On Friday night I went to the presentation night for the Australian Institute of Architects WA Architecture Awards with The Orchard stylist Meghan Plowman.
The Awards were held in one of our city’s most well-known works of modernist architecture, the Perth Concert Hall, and it was a fantastic night of champagne, beautiful photos of inspiring architecture and delicious food. I even got to meet the Dulux dog.
ABOVE LEFT: Red carpet doggy! And of course I am clutching food :-| I think this one was spaghetti carbonara. ABOVE TOP RIGHT: Perth Arena by ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol – Joint Venture Architects Photo John Gollings. BOTTOM RIGHT: The Orchard Stylist Meghan Plowman and I. Yes, I had drunk champagne and appear to be overly fond of my box of Hungarian goulash. Never mind.
The Perth Arena by ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol - Joint Venture Architects took out the highest overall honour, the George Temple Poole Award. The judges called it an iconic piece of public infrastructure that has captured the imagination of the general public and delivers outstanding functionality. I think it kind of looks like a Transformer.
The Perth Arena, by ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol - Joint Venture Architects. Photo Greg Hocking.
“Visually the Perth Arena is a building that delivers an aesthetic unlike anything previously existing in Western Australia, and regardless of whether it is revered or reviled, it generates enormous interest and stands as an outstanding example of what architects contribute to the built environment,” they said.
I have to admit when it was going up, I really didn’t like it. But now, and perhaps like many Perthians, I think it is growing on me a little. You have to admit, there is something fun and playful about it. Maybe a building like this is just what Perth needs. A very funny girl I know cracked me up when she wrote as her Facebook status: “I like driving past that big pink exclamation mark on the side of the Arena. It makes me feel like I'm in MarioKart and I hear that rainbow box noise in my head the second I pass it.”
And maybe in 50 years, we will all adore it – just like the Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower when it was first built and now they cherish it. In the gentle sunset of the evenings, couples will link arms and stroll around it, all romantic-like. Ok maybe not. Hey, the Bell Tower has grown on us. Although the Convention Centre still makes my eyes bleed a little.
The Perth Arena took home three other awards and Brookfield Place by HASSELL and Fitzpatrick + Partners also did particularly well, taking out three awards.
Brookfield Place by HASSELL and Fitzpatrick + Partners. Photo Peter Bennetts
Meghan and I drank champagne and ate way too much not enough Hungarian goulash, arancini balls and mini quiches.
For a house nerd like me, watching award presentations like these is as fun as watching the Oscars, with photos of all the beautiful entries flashing up on the giant screen. But why are architects now designing so many beautiful high school buildings and kindergartens? My high school sure didn’t have any incredible architecture. (But when I was very little I did actually go to a very cool kindergarten in Melville that was silver with a dome-shaped roof that made it look like an alien spacecraft. Does anyone know the building I’m talking about? It’s since been torn down and the Kindergarten House Nerd in me always thinks it was such a shame. I thought it was amazing).
Anyway it was very cool to see all the work that’s been completed in my home city this past year. There were so many amazing public buildings and wonderful works of house porn. I came home to The Crap Shack, looked at it and cried. Ok I didn’t really. I sort of just fell into a champagne coma.
One of my faves. An old Fremantle home with a beautiful rear addition. I love this. Jonathan Lake Architects. Photo: Robert Frith of Acorn Photo.
Jonathan Lake Architects. Photo: Robert Frith of Acorn Photo.
Fremantle Additions by Jonathan Lake Architects. Photo Robert Frith Acorn Photo
Check out the winners below and tell me your favourites - one of mine was Jonathon Lake Architects Fremantle Addition (pictured above) Or tell me if there are any houses that you might like to see more of on House Nerd. I have one of these homes coming up on the blog soon and it’s gorgeous! Maya x
THE WINNING PROJECTS
GEORGE TEMPLE POOLE AWARD
Perth Arena by ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol – Joint Venture Architects
The Perth Arena by ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol – Joint Venture Architects. Photo John Gollings.
The Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture – Perth Arena by ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol – Joint Venture Architects
Architecture Award - Baldivis Secondary College by JCY Architects and Urban Designers
Baldivis Secondary College by JCY Architects and Urban Designers. Photo Damien Hatton
Architecture Award - The Office of the Premier and Cabinet Room by Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland
The Office of the Premier and Cabinet Room by Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland. Photo Alison Paine
Architecture Award - West Kimberley Regional Prison by TAG Architects iredale pedersen hook architects Architects in Association
West Kimberley Regional Prison by TAG Architects iredale pedersen hook architects Architects in Association. Photo Peter Bennetts
Commendation - All Saints’ College Performing Arts Theatre by Parry & Rosenthal Architects
Commendation - Guildford Grammar School Catalyst Building by CHRISTOU Design Group Pty Ltd
Commendation - Dongara District High School by Bateman Architects in association with Design Inc
Guildford Grammar School Catalyst Building by CHRISTOU Design Group Pty Ltd. Photo Robert Frith
The Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture - Campbell House by Kerry Hill Architects
Campbell House by Kerry Hill Architects. Photo Angus Martin
Architecture Award - Forrest Street Residence by Chindarsi Architects and Osnat Harlap
Forrest Street Residence by Chindarsi Architects and Osnat Harlap. Photo Emma Van Dordrecht
Architecture Award – Ingemar by Kerry Hill Architects
Ingemar by Kerry Hill Architects. Photo Angus Martin
Commendation - A Suburban Beach House by David Barr and Ross Brewin - Architects in Association
A Suburban Beach House by David Barr and Ross Brewin - Architects in Association. Photo Nic Montagu
Commendation - Dress Circle Residence by Optimum Resource Architects
Dress Circle Residence by Optimum Resource Architects. Photo Acorn Photo Agency
Commendation - Quindalup House by Banham Architects
Quindalup House by Banham Architects. Photo Wyatt Davies
The Peter Overman Award for Residential Architecture -Alterations + Additions - Fremantle Additions by Jonathan Lake Architects
Fremantle Addition, Jonathan Lake Architects. Photo Robert Frith of Acorn Photo.
