The WA Museum Boola Bardip has been awarded the most esteemed accolade, the George Temple Poole Award, at the Australian Institute of Architects 2021 WA Architecture Awards.
The project architects Hassell + OMA were announced as the recipients via the virtual Presentation Evening on Friday, June 11. Located in Perth’s Cultural Centre on Whadjuk Nyoongar land, the jury described the design as a superb facility for Western Australians to both understand and celebrate their special place in the world.
The jury commended the connection of the highly significant existing buildings to new volumes, assisting the museum to unfold in a series of exciting spatial experiences, and predicted the museum will soon be recognised as a design of national and international significance. ‘Boola Bardip means ‘many stories’ in Nyoongar language.
The Museum reflects a care for the shared cultural heritage of all Western Australians,’ said the 2021 WA Architecture Awards Chair of Juries John Taylor. ‘In dealing with the constraints of the site, the architects have made a wider urban design contribution – providing vital activation and renewal of the Perth Cultural Centre,’ he said.
In addition to the prestigious George Temple Poole Award, the WA Museum Boola Bardip was recognised with The John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design and The Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture, as well as a Commendation in the Heritage Architecture and Bluescope Colorbond Steel Architecture Categories. Amongst an exceptionally high calibre of heritage entries, Farmers’ Home Hotel Northam by spaceagency architects took out the Margaret Pitt Morison Award for Heritage Architecture.
The jury commended the way period elements were sensitively celebrated, with revitalised amenity and features acknowledging the place’s historic themes. Both the Strawberry Hill/Barmup Visitor Orientation Hub, Albany by PTX Architects, and Warders Hotel & Emily Taylor by Matthew Crawford Architects were recipients of Architecture Awards in the Heritage category.
Large scale educational facilities were also celebrated, with EZONE UWA by Hassell receiving The Hillson Beasley Award for Educational Architecture, as well as an Architecture Award in the Sustainable Architecture category. The project was acknowledged for its consideration of key sustainability principles, including solar orientation, natural ventilation and thermal performance to set a new benchmark in sustainable design for educational buildings.
Bilya Marlee UWA by Kerry Hill Architects was awarded the Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture, with the jury impressed by the design team’s engagement with cultural adviser and Nyoongar Elder Richard Walley OAM through the design process to inform and respond to the knowledge systems of Western Australia’s Indigenous people.
‘The 2021 WA Architecture Awards demonstrate how architecture helps to build communities and foster our sense of place within the built environment,’ said WA Chapter President, Peter Hobbs. ‘From revitalised heritage buildings to unique accommodation and inspiring educational hubs, there’s been consideration of people, history and cultural heritage throughout the designs.’
‘The rejuvenation of buildings and places in both metropolitan and regional areas has created memorable experiences which honour our rich history – with WA Museum Boola Bardip an exemplar of carefully-concepted design making an enormous contribution to the state,’ said Peter Hobbs.
All Western Australian Named and Architecture Award winners will progress to the Australian Institute of Architects National Awards to be judged against the very best architectural works in the country.
Full List of awards:
GEORGE TEMPLE POOLE AWARD WA Museum Boola Bardip by Hassell + OMA COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE
The Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for Commercial Architecture – Warders Hotel & Emily Taylor by Matthew Crawford Architects
EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE The Hillson Beasley Award for Educational Architecture – EZONE UWA by Hassell Architecture Award – Margaret River Senior High School – Major Additions by With Architecture Studio
HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE The Margaret Pitt Morison Award for Heritage – Farmers’ Home Hotel, Northam by spaceagency architects
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture – Bilya Marlee UWA by Kerry Hill Architect
PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE The Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture – WA Museum Boola Bardip by Hassell + OMA
RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS) The Peter Overman Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) – Beaconsfield House by Simon Pendal Architect
RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (NEW) The Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) – Marmion Street House by Philip Stejskal Architecture
RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – MULTIPLE HOUSING The Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing – Glyde Street by MJA Studio
SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture – Hayman Theatre Upgrade by With Architecture Studio
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE The Wallace Greenham Award for Sustainable Architecture – Macdonald Road House by Philip Stejskal Architecture
URBAN DESIGN The John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design – WA Museum Boola Bardip by Hassell + OMA
ENDURING ARCHITECTURE AWARD The Richard Roach Jewell Award for Enduring Architecture – Town of Northam Council Offices (former) and Library by Iwan Iwanoff
BLUESCOPE COLORBOND STEEL ARCHITECTURE COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture – Eaton Community College – New Science Building by SITE Architecture Studio
MONDOLUCE WA LIGHTING AWARD The Mondoluce WA Lighting Award – Warders Hotel & Emily Taylor by Matthew Crawford Architects