ARCHITECT Peter Freeman’s book “Thoroughly Modern” has been awarded a Heritage Award from the National Trust of Australia (ACT).

The Trust says the publication was “highly significant”.

“Beyond detailing the life of two significant architects whose work had a major impact on the development of Canberra in the 20th century, Peter Freeman has detailed its social, cultural and political life during the years Malcolm Moir practised with Heather Sutherland and later,” the Trust says in its commendation.

Also awarded plaques for 2021 were Owen Flats and the Senate Chamber Conservation Project.

On the Owen Flats, architect Philip Leeson and developer JWLand were credited with having “impeccably conserved and given a new economically viable use to this representative sample of one of the building types in the 1962 Northbourne Housing Precinct”.

“The precinct, originally of 169 units for community housing, has a pivotal place in Canberra’s architectural and planning history,” the Trust says.

“In the early days of the NCDC era it formed the gateway to the city. The project is an excellent model for the other, yet to be conserved, representative buildings, which have survived recent redevelopment to also be adapted to meet contemporary living standards.”

In the Senate Chamber Conservation Project , the Museum of Australian Democracy is credited with providing “important restoration” work repairing, among other things, walls and the high surrounding windows, after removing the ’70s panels that covered them.

Trust president Gary Kent says the awards recognise projects in the ACT that make a significant contribution to the conservation of the built, indigenous and natural environment in accordance with the principles set out in the Burra Charter. The charter provides guidance for the conservation and management of places of cultural significance (cultural heritage places).

Four certificates were awarded for significant contributions to heritage conservation: Blundells Cottage Interpretation Strategy and Responsive Web App and Mobile Tour; Burley and Brave; Wings of Dickson 2021 – Pioneers Pilots and the Ploughman, and ACT and Region Heritage Festival.

Judges were Dr Rosemary Hollow, an adjunct professor at the University of Canberra Faculty of Arts and Dr Ken Heffernan, chairperson of the ACT Heritage Council and Ken Charlton, an architectural historian.

Mr Kent said the Trust was delighted with the quality of the entries, especially given the very trying circumstances of the past two years.