Award for
Residential Architecture -
Houses (New) and Award for Sustainable Architecture
Night Sky by Peter Stutchbury Architecture, Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW
Summary
Night Sky is future architecture – absolutely self-sufficient, power-production design to last beyond 120 years. Flexibly planned, this home for a handicapped [sic] man presents managed efficiency, long-term flexibility and sensible restraint as an exemplar of the way we might consider future home models.
The Robin Boyd Award for
Residential Architecture -
Houses (New) and Award for Sustainable Architecture
Night Sky by Peter Stutchbury Architecture, Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW
Summary
Night Sky is future architecture – absolutely self-sufficient, power-production design to last beyond 120 years. Flexibly planned, this home for a handicapped [sic] man presents managed efficiency, long-term flexibility and sensible restraint as an exemplar of the way we might consider future home models.
Photo by Michael Nicolson
The open-minded, intelligent client has a reputation for anticipating trends and his small, humble abode reflects his nature and ambition; a pleasure to work with such educated support. [The living area is based around a] central vaulted room, his favoured form, with supporting and appropriately scaled adjoining annexes.
Much of the building is handcrafted by a team of remarkable makers. This house pursues an avenue of thinking that bridges past (ancient) with beyond (energy management). The client deserves accolades.
The open-minded, intelligent client has a reputation for anticipating trends and his small, humble abode reflects his nature and ambition; a pleasure to work with such educated support. [The living area is based around a] central vaulted room, his favoured form, with supporting and appropriately scaled adjoining annexes.
Much of the building is handcrafted by a team of remarkable makers. This house pursues an avenue of thinking that bridges past (ancient) with beyond (energy management). The client deserves accolades.
Photo by Michael Nicolson
Client’s perspective
A lifestyle change decided. A site selected. A brief defined: “Take me on an architectural journey that I would not have taken alone.”
I repose in total physical and spiritual communion with my home of multiple vistas. I am content and satisfied in my mountain cabin.
Browse more images of stunning Australian homes on Houzz
Client’s perspective
A lifestyle change decided. A site selected. A brief defined: “Take me on an architectural journey that I would not have taken alone.”
I repose in total physical and spiritual communion with my home of multiple vistas. I am content and satisfied in my mountain cabin.
Browse more images of stunning Australian homes on Houzz
Photo by Michael Nicolson
Jury citation
A smaller innovative house, Night Sky is inserted into a suburban setting with sensitivity to its terrain and location at altitude 1100 metres. For a single wheelchair-bound client, the house accommodates free movement between outside and inside, with no thresholds.
The main living space is splendid and full of character with a high, parabolic arched roof formed in recycled bricks, like an old church.
Fitting for the astronomer client, the design is dominated by an elliptical hole in the roof, through which the night sky can be observed by telescope and which also offers a view to the sky and the admission of sunlight in daytime. A shutter closes over the hole to avoid rain ingress and heat egress.
Jury citation
A smaller innovative house, Night Sky is inserted into a suburban setting with sensitivity to its terrain and location at altitude 1100 metres. For a single wheelchair-bound client, the house accommodates free movement between outside and inside, with no thresholds.
The main living space is splendid and full of character with a high, parabolic arched roof formed in recycled bricks, like an old church.
Fitting for the astronomer client, the design is dominated by an elliptical hole in the roof, through which the night sky can be observed by telescope and which also offers a view to the sky and the admission of sunlight in daytime. A shutter closes over the hole to avoid rain ingress and heat egress.
Photo by Michael Nicolson
The house is exquisitely detailed, made from all-recycled materials sourced locally, and is surrounded by a small, beautiful garden with water features that can be accessed by wheelchair.
The house is completely off-grid with an elaborate installation of solar panels, heat pumps and batteries. The client, who studied architecture under Bruce Rickard among others and has qualifications in aeronautical engineering, is reported as saying: ‘Take me on an architectural journey that I would not have taken alone’.
The house is exquisitely detailed, made from all-recycled materials sourced locally, and is surrounded by a small, beautiful garden with water features that can be accessed by wheelchair.
The house is completely off-grid with an elaborate installation of solar panels, heat pumps and batteries. The client, who studied architecture under Bruce Rickard among others and has qualifications in aeronautical engineering, is reported as saying: ‘Take me on an architectural journey that I would not have taken alone’.
Photo by Brett Boardman
Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Pearl Beach House by Polly Harbison Design, Pearl Beach, NSW
Summary
Pearl Beach house is the realisation of the clients’ dream to build a bespoke, concrete sculpture in the bush, on a budget that demanded creative solutions.
The site is nestled amongst Burrawang scrubby woodland, rainforest species and ancient grass trees on the edge of Pearl Beach village.
Inspired by the patch of blue sky amongst the dense tree canopy, the heavy masonry form wraps around this clearing, elevating living areas to capture the sun.
Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Pearl Beach House by Polly Harbison Design, Pearl Beach, NSW
Summary
Pearl Beach house is the realisation of the clients’ dream to build a bespoke, concrete sculpture in the bush, on a budget that demanded creative solutions.
The site is nestled amongst Burrawang scrubby woodland, rainforest species and ancient grass trees on the edge of Pearl Beach village.
