A business park centred around a light-filled town centre, the adaptive reuse of former industrial warehouses and a home built for sustainability are among the winners of the 2023 ACT Architecture Awards.

Seventeen new projects were awarded in categories from residential new homes and renovations, to public works and interiors.

There were also seven named prizes for individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their work. The winners in the chapter awards will now progress to the national awards.

Jury chair Jeremy Mather paid tribute to the diversity of projects, noting the breadth of architectural creativity and technical skill.

Bates Smart won the Canberra Medallion and the John Andrews Award for Commercial Architecