The Victorian Architecture Awards are part of the Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards program. All state named award and architecture award winners progress to the National pool of entries for National Architecture Awards. Three tiers of recognition are given in each state and nationally. NAMED AWARDS ARCHITECTURE AWARDS COMMENDATIONS The Victorian named awards in each category are: Harold Desbrowe Annear Award for Residential Architecture The career of Harold Desbrowe Annear(1865-1933), in the late 19th century and early decades of the 20th century epitomised much that is desirable in the residential work of this country – a keen appreciation of local conditions, a firm commitment to quality in design and execution and a poetic vision of the future and its possibilities. He is remembered as one of those who consistently sought to advance the art of architecture and the standing of architects. Annear’s Chadwick House is one of the most important homes in the history of 20th century Australian architecture. Best Overend Award for Residential - Multiple Housing Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design Thank you to Bryce Raworth for allowing his citations to be used in this way.
The highest accolade awarded in each category is a ‘named award’. Each ‘named award’ bears the name of an architect whose contribution in a specialist area is still highly regarded. There is only one winner of the ‘named award’ in each category in any year at state level and only one winner of the ‘named award’ in each category in any year at National level.
Architecture Awards are awarded in each category to projects of excellence which demonstrate consummate architectural skill that contributes to the advancement of architecture in Victoria.
Commendations are awarded in each category to projects of special merit which demonstrate significant architectural skill.
Sir Osborne McCutcheon Award for Commercial Architecture Sir Osborne McCutcheon (1899-1981) was one of Victoria’s great twentieth century architects who rose to early prominence as a partner at Bates Smart McCutcheon. He remained a the pinnacle of the profession until his retirement. McCutcheon was respected as an architect of great substance; a champion of modernism and the head of Melbourne’s longest lived firm. One of his noted buildings is Wilson Hall at the University of Melbourne. John George Knight Award for Heritage Architecture John George Knight (1824-92) was a London born architect who became a prominent member of Melbourne’s nineteenth century architectural profession. Knight was devoted to the study of materials, workmanship and fine design. He was admired for his commonsense and resource and was particularly renowned as an authority on building stones. Parliament House is one of his buildings which epitomises the lofty ideals of ninteenth century civic architecture. Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture Marion Mahony (1871-1961) trained in the office of Frank Lloyd Wright, becoming responsible for Wright’s interior design and furnishing. Mahony was extraordinary in her ability to evolve and resolve complex designs and decorative schemes and to express these clearly and beautifully through her exquisite drafting. As the wife and partner of Walter Burley Griffin and head of his Sydney office she played a vital role in the evolution of many of the firm’s major designs in Australia. The Capital Theatre in Melbourne is a noted piece of Mahony’s work which is a crowning architectural achievement in the twenty years after Federation. William Wardell Award for Public Architecture William Wardell (1823-99) was the head of the Victorian Public works department through its heyday: 1872 – 76. He left his mark on the public buildings of almost every town in Victoria. Wardell was also one of the key private architectural practitioners in Australia in the 19th century with an unsurpassed reputation in ecclesiastical design. Government House is one of Wardell’s noted buildings and with its classically detailed tower, provides an important landmark in the city’s skyline south of the Yarra River.