Inspired by the patch of blue sky amongst the dense tree canopy, the heavy masonry form wraps around this clearing, elevating living areas to capture the sun.
Photo by Brett Boardman
The carefully considered entry sequence defines the spatial arrangement of the building. This journey blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces to create connection to both bush and sky.
Off-form concrete is used judiciously, mixed with low-cost materials within a restrained palette. The predominance of grey textures enhances the homogenous, sculptural quality of the building, [while] considered bursts of colour in the ceramics and heavily grained timber ground the building in its bush surrounds.
The carefully considered entry sequence defines the spatial arrangement of the building. This journey blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces to create connection to both bush and sky.
Off-form concrete is used judiciously, mixed with low-cost materials within a restrained palette. The predominance of grey textures enhances the homogenous, sculptural quality of the building, [while] considered bursts of colour in the ceramics and heavily grained timber ground the building in its bush surrounds.
Photo by Brett Boardman
Client’s perspective
The everyday is elevated as we walk through rooms and experience, variations in light, mood and texture. Views of the bush have been selected and framed, which somehow feels more immersive.
It’s impossible not to smile wide when bathing outdoors in the elements. We feel part of what’s around us.
The experience of living in the space is transformational. The house works as a unified whole; spatially because of how easy it is to open up to the outdoors and visually because of the consistent palette of materials. It induces calm, it allows us to be still and reflective.
Client’s perspective
The everyday is elevated as we walk through rooms and experience, variations in light, mood and texture. Views of the bush have been selected and framed, which somehow feels more immersive.
It’s impossible not to smile wide when bathing outdoors in the elements. We feel part of what’s around us.
The experience of living in the space is transformational. The house works as a unified whole; spatially because of how easy it is to open up to the outdoors and visually because of the consistent palette of materials. It induces calm, it allows us to be still and reflective.
Photo by Brett Boardman
Jury citation
Siting and configuration of the Pearl Beach house deliver delight, retreat and a fulsome, private appreciation of its bush setting.
On a standard lot adjacent to a dense forest, the spatial arrangement invents a personalised experience with landscape elements – bush, sky and tree canopy – while solving the perennial suburban problem of shielding from the imposition of neighbours.
From afar, the austere, tower-like form conceals a finely crafted home. A noteworthy terrace achieves that rare architectural moment compelling one to pause, relax, exhale and admire – the sense of ease it generates is disarming.
Clever configurations, intelligent base materials, and the distribution of budget to unexpected areas such as the off-form concrete roof deliver a whole that imparts much more than the sum of its elements.
Jury citation
Siting and configuration of the Pearl Beach house deliver delight, retreat and a fulsome, private appreciation of its bush setting.
On a standard lot adjacent to a dense forest, the spatial arrangement invents a personalised experience with landscape elements – bush, sky and tree canopy – while solving the perennial suburban problem of shielding from the imposition of neighbours.
From afar, the austere, tower-like form conceals a finely crafted home. A noteworthy terrace achieves that rare architectural moment compelling one to pause, relax, exhale and admire – the sense of ease it generates is disarming.
Clever configurations, intelligent base materials, and the distribution of budget to unexpected areas such as the off-form concrete roof deliver a whole that imparts much more than the sum of its elements.
Photo by Brett Boardman
Achieved to a budget that is relatively attainable, Pearl Beach House is a masterful manipulation of the tension between severe hard materials and finely-crafted detailing that transcends what might otherwise be cold and brutal.
Polished concrete floors, exposed concrete blockwork, judicious use of timber and the application of a cementitious skim-coat render to plasterboard and joinery give the building a tactile and cohesive quality.
All in all, it is a modestly sized home that engages at a human scale.
Achieved to a budget that is relatively attainable, Pearl Beach House is a masterful manipulation of the tension between severe hard materials and finely-crafted detailing that transcends what might otherwise be cold and brutal.
Polished concrete floors, exposed concrete blockwork, judicious use of timber and the application of a cementitious skim-coat render to plasterboard and joinery give the building a tactile and cohesive quality.
All in all, it is a modestly sized home that engages at a human scale.
Photo by Brett Boardman
Your turn
Which of these homes appeals to you? Share your favourites in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
See the winners of the alterations and additions category here.
Your turn
Which of these homes appeals to you? Share your favourites in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
See the winners of the alterations and additions category here.
Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Bunkeren by James Stockwell Architect, Whitebridge, NSW
Summary
Whitebridge, near Newcastle, was famous in the 1800s for a 60-acre garden – Bulls Gardens. It was described at the time as a ‘botanic wonderland’ of a large variety of plants, visited by national and international guests. We collectively set out on this project with the idea of arriving at a garden and the coastal view.
The house bookends the garden as the headlands do the beach. A shared love of the wartime coastal bunkers in Europe and Australia and the climatic benefit derived of integration with the landscape meant the house is half buried for climatic stability, bushfire protection and increased habitat and biodiversity.
The house has hovering platforms of earth and planting, under which to shelter. The site is more landscape than house and the robustness of concrete endures the interaction with the surrounding geology and earth. The Danish client refers to the house as the ‘Bunkeren’.