The 2024 Sustainability Awards Winners bestowed its honours on 18 winners, with 10 others receiving honourable mentions — a small gesture for contributions that loom large in our shared narrative of sustainability.
And yet, the spirit of the event was as much about return as it was about looking forward. After all, there’s a comfort, even a kind of joy, in returning to the ‘traditional’ live format after years of digital detachment. The winners, too, felt it. The applause was both a salute to their achievements and an audible appreciation for the human touch.
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The night bestowed its honours on 18 winners, with 10 others receiving honourable mentions — a small gesture for contributions that loom large in our shared narrative of sustainability. This year’s significance, the 18th time such accolades have been conferred, was underscored by the United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP29 that is going on as you read this.
As the world wakes to the realization that we have long lived unsustainably, those honoured at this event are at the forefront of mitigating our collective carbon footprint.
Behind the awards, of course, lies a story of immense teamwork. Dick Clarke, the prodigal Head Judge, led the 2024 Jury with a steady hand, ensuring that each winner stood not just for innovation but for integrity and ingenuity. Their guidance, combined with the meticulous efforts of Architecture & Design’s sales, marketing, and production teams, made the night a glittering success.
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A special shout-out goes to Architecture & Design’s new Digital Editor who was instrumental in helping these awards to success.
Yet no event of this magnitude comes without its silent champions — the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes.
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The Events team must be lauded for crafting an unforgettable evening, a feat made possible by the dedicated commercial partners who lent their support. Their involvement, alongside the triumphant return of the Sustainability Summit, held both in-person and online, helped create a seamless transition from conversation to celebration.
And so, the winners are:
WINNER: 119 Redfern Aileen Sage with Djinjama, Jean Rice, Noni Boyd + the City of Sydney
The initial brief for 119 Redfern St brief called for the accessibility upgrade of an 1880s Victorian-Italianate masonry building. Sited on a prominent ridgeline in Redfern, an historic and current epicentre of First Nations social resistance, the former post office building was chosen by local First Nations community representatives as the site for a new community facility.
Key to this project was the provision not only of physical but psychological accessibility. Expanding upon the functional brief, accessibility becomes celebratory, opening out onto new shared yet protected spaces. The interventions allow for respectful and deliberate transition into the building and provide space for community to pause, greet and take shelter
Photographer Credit: Hamish McIntosh
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Park Street by Milieu, Breathe + Mileu
WINNER: T3 Collingwood, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Responding sensitively to its rich industrial context, T3 Collingwood aims to positively contribute to Collingwood’s urban streetscape and sense of community. The high quality 15-level commercial building provides an activated ground plane on Wellington St with cafes, restaurants, and other public amenities.
Photographer Credit: John Gollings, Tom Blachford
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sydney Swans HQ, Populous
WINNER: Coconut Crab, Alexander Symes Architect (ASA)
Coconut Crab is a regenerative ceramic studio designed in collaboration with the client, Casa Adams Fine Wares, and landscape architect Jason Monaghan in Inner West Sydney. Casa Adams’ aim is to encourage preservation and spark curiosity of marine life through meticulously painted, hand-made porcelain plates, as well as running art and educational workshops in collaboration with marine biologists in the studio. The biggest example being the giant tiled Coconut Crab climbing the facade. Listed as vulnerable, the 1m, Indo-Pacific crab is threatened by over harvesting and climate change. Its presence on the facade facilitates conversations of preservation with visitors and the greater community.
Photographer Credit: Barton Taylor
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Zen Den Legal Office, Fred Architecture
WINNER: Hope St Housing, MDC Architects & Officer Woods
This medium density housing project comprises 28 diverse terrace houses/walk-up apartments. It expands the typological range of White Gum Valley housing, allowing new residents in smaller households to share the established amenity of the suburb.
The design works hard on multiple levels to provide amenity for the residents and integrate comfortably in its surroundings. It responds to the local neighbourhood character, provides for optimised solar access in every dwelling, and prioritises deep soil planting and adjacent landscape.
Balancing diversity in the size and type of units with cohesion across the entire site, the project comprises two rows of well-lit, well-ventilated north-facing homes. It benefits from a “landscape first” approach where every dwelling has generous setbacks for deep soil gardens to accommodate large trees, and high permeability to enable rainwater retention within the site itself.
Photography Credit: Rob Frith
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Nightingale Marrickville, SJB
WINNER: Fern Street Children’s Centre, Zen Architects
Nestled within the native botanical context of Tricks Reserve, Fern Street Children’s Centre by Zen Architects mediates between civic and educational sentiments to emerge as a considered architectural response to the natural elements while seamlessly forging connections with the surrounding community. This approach changes the formality of the building and the way we traditionally think about kindergartens and community centres, breaking down inhibitions and acting as a precedent for our future civic projects within sensitive environments.
Photography Credit: Zen Architects
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Barker College Maths and Student Hub, Architectus
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Clifton Hill Primary School, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
WINNER: Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Located on Phillip Island on Bunurong Country, Berninneit, (meaning to ‘gather together’) creates a new purpose-built public building to support a range of uses including a theatre, library, gallery, museum, community function rooms and offices.
Evoking the region’s natural geology and topography, the design feels inherently connected to and of its place. Warm, pink-cream brick references nearby sand dunes and beaches, whilst internal timber columns speak to the island’s jetties and pier structures.
The building creates a dynamic and interactive destination that is set to become a source of civic pride. Bringing together the cultural and social aspirations of the community, it draws visitors to showcase the region’s rich history and culture.
Photographer Credit: Peter Clarke, Victor Vieaux
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Warren and Mahoney
WINNER: Fun Haus, Alexander Symes Architect (ASA)
Fun Haus seeks to push preconceptions of space per person on a small 117m2 urban site, whilst still providing residents access to a generous private garden space. The 112m2 floor area can house 6 people – 4 people in the primary dwelling and 2 in the secondary dwelling, meaning 1 person / 19m2.
The decision to construct two dwellings rather than one larger one greatly increases the flexibility of the site. One larger family is able to function as one or the secondary dwelling can be rented out to family or others – the dual access to the site further enables this functionality. The maximised central courtyard was important to provide both dwellings with access to light, ventilation, and landscape outlooks.
Photographer Credit: Barton Taylor
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Life Cycle, Steffen Welsch Architects
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Re-Frame House, Still Space Architecture
WINNER: Holocene House, CplusC Architects + Builders
In designing and building Holocene House, CplusC showcased what happens when we invest in sustaining life and leading change rather than building bigger and more. The home will soon generate more energy than was used to create and operate it. Regenerative thinking guided every aspect of design and construction, from the innovative use of low-embodied-energy spotted gum Shou Sugi Ban for exterior cladding to the natural swimming pool and extremely low-toxicity finishes throughout.
The home is BAL-29 rated and climate resilient with a photovoltaic system generating ten percent more energy than the family needs and an underground rainwater tank. The natural swimming pool is a reservoir, recycling, and cleaning water to nurture coastal ecology – and our friends the bandicoots.
Photographer Credit: Michael Lassman/Renata Dominik
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hinderwell St House, MDC Architects
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sapling, Anderson Architecture
WINNER: Skyblox Co-Living Housing, TKCA Architect
The SkyBlox project incorporated various sustainable products to enhance the overall sustainability of the development. These products include:
Recycled Steel & Shipping container: Used for structural elements, reducing the demand for new steel, and lowering the carbon footprint of the construction.
Photographer Credit: pixelaw photography
HIGHLY COMMENDED: NOKHA VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTRE, SANJAY PURI ARCHITECTS
WINNER: Redfern Station Upgrade, DesignInc Sydney
Redfern Station, a major Sydney transport hub, has been upgraded as part of the NSW Government’s Transport Access Program, emphasizing inclusivity, connectivity, and sustainability. The station now features a new southern concourse and entrances at Little Eveleigh and Marian Streets, integrating high-quality amenities while respecting the natural, cultural, and built heritage.
The project, which achieved an Excellent Design IS Rating by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, aligns with NSW’s low-carbon future goals and delivers environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Design elements draw from Eveleigh’s historical wetland and industrial past, with the adaptive reuse of an old warehouse at 125-127 Little Eveleigh for new station facilities. Improved pedestrian and bicycle zones enhance local access, blending Indigenous, natural, industrial, and contemporary heritage to foster community vibrancy.
Photography Credit: Brett Boardman
WINNER: Crafted Hardwood, Timber Crafted Hardwoods
Crafted Hardwoods transform low-value wood resources into beautiful, durable timbers that rival anything nature has grown over decades— all with a fraction of the environmental impact, a fraction of the time, and using resources that were destined to never see the construction market: low-value pulp logs.
They use an Australian world-first technology to convert juvenile wood fibres into feature-grade equivalent hardwoods, using a water-based nano-glue that bio-mimicking trees’ natural lignin, and a process managed robots and the power of artificial intelligence.
Crafted Hardwood Timber is safe, healthy, recyclable and designed for a circular economy. It is a material that supports architects and designers in creating spaces that align with their values, are carbon-positive and contribute to sustainability.
Photography Credit: So Watt
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Botanicrete – Plant-based Wall Finish, Mineral Fox
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Circular Sea Collection – Recycled Oyster Shell Plaster, Mineral Fox
WINNER: Perth Arup Workplace, Arup
The workplace is spread across three levels within the new Westralia Square 2 development in Perth. Arup engineers supported the base building design of the new building which has been built out of mass timber on top of an existing podium, leveraging the lightweight timber structure to maximise the potential yield from the established capacity of the structure. Further, there is no thermal plant in this new building, with existing excess capacity being utilised and connected to.
Photography Credit: Richard Stokes
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lendlease Brisbane, Bates Smart
HIGHLY COMMENDED: TERROIR Hobart Office, TERROIR Pty Ltd
WINNER: Steffen Welsch Architects, Steffen Welsch Architects
Steffen Welsch Architects, founded in 2001, is renowned in Australia for its commitment to sustainable design in residential, educational, and aged care facilities. Steffen Welsch, a Bauhaus University graduate who arrived in Australia in 1993, infuses his central European roots into his work, promoting community and environmental harmony. Influenced by Austrian architect Hermann Czech, Welsch embraces the “Architecture as Background” philosophy, ensuring buildings enhance their surroundings through careful integration and material selection.
The firm’s approach prioritizes enhancing environmental and social contexts, fostering human interaction and ecological well-being without dominating the landscape. Sustainability is seen as an ongoing process requiring innovation, adaptation, and a lifecycle perspective—from material sourcing to recycling.
Photography Credit: Steffen Welsch Architects
WINNER: Matso’s Sunshine Coast Brewery, FIVE MILE RADIUS
By peeling back the layers to restore the original pub, removing water-damaged material, and using landscaping to slow overland flow, the project significantly improves the overall health of the site and garden.
In addition, new works are naturally ventilated, daylit, connected to gardens, and built from natural and raw materials. The new works are designed to be wheelchair accessible, family-friendly, adaptable, and open to the local community for events.
Photography credit: Five Mile Radius and Knight Wilson Architects
HIGHLY COMMENDED: HV.Hotel, HIP V. HYPE
WINNER: Barker College Maths and Student Hub, part of Barker College, Architectus
Designed with a holistic approach to sustainability, the Barker College Maths Hub combines biophilic design principles, passive environmental strategies, on-site energy generation, and responsible material selection to create a learning environment that is in harmony with nature.
This future-focused learning environment prioritises a time-honoured sustainable design philosophy, working with the natural world to reduce environmental impact rather than relying on expensive solutions for meeting high operational demand. The Maths Hub strategically draws on the elements – including solar, wind, and air – to create a climate-conscious, resilient building.
Photography credit: Architectus
WINNER: Prof Matteus Santamouris, UNSW
Prof Matteus Santamouris Mat Santamouris holds the Anita Lawrence Professorship of High Performance Architecture at the University of New South Wales in Australia. His academic career includes a past position as professor at the University of Athens, Greece, and visiting professorships at several institutions, including the Cyprus Institute, Metropolitan University of London, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Bolzano University, Brunel University, and the National University of Singapore. He also served as the President of the National Center of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Savings in Greece.
Image: Mediahub
WINNER: Sophie Canaris, DunnHillam Architects
Sophie Canaris–Sophie Canaris is an architect with Dunn & Hillam Architects, where she specializes in arts and community projects in Sydney, regional New South Wales, and London. Her work emphasizes sustainability and the adaptive reuse of buildings. Canaris also serves on the Emerging Architects and Graduates Committee and the Built Environment Committee for the New South Wales chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects.
Image: S. Canaris
WINNER: T3 Collingwood, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Photographer Credit: John Gollings, Tom Blachford
The Architecture & Design that brought you the 2024 Sustainability Awards celebrating after the winners were announced.
