2018 Australian Urban Design Awards announced

A new community and cultural precinct, a dynamic regional hospital and an inner-city design quality guide were among the winners of the 2018 Australian Urban Design Awards (AUDA).

Presented at a ceremony in Sydney on Thursday 25 October, the Australian Urban Design Awards were established to recognize “contemporary Australian urban design projects of the highest quality and to encourage cities, towns and communities across the country to strive for best practice in all projects.” Eleven entries were recognized across four categories, with five entries being named winners.

Taking out the Built Projects – City and Regional Scale category was the Bendigo Hospital Project by Silver Thomas Hanley with Bates Smart and Oculus. It was recognized by the jury for its rethinking of the design of health facilities. “[The project] goes beyond convention by creating a precinct that engages with heritage and celebrates the cultural and ecological character of the region.” the jury noted.

The Former South Sydney Hopsital Site – Stage 1 by City of Sydney with Peter Stutchbury Architecture, Design5, JMD, Sprout, CAB, Fox Johnston, Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture and CHROFI was named one of the winners of the Built Projects – Local and Neighbourhood Scale category, with the jury impressed by the transformation of a formerly impenetrable area into a vibrant, open and accessible precinct. “The integration of carefully curated “installations” with a collection of heritage buildings gives the community a platform for enjoying new activities and celebrating the history of inner-city Sydney,” the jury said of the project.

Winning the Leadership, Advocacy and Research – City and Regional Scale category were the Central Melbourne Design Guide and the Level Crossing Removal Authority Urban Design Framework, both from Victoria.

On the 2018 AUDA jury were Amy Child (Arup transport and urban planner), Helen Lochhead (UNSW Built Environment dean), James Cahill (Mirvac ESD engineer), Malcolm Snow (City Renewal Authority CEO), Melinda Payne (Government Architect Western Australia associate), Neil Savery (Australian Building Codes Board CEO) and William Chandler (Chandler Consulting Services director).

The projects, initiatives and policies recognized at this year’s awards were spread across four states, with two of the six built projects located in regional or rural areas.

The recipients are:

Built projects – city and regional scale

Winner

Bendigo Hospital Project (Bendigo, Victoria) – Silver Thomas Hanley with Bates Smart and Oculus

Commendation

Darling Harbour Transformation (Sydney, New South Wales) – Hassell / Hassell and Populous

Barangaroo South (Sydney, New South Wales) – Aspect Oculus, Lendlease, Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners

Built projects – local and neighbourhood scale

Winner

Main Street Barcaldine (Barcaldine, Queensland) – M3 Architecture and Brian Hooper Architect (architects in association)

Former South Sydney Hospital Site – Stage 1 (Green Square, New South Wales) – City of Sydney with Peter Stutchbury Architecture, Design5, JMD, Sprout, CAB, Fox Johnston, Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture and CHROFI

Commendation

Railway Square (Midland, Western Australia) – Place Laboratory

Leadership, advocacy and research – city and regional scale

Winner

Central Melbourne Design Guide (Melbourne, Victoria) – City of Melbourne

Level Crossing Removal Authority Urban Design Framework (Melbourne, Victoria) – Level Crossing Removal Authority

Commendation

Urban Choreography: Central Melbourne 1985 – (Melbourne, Victoria) – Kim Dovey, Rob Adams and Ronald Jones

Leadership, advocacy and research – local and neighbourhood scale

Commendation

West Melbourne Structure Plan (Melbourne, Victoria) – City of Melbourne

The Living Knowledge Stream Design Guidance for Curtin University (Bentley, Western Australia) – Syrinx Environmental, Sync7 and Noel Nannup

The Australian Urban Design Awards are organized by Architecture Media and convened by the Planning Institute of Australia with the support of the Australian Institute of Architects, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, the Green Building Council of Australia, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Consult Australia, Engineers Australia, the Urban Design Forum and the Government Architects Network Australia.

The awards are supported by principal partner Cement and Concrete Aggregates Australia and supporting partners Cosentino and Holcim.