The Queensland State Architecture Awards celebrated projects designed to cater to diverse households and communities, showcasing how thoughtful design can improve our lives.

Brisbane’s City Hall was the epicentre of architectural acclaim on Friday night as the Australian Institute of Architects honoured Queensland’s top designs for 2024 at the annual State Awards. The jury, comprised of venerated architects and design leaders from across the state, bestowed recognition on more than 42 projects across categories including public, residential, education, sustainable architecture and urban design.

A notable theme of the evening was the focus on inclusivity, with an array of award-winning projects designed to accommodate a diverse range of households, from young children and teenagers to intergenerational families. The awards gave a platform to the idea that considerate design can create spaces that improve the livelihood of all community members.

The evening’s highest honour, the Queensland Architecture Medallion, was awarded to Bradbury Park Playscape designed by Alcorn Middleton. This out-of-the-box playscape in Kedron was also the recipient of The FDG Stanley Award for Public Architecture and The Karl Langer Award for Urban Design. The jury praised the project as a “delightful and democratic sculpture that invites visitors from afar, drawing them towards a myriad of enchanting spaces. By emphasising play for all ages and abilities, this project exemplifies the transformative power of architecture.” Alcorn Middleton was commended for designing a public space that fosters community interaction at all levels, setting “a new benchmark for public playgrounds.”

STEAM facilities took centre stage in the Educational Architecture category. The STEAM Precinct at Brisbane Grammar School by Wilson Architects won The Jennifer Taylor Award for Educational Architecture and received a Commendation for Interior Architecture. The Whitsunday Anglican School’s STEAM Centre by BSPN Architecture received the People’s Choice Prize and a Commendation for Educational Architecture. The jury applauded both projects for their integration of modern teaching spaces with existing facilities.

J.AR OFFICE’s The Warehouses received the COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture and The Beatrice Hutton Award for Commercial Architecture, recognised for its adaptive reuse of five existing structures in Currumbin. Speculative Architecture won the Art & Architecture Prize for “The Local,” an exhibition at the Museum of Brisbane, described by the jury as “an immersive experience that breaks away from the traditional gallery space.”

Bates Smart’s Rivière in Kangaroo Point was recognised with The Job & Froud Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing as an “outstanding addition to high-density apartment living.” Phorm architecture + design’s Verandah Terraces received a Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), noted for its “successful reinterpretation of Queensland’s traditional veranda typology.”

Marc & Co’s Warwick Brick House earned The Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New). The jury described it as “a testament to thoughtful design,” particularly noting its accessibility features for elderly residents. Vokes and Peters’ River Loop House received The Elina Mottram Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), praised for its “flawless craft of masterful hands.”

2024 Queensland award and prize-winning projects:

The Queensland Architecture Medallion 2024
Bradbury Park Playscape
Alcorn Middleton

The Karl Langer Award for Urban Design
Bradbury Park Playscape
Alcorn Middleton

The FDG Stanley Award for Public Architecture
Bradbury Park Playscape
Alcorn Middleton

The Hayes & Scott Award for Small Project Architecture
Mari-Mari-Ba Bushland Communal Hub
Deicke Richards

Australian Institute of Architects Social Impact Prize (QLD)
Mari-Mari-Ba Affordable Housing and Bushland Communal Hub
Deicke Richards

The Jennifer Taylor Award for Educational Architecture
STEAM Precinct Brisbane Grammar School
Wilson Architects

The Beatrice Hutton Award for Commercial Architecture
The Warehouses
J.AR OFFICE

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture (QLD)
The Warehouses
J.AR OFFICE

The Don Roderick Award for Heritage Architecture
UQ Brisbane City
BVN with Architectus Conrad Gargett

The GHM Addison Award for Interior Architecture
Ipswich Hospital Mental Health Acute Inpatient Services
Hassell

The Elina Mottram Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
River Loop House
Vokes and Peters

The Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Warwick Brick House
Marc & Co

The Job & Froud Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Rivière
Bates Smart

The Harry Marks Award for Sustainable Architecture
39S House
Andrew Noonan Architect

The Robin Gibson Award for Enduring Architecture (QLD)
C House
Donovan Hill

The Emerging Architect Prize
Leah Gallagher and Marjorie Dixon
KIN Architects

The EmAGN Project Award (QLD)
Verandah Terraces
Phorm architecture + design

Australian Institute of Architects Art & Architecture Prize
Museum of Brisbane, The Local
Speculative Architecture

Australian Institute of Architects Regional Project of the Year Prize (QLD)
Mundingburra Housing
Counterpoint Architecture

Next up: Notable achievements at the 2024 WA Architecture Awards