Phoenix House in Port Macquarie, by Chris Jenkins Design, has tied for first place in the People’s Choice Award as part of this year’s Australian Institute of Architects’ NSW Country Division Awards.
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Following a huge public response to the 19 entries the result came down to the wire and ended in a dead heat at close of voting.
The Phoenix House project tied with Surf Coast House by Ian Sercombe Architect as the most popular project with the public.
A second project entered by Chris Jenkins Design, the Town Beach Public Amenities, received a commendation from the panel of expert industry judges in the Public and Commercial Architecture award category.
The judges praised the project for recasting ‘this simple public facility as an iconic and site-appropriate meeting place for the residents of Port Macquarie’ saying ‘the response to location and a stringent budget extend on the client’s brief creating a building which will prove an aesthetic and functional investment for years to come.’
Phoenix House is particularly notable for the way in which design was used to overcome the challenges of building in a flame-zone environment on a site that would otherwise have been impossible to build on.
NSW Chapter President Shaun Carter congratulated the award winners, noting that people’s understanding and appreciation of the benefits great design can bring to country areas is increasing.
‘Living outside a metropolitan centre doesn’t mean settling for second-class design,’ Mr Carter said.
‘With technological innovation and infrastructure improvements, communities in country areas have greater access to the good architects and good architecture than ever before.
‘As these winning projects demonstrate, architects working in regional areas can craft a design that responds sensitively to the site and deliver a high degree of local environmental amenity.
‘The result is buildings with aesthetic integrity and authenticity that embrace sustainability, functionality and beauty to deliver real benefits.’
The award winners were announced at the NSW Country Division’s Annual Conference on 29 September 2016. A complete list is below.
The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 12,000 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design.
Full list of winning projects by award category:
People’s Choice
Winners (tied) - Phoenix House by Chris Jenkins Design and Surf Coast House by Ian Sercombe Architect
Heritage
Winner - Mayne Street – Gulgong by Cameron Anderson Architects
Public and Commercial Architecture
Winner -Dorrigo Health and Wellbeing Medical Centre – Dorrigo by Regional Architects Pty Ltd
Commendation - Town Beach Public Amenities – Port Macquarie by Chris Jenkins Design
Residential Architecture – Affordable Housing (under $350,000)
Winner - Wingello House – Wingello by Ian Sercombe Architect
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)
Winner - Surf Coast House – Blueys Beach by Ian Sercombe Architect
Commendation - Tom and Doll’s – Byron Bay by Space Studio
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Winner - Gull House – Byron Bay by Harley Graham Architects
Small Projects
Winner - Light Wave – Byron Bay by Harley Graham Architects
Commendation - Broken Head Studio – Broken Head by Harley Graham Architects
Termimesh Award
Winner -Dorrigo Health and Wellbeing Medical Centre – Dorrigo by Regional Architects Pty Ltd
