Residential Architecture – Houses (Multiple Housing) The Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing category recognises achievement in the design of projects which are residential in nature and which include two or more self-
contained dwellings (whether or not the building includes uses for other purposes).
Cathi Colla FRAIA Juror
Sarah Buckeridge FRAIA Jury chair
Liam Eastop RAIA Juror
Jury chair report The jury was impressed by the quality and diversity of projects and shortlisted approximately half of the twenty entries, which enabled us to experience a cross section of typologies and scales. These ranged from new prototypes which seek to densify traditionally low-density suburbs, to inventive mid-rise solutions for our inner suburbs and regional cities, through to central city high-density towers. While responding to varied budgets and resident needs, unifying themes were evident around creating healthy communities and embedding genuine liveability within multi-residential projects. Occupation of many of the commercial and retail spaces was yet to be fully realised; however, activation opportunities were evident in carefully curated communal spaces and through celebration of arrival and circulation spaces encouraging engagement with neighbours. Sustainability initiatives frequently addressed both the environmental performance and resilience of the building fabric but also prioritised resident wellbeing and social sustainability.
It was challenging to separate the shortlisted group of accomplished and technically complex projects. The abundant liveability and level of resolution of the apartments in Australia 108, Fitzroy House, 17 Union Street and Nightingale Ballarat deserve special mention. Ultimately five projects were recognised within a strong field, each adopting an experimental approach to resolving the challenges posed by their sites and typologies. These projects all demonstrated highly skilled analysis of their sites and contribution to the wider context, while keeping the resident experience at the forefront. The experience of the last two years has highlighted the importance of housing as essential social infrastructure in supporting individual and community wellbeing. Perhaps most rewarding to see was how transformative well-designed housing can be for residents. The jury congratulates the shortlisted and awarded projects for the positive impact demonstrated by the diverse housing models that were presented this year.
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