A hidden hilltop retreat, a new home that engages with its heritage context using imaginative brickwork, and a multi-residential apartment complex centred on community and self-sufficiency, were among the winners of this year’s Houses Awards, an annual celebration of Australia’s best residential design.
There were winners in eight categories, with one project receiving the premier accolade of Australian House of the Year. For the first time ever, all states were represented in the shortlist.
A sight to behold, the Invisible House by Peter Stutchbury Architecture was named Australian House of the Year. The judges said: “There is something absolutely Australian about this project, not just its connection to an undeniably spectacular setting, but also its modesty, clarity, resourcefulness and consequential delight. Being (another) rural retreat with a jaw-dropping view, this project needed to convince the jury that all the moves made to create it are in harmony with its location, and that it is a great piece of architecture in its own right, and this it has.”
We think the category winners are all pretty amazing:
New House under 200 m²
Dogtrot House by Dunn and Hillam Architects NSW
New House over 200 m²
Invisible House by Peter Stutchbury Architecture NSW
House Alteration & Addition under 200 m²
Cabin 2 by Maddison Architects VIC
House Alteration & Addition over 200 m²
Skylight House by Andrew Burges Architects NSW
Apartment or Unit
Loft Apartment West Melbourne by Adrian Amore Architects VIC
House in a Heritage Context (joint winner)
Middle Park House by Jackson Clements Burrows VIC
and
Westgarth House by Kennedy Nolan VIC
Sustainability
The Commons by Breathe Architecture VIC
Outdoor
The Garden Project by Welsh + Major Architects NSW
The jurors for 2014 were: Brian Donovan, principal, BVN Donovan Hill (QLD), Maggie Edmond, founding director, Edmond and Corrigan (VIC), William Smart, creative director, Smart Design Studio (NSW), Emma Williamson, co-founder, CODA (WA), and Katelin Butler, editor, Houses magazine (VIC). Architectural advice in the heritage category was provided by Peter Williams of Williams Boag Architects on behalf of the Heritage Council of Victoria.