Architecture Award – Claremont House by Pendal and Neille
Claremont House by Pendal and Neille. Photo John Madden
Commendation - Paddington Street by Mountford Architects
Paddington Street by Mountford Architects. Photo Stephen Nicholls
The Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Residential - Lime Street by Formworks Architecture
Lime Street by Formworks Architecture. Photo Robert Frith
Commendation - Fitzgerald Street Housing Development by JCY Architects and Urban Designers
Commendation - Building for Diversity by CODA Studio
Commendation - East Kimberley Development Package Transitional Housing for the Department of Housing by iredale pedersen hook architects
Commendation - Stockdale Lodge by Bernard Seeber Pty Ltd
The Margaret Pitt Morison Award for Heritage - Brookfield Place by HASSELL and Palassis Architects
Brookfield Place by HASSELL and Fitzpatrick + Partners. Photo Peter Bennetts
Architecture Award – St George’s College – Chapel & Dining Hall by Palassis Architects
St George’s College – Chapel & Dining Hall by Palassis Architects. Photo Andrew Pritchard
Commendation - WA Ballet Centre – Former WA Institute for the Blind by Sandover Pinder Architects
Commendation - The Office of the Premier and Cabinet Room by Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland
Another of my favourite entries! WA Ballet Centre – Former WA Institute for the Blind by Sandover Pinder Architects. Photo Jon Green
The John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design - Brookfield Place by HASSELL and Fitzpatrick + Partners
Architecture Award – Old Port of Arthur Head Reserve Upgrade by Donaldson+Warn Architects
Commendation - West Kimberley Regional Prison by TAG Architects iredale pedersen hook architects Architects in Association
West Kimberley Regional Prison by TAG Architects iredale pedersen hook architects Architects in Association. Photo Peter Bennetts
The Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for Commercial Architecture - Brookfield Place by HASSELL and Fitzpatrick + Partners
Architecture Award – MG/GT Administration Building by CODA Studio and Mark Phillips Architect
Architecture Award – Shiro Izakaya Restaurant Pavillion by The Buchan Group – Perth
Commendation - 28 Troode Street by The Buchan Group - Perth
Old Port of Arthur Head Reserve Upgrade by Donaldson+Warn Architects. Photo Martin Farquharson
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture - John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) Kindergarten – Beechboro Campus by Brooking Design Architects
John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) Kindergarten – Beechboro Campus by Brooking Design Architects. Photo Heather Robbins of Red Images Fine Photography
Architecture Award – Perth Arena by ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol - Joint Venture Architects
Architecture Award – All Saints’ College Performing Arts Theatre by Parry & Rosenthal Architects
All Saints’ College Performing Arts Theatre by Parry & Rosenthal Architects. Photo Robert Frith
Architecture Award – The Office of the Premier and Cabinet Room by Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland
Commendation - The Merrywell by Taylor Robinson
Commendation - BHP Billiton Workplace by HASSELL
Commendation - 0722 I Cedar House by Craig Steere Architects
The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Projects - Kings Park Education by Donaldson+Warn Architects
Kings Park Education by Donaldson+Warn Architects. Photo DMax Photography
Architecture Award – Fremantle Additions by Jonathan Lake Architects
Architecture Award – Perth Zoo Entry Upgrade by Chindarsi Architects
Commendation – Coghlan Road by Klopper & Davis Architects
Commendation – The Deck – Café Lounge by The Buchan Group – Perth
I also loved this one... Coghlan Road by Klopper & Davis Architects. Photo Jody D'Arcy
The Wallace Greenham Award for Sustainable Architecture - West Kimberley Regional Prison by TAG Architect iredale pedersen hook architects Architects in Association
This prison is fancier than my high school... West Kimberley Regional Prison by TAG Architects iredale pedersen hook architects Architects in Association. Photo Peter Bennetts
Architecture Award – one2six ashton by Sorensen Architects
one2six ashton by Sorensen Architects. Photo Tim Swallow
Commendation – Baldivis Secondary College by JCY Architects and Urban Designers
COLORBOND® AWARD FOR STEEL ARCHITECTURE - Perth Arena by ARM Architecture & Cameron Chisholm Nicol - Joint Venture Architects
Commendation – ECU Joondalup Rain Screen by T & Z Architects
I really like this. ECU Joondalup Rain Screen by T & Z Architects. Photo Robert Frith
Campbell House by Kerry Hill Architects.
