2016 ACT Architecture Awards: Lahznimmo's Bowen Place Crossing takes top gong

A pedestrian underpass that combines style and functionality has been awarded the territory’s top architecture gong.

Lahznimmo Architects won the coveted Canberra Medallion for the Bowen Place Crossing at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2016 ACT Architecture Awards on Saturday.

Construction of the $10 million project began in early 2014.

The new Bowen Place Crossing was unveiled in September, 2015 to the delight of cyclists, runners and walkers who for years had dodged traffic while completing the popular Lake Burley Griffin basin loop.

The project, which was also awarded the Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, was acknowledged for its successful competition procurement process and design-led outcome, according to the awards jury.

“The foresight to imagine the scope and possibility for an urban landscape element of poetic scale and enduring contribution, adjoining Lake Burley Griffin in the central national area, is the key to the success of the intervention,” the citation read.

The crossing was among a string of award-winning projects recognised for outstanding commercial, residential, historical and sustainable architecture.

Canberra’s new Airport Hotel by Bates Smart collected a number of accolades including the Commercial Architecture award, Interior Architecture award and the Light in Architecture Prize.

This year’s competition also dispelled the myth that great architecture can only be created on a big budget.

Cox Architecture’s King House won the Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award for new residential house architecture.

The jury described the building as “an exceptionally clever house that maximises amenity and functionality on a tight site with a tight budget”.

“It demonstrates how, with good design, one can build a highly liveable house filled with light, joy and outlook within a compact footprint.”

Another Cox Architecture project, Westside Acton, picked up the Sustainable Architecture award.

The $1 million lakeside shipping container village has drawn mixed reviews since opening to the public in March 2015, however Chief Minister Andrew Barr has defended the site as popular among a younger demographic.

The ACT government has since engaged Canberra startup Damsel and Sprout to “reactivate” the pop-up village.

Wild Street House by Adhami Pender Architecture won the People’s Choice award, beating 13 other homes for the popular prize.

The annual awards, established in 1961, attracted 46 entries this year.

ACT Chapter president Rob Henry said the winners reflected a recent “revival” of Canberra architecture.

“ACT architecture has seen a revival in the past few years with some world-class projects coming to fruition,” he said.

“It is an exciting time to see the role the profession can play in making Canberra’s spaces better for locals and visitors alike.”

Award winners will progress to the National Architecture Awards, announced in November.

2016 ACT Architecture Award winners:

Canberra Medallion – Bowen Place Crossing by Lahznimmo Architects

Commercial Architecture

Award – 48 Macquarie Street by Guida​ Moseley Brown Architects

Award – Ben Chifley Building by Francis-Jones Morehen​ Thorp

Award – Canberra Airport Hotel by Bates Smart

Educational Architecture

Enrico Taglietti​ Award – St John Paul II College by Collins Caddaye​ Architects

Award – Australian Defence Force Academy – New Indoor Sports Centre by HDR | Rice Daubney​

Award – Australian Defence Force Academy – Auditorium by HDR | Rice Daubney​

Enduring Architecture

Award – Rivendell by Laurie Virr, 1975

Heritage

J S Murdoch Award – ANU – Florey Building by CCJ Architects

Commendation – Ainslie Arts Centre by Philip Leeson Architects

Interior Architecture

W Hayward Award – Ben Chifley Building by Francis-Jones Morehen​ Thorp

Award – Canberra Airport Hotel by Bates Smart

Commendation – TJ House by Ben Walker Architects (interiors) and Dezignteam​ (base building)

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Award – Flanagan Lewis House by Arquitectura​

Award – LF House by Ben Walker Architects

Award – Clerestory House by Rob Henry Architects

Commendation – Campbell House by Philip Leeson Architects

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award – King House by Cox Architecture

Commendation – Claire’s House by Light House Architecture and Science

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Award – Common Ground Housing by Collins Caddaye​ Architects

Commendation – Element by Cox Architecture

Small Project Architecture

Award – AG House by Ben Walker Architects

Sustainable Architecture

Award – Westside Acton by Cox Architecture

Urban Design

Sir John Overall Award – Bowen Place Crossing by Lahznimmo Architects

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

Winner – TJ House by Ben Walker Architects (interiors) and Dezignteam​ (base building)

Other Prizes

Art in Architecture Award – Kim Harvey School of Dance by Clarke Keller

Light in Architecture Prize – Canberra Airport Hotel by Bates Smart

Mervyn Willoughby-Thomas Renovation Award Winner – Sunny Room Additions by Allan Spira Architects

President’s Medal – Alastair Swayn

Clem Cummings Medal – Harris Hobbs Landscapes

Emerging Architect Prize – Erin Hinton

Architectural Professional of the Year Prize – Dean McPherson

ACT Chapter Student Medallion – Will Headland

Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Graduate Prize – Will Headland

John Redmond Prize – Ursula Embry

Cox Architecture Student Design Prize:

Postgraduate Commendation – Wooden Housing Complex by Stewart Youngblutt

Undergraduate Prize – Outside In by Chloe Yin

Undergraduate Commendation – Dickson Mixed Use Apartment by Brenton Reis

Undergraduate Commendation – Residential, Dickson by Billy Ileris