A project by Virginia Wong-See at architecture@altitude, Armidale Refuge/Prospect, is competing for honours in this year’s coveted Australian Institute of Architects’ NSW Country Division Awards, which celebrate the best in architecture from across country NSW.
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“This year’s entries in the NSW Country Awards, which have been running for more than half a century now, ranged from finely crafted small scale projects to large, complex commercial and public buildings,” said Ashley Dunn, Jury Chair and co-director of Dunn & Hillam Architects.
The concept for Armidale Refuge/Prospect began as a simple place of refuge from strong westerly winds, transforming an ordinary place into one that continues to delight through foggy mornings, moonlit nights, fireside conversations and enjoyment of the surrounding trees and the birds that come to rest there.
A six by six metre slab of concrete to the north of the client’s existing house was barren, windswept and disused.
By doubling the size of the slab and extending the paving beyond the house, architecture@altitude set about transforming this space whilst maintaining vital solar access to the living room.
For synchronicity, material cues and form were influenced by the existing modest project home.
This modest building provides prospect of an experience beyond the ordinary, enriching the lives of those who dwell there.
NSW Chapter President Andrew Nimmo said: “Across NSW our distinctive coastal and country landscapes provide challenges but also endless opportunities for truly inspiring architectural design.
“This year’s award entries demonstrate highly attentive responses to landscape as well as innovation and excellence in creative solutions achieved in many cases within constrained budgets.
“The NSW Country Division Awards showcase architectural skill of the highest order, reminding us that design excellence is flourishing in rural and regional NSW, delivering built environments characterised by nuanced aesthetics and a commitment to sustainability.
“It was an honour to be invited to chair this jury and a clear reminder of the extraordinary talent in our profession right across the state,” Mr Dunn added. “The Jury had a tough but enjoyable challenge deliberating over the many high calibre entries.”
Armidale Refuge/Prospect is among 28 projects competing in 12 award categories, including newly introduced categories for Interior Architecture, Urban Design and Educational Architecture.
Winners of 11 categories will be decided by a panel of expert judges Alex Dalglish (Somewhere Landscape Architects), Peter Freeman (Peter Freeman Conservation Architects), Oliver Gee (G2 Architects) and Isabelle Toland (Aileen Sage Architects).
The final category is to be decided by members of the public who can show their support for a local, or favourite, project by voting in the People’s Choice Award before midday on Thursday 4 October.
You can cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award at https://nationalarchitecture.awardsplatform.com/entry/vote/gyLPYXyZ
The award winners will be announced at the awards presentation night to be held as part of the NSW Country Division’s Annual Conference on 4 October 2018.
Since its inception in 1960, the NSW Country Division has provided continuous representation and service to NSW regional architects of the Australian Institute of Architects outside the metropolitan areas of Sydney and Newcastle.