Saint Mary’s Cathedral

MEDIA RELEASE     Saturday 26 June 2010

A cathedral for ‘today’ tops the
2010 WA State Architecture Awards

From a strong field of new civic and educational facilities across the State, a Perth cathedral ‘recognising yesterday’ and lovingly reinvigorated as a facility for ‘today’ has taken out top honours at the 2010 Western Australian State Architecture Awards.

At a special ceremony at Burswood last night (Friday 25 June) attended by around 700 guests, the amalgam of the two halves of Perth’s Saint Mary’s Cathedral by Peter M. Quinn Architect into a unified whole was announced as the winner of the State’s top public architecture prize – the George Temple Pool Award.

In presenting the award, the jury said: “The completion of St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth is a major civic work which has been lovingly executed by a sole practitioner. Such an endeavour over a considerable period has required a complete commitment to the one project. Whilst the architect is to be congratulated for his dedication to the task, it is the excellent result that has been achieved that is recognised by the George Temple Poole Award. Approximately 50 years ago when the liturgy of the Catholic Church was revised it was necessary for the spaces within the church to respond to that revision. In a striking way the now completed St Mary’s Cathedral has achieved that requirement and has done so in a manner which has produced a ‘today’ facility which has recognised yesterday. The finished building tells its own story through the superb detailing and sensitive relationship of the old to the new. In short the project has captured the impact of the work by noting that Saint Mary’s Cathedral is a delightful master work of public architecture which must be recognised.” In a double win for the architect and project, it also received an Architecture Award for Heritage.

A project described as having the potential to become “the prototype for future regional planning in Western Australia, Broome North by CODA was awarded the John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design. With 5000 lots of land to be delivered over the next decade at Broome North, CODA developed: cultural, historical and environmental analysis of both existing Broome and at Broome North; design guidelines; a Broome North Housing Guide; and had input into the structure, development plan and subdivision. Presenting the award, the jury said: “The proposed planning controls for North Broome resulted from the comprehensive analysis of all of the major factors affecting the selected area located to the north of the present Broome townsite. The detailed analysis led to a logical methodology for the preparation of controls specific to that locality and may well become the prototype for future regional planning in Western Australia. Landcorp is to be congratulated for having the foresight to engage the Architects at the beginning of the project so that a framework is established up front which acknowledges the uniqueness of the location and which capitalises on the outstanding opportunities offered by the site. It will be interesting to follow the direct application of modernist design and sustainability principles on this regional development.”

In a double triumph, this year’s Ross Chisholm Award for Commercial Architecture and the Walter Greenham Sustainable Architecture Award was presented to the Durack House, 2 Victoria Avenue in Perth by Woodhead, with the jury saying: “Durack House displays all the core values of architectural design and is distinguished by the manner in which it integrates commercial amenity with civic qualities and environmental responsibility. Durack House operates as a functional and effective office building that achieves a 6 Star Green Star design. It is a testament to the value of architecture that ensures a thoughtful and clear conceptual framework throughout the architectural process.”
In a strong year for single residential architecture, with 11 awards and commendations presented, this year’s major award for residential architecture (houses), the Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture – Houses – was presented to a compact, low maintenance beach house at Cottlesloe designed for a retired couple – the Salvado Street Residence by Bates Smart + Madeleine Blanchfield Architects. The jury said:
“Generous and delightful spaces are created from the modest footprint of two pavilions, one open and the other private and linked by an internal courtyard, is a very successful response to local climate and marine environment. The special ambiance of this building is in part due to the careful and controlled selection of natural local materials which have been crafted together with great skill and meticulous detailing. The resulting delightful home is understated and not at all ostentatious.”

Apartments described as creating “a rich and wonderful new layer for contemporary living within the heart of Fremantle, the Henry Street Apartments by spaceagency, were awarded the Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture.

Durack House 2
32 Henry Street Fremantle

The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture was presented to the Swan TAFE Thornlie Heavy Plant Mechanics Seminar Building by Armstrong Parkin Architects, with the jury saying: “Simply put this project makes so much out of so little.  The building is weathering superbly. An essay in ingenuity, architectural knowledge, material and clarity.”

The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture & the Mondoluce Lighting Award was presented to enex100 Food Podium on the 3rd floor food podium at 100 St.Georges Terrace Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland. “The jury were impressed by the projects strong concept and excellent realisation, from large scale gesture to detailed resolution. The architects have drawn on the imagery of mineral exploration in W.A. connecting the historic façade, a remnant of a previous mineral boom, with today’s 21st century high-rise development. Lighting is used to dramatic effect and is combined with sculptural elements to connect the first floor space to the street. Acoustic treatment and selected furniture create surprise and variation between the different zones. Of particular note is the integration of art works commissioned for the project, which distinguish the ‘food podium’ as an urban dinning destination.”

The Law Building at the University of Western Australia by Ferguson Architects in association with Professor Gordon Stephenson was honoured with the 2010 25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture, being described as a facility which “continues to fulfil its original function of educating law students and providing an environment highly conducive to learning and student interaction. It terms of both functionality and building aesthetic, the Law Building remains architecturally relevant and a tribute to the skill of the design team”.