Purpose & Background

An initiative of Architecture Australia, the national magazine of the Australian Institute of Architects, the AA Prize promotes debate about architecture and architectural ideas by recognizing excellence in unbuilt projects. It offers an opportunity to discuss architectural works at the conceptual stage, and recognizes projects that might contribute to the development of architectural discourse in Australia. From 2010, the prize will addresses a particular theme each year.

This annual program builds on the success of the earlier AA Prize for Unbuilt Work, offered in the 1990s. While this prize recognized well-known practitioners, it also brought younger, then unknown architects to national attention. Many of these “unknowns” have gone on to become important figures in Australian architecture. As with its predecessor, the new program has become be an important stepping stone for industry leaders of the future. Architecture Media, through Architecture Australia is very pleased to bring this important work to the attention of the architectural community.

We have now develop the prize further. From 2010 the AA Prize for Unbuilt Work will address a different theme each year. We still want a very broad range of entries – from the polemical and speculative to the seriously buildable, from massive urban propositions to tiny yet thoughtful interventions. However, now we are also asking Australian architects to focus their experimental, imaginative abilities through particular themes. This will build strong bodies of work addressing topics of particular interest and import.

The 2010 AA Prize for Unbuilt Work is presented in partnership with ISIS.

Entry Submissions

Register here for the 2010 AA Prize for Unbuilt Work.

Eligibility

Architects, architectural graduates, architectural students, interior designers, other built environment professionals and all members of the Australian Institute of Architects are invited to submit eligible projects.

Unbuilt architectural projects proposed for or about Australia are eligible for the AA Prize. International projects are eligible if undertaken by Australian-based practitioners or by members of the Australian Institute of Architects (no matter where they are based).

Entries are encouraged from individuals, groups, partnerships and those working in larger practices.

Entered projects must be unbuilt as of 8 October 2010.

Entries can be proposals that are intended to be built, or they may be theoretical explorations that exist on paper or in electronic format.

Entries can be for works of any scale: large-scale urban and landscape projects, discrete architectural projects, small interventions, etc.

Recognition

One overall award, with a cash prize of $3,000.

The jury may make honourable mentions at their discretion.

Winning projects will be published in the January/February 2011 issue of Architecture Australia, online at www.architectureaustralia.com, and in other Architecture Media publications such as Artichoke and Architectural Product News.

Award winners will receive a certificate and use of the AA Prize for Unbuilt Work logo for printed and promotional materials (on request).

The Awards will be announced at an invitation-only cocktail party.

Architecture Media

Architecture Media is the leading specialist publisher for the design industry in Australasia. An associate company of the Australian Institute of Architects, Architecture Media is a prominent supporter of the design community in both Australia and New Zealand. Through Architecture Australia (the national magazine of the Australian Institute of Architects), Artichoke (the official magazine of the DIA), Landscape Architecture Australia (the official magazine of the AILA), the suite of Houses magazines and Architectural Product News and similar publications under the AGM Publishing mark in New Zealand, Architecture Media presents the best Australian and New Zealand design to the world.