The Victorian Pride Centre (VPC) took pride of place at the recent 2022 City of Port Phillip Design and Development Awards. The awards are held bi-annually by Port Phillip Council to recognise, encourage and celebrate great design in the City.
The VPC won the Public and Institutional Category and received a commendation in the Sustainability Category. Bearley Architects & Urbanists and Grant Amon Architects created this major civic building and landmark which reflects St Kilda’s rich history: a prominent location in the heart of Fitzroy St which has a history of alternative popular culture.
The Van Haandel Group’s Stokehouse, took home top honours for the Sustainability Category, thanks to achieving an impressive ‘Australian Excellence’ Green Star Design & As Built Rating in 2021 – a first for a fine-dining restaurant in the Southern Hemisphere. Sustainability features include a geothermal-hybrid system to heat and cool the facility by utilising the constant temperatures of the earth underground.
Joint winners were named in the Residential New Build Category – Richard Kerr Architecture for a skilfully designed contemporary family home where sliding doors reveal seamless connections to courtyard spaces and Coy Yiontis Architects for a stunning design including a living pavilion which allows winter light while controlling summer sun.
The Residential – Alteration or Addition Category award was won by McMahon and Nerlich Architects for the reinvention of a red brick home into a delightful contemporary space, complete with roof terrace.
HIP V. HYPE snagged the Multi-Unit and Mixed Use award with a townhouse featuring a striking street silhouette and Parks Victoria’s Albert Park Depot and Office (Harrison and White) won the Interior non-residential award for integrating a pavilion building with office functions, and providing the necessary security for industrial-like needs – all within a park setting.
A skilful reinvention of a Victorian residence which seamlessly connected the old and the new saw Robson Rak Architecture take out the Heritage Category.
The Strategy or Plan Category was awarded to the University of New South Wales for its work on cooling urban spaces which will be applied in South Melbourne and could be applicable across the whole municipality.
Mayor Marcus Pearl said the jury panel, which included Victorian Government Architect Jill Garner, was impressed by the high standard of entries, with 16 finalists selected across eight categories.
“Great design helps lift the liveability for everyone in our City by encouraging creativity, engendering a feeling of safety and creating sustainable spaces for a greener city,” said Cr Pearl. “We congratulate all the finalists – including the winners – for their creative contributions to our City.”
For more information and to view all of the finalists, visit: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: Victorian Pride Centre – courtesy of City of Port Phillip