AA - Steel Architecture - November/December 2009

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Jury Overview

Public Architecture
Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture National Portrait Gallery, Johnson Pilton Walker Award for Public Architecture All Saints Primary School, Candalepas Associates Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, Architectus Melbourne Commendation for Public Architecture The University of Sydney Faculty of Law, Library and Teaching Complex, FJMT

Residential Architecture

Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses
Freshwater House, Chenchow Little Architects
Award for Residential Architecture – Houses
Zac’s House, Neeson Murcutt Architects
Whale Beach House, Neeson Murcutt Architects
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses
Arm End House, Stuart Tanner Architects
Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple
Balencea Apartments, Wood Marsh Architecture in association with Sunland Design
Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple
Pindari, Candalepas Associates
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple
Apartments in Cottesloe, Blane Brackenridge

Heritage Architecture
Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, Conservation of the Fabric, Falkinger Andronas, Architects, Heritage Consultants Award for Heritage 4 Wiston Gardens, Luigi Rosselli

Commercial Architecture
Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture Ivy, Woods Bagot with Merivale Group and Hecker Phelan & Guthrie Award for Commercial Architecture Bendigo Bank Headquarters, BVN Architecture and Gray Puksand Headquarters Sussan Sportsgirl, Durbach Block Architects Commendation for Commercial Architecture Hassell Warry Street Studio, Hassell

Interior Architecture
Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre Project, ARM Award for Interior Architecture National Portrait Gallery, Johnson Pilton Walker Commendation for Interior Architecture Jane Foss Russell Building, University of Sydney, John Wardle Architects in association with Wilson Architects and GHD

Urban Design
Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design Armory Wharf Precinct, Hargreaves Associates, Lahz Nimmo Architects and Lacoste + Stevenson Architects Award for Urban Design Ivy, Woods Bagot with Merivale Group and Hecker Phelan & Guthrie Commendation for Urban Design Rundle Lantern, BB Architects

International Architecture
Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture TKTS Booth and Redevelopment of Duffy Square, New York, Choi Ropiha, Perkins Eastman, PKSB Award for International Architecture Qatar Science and Technology Park, Woods Bagot

Enduring Architecture
25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Yuncken Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson, and Gregory Burgess Architect

Small Project Architecture
Award for Small Project Architecture Polygreen, Bellemo & Cat Ang House, Chenchow Little Architects

Sustainable Architecture
Award for Sustainable Architecture VS1/SA Water, Hassell Commendation for Sustainable Architecture Bendigo Bank Headquarters, BVN Architecture and Gray Puksand Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA), Smart Design Studio

Steel Architecture
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture Snowy Mountains House, James Stockwell Architect
	Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture

The Critics Respond
Philip Goad and Fiona Nixon contemplate what it all means

COMMENT
Foreword
Reflection
Practice

STEEL ARCHITECTURE

Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture

Snowy Mountains House
James Stockwell Architect

JURY CITATION

Rugged – bleak – windswept – alpine: the Snowy Mountains is one extremity of Australia, favoured for skiing in winter and enjoyed as pristine wooded wilderness in summer. Generous sites overlooking Lake Eucumbene, with views towards the main range, have long been favoured for second homes.
James Stockwell’s commission – to create a robust, economical house for an extended family – carefully addresses climatic extremes, simple maintenance and sustainable objectives. It has its origins in simple alpine huts and basic ski lodges, but here delivered with a straightforward finesse. The fundamental concept of a Nissen hut is literally elevated to a new plane, with angular buttresses bracing (and strapping down) the building to a shaped concrete base. Construction and appearance are reduced to fundamentals: externally, off-form concrete, and corrugated and sheet galvanized steel; and internally, polished concrete floors, plywood-clad walls and ripple-iron ceilings in Colorbond. The curved vault defines the living space and the major views between splayed buttresses to the west, with basic yet attractive service areas and bedrooms along a spine to the east.
The house responds appropriately to the extreme factors of wind, snow and ground chill. Rainwater is collected and stored for household use and fire fighting, a very effective fuel stove warms the living room and provides both hot water and underfloor heating, and solar panels cleverly positioned in the external wall plane generate electricity. The house combines autonomy with reasonable construction cost, minimum maintenance and good longevity, achieving excellent sustainable credentials.

Architect
James Stockwell Architect

Structural consultant
John Carrick

Builder
Lindsay Wild

Photographer
Patrick Bingham-Hall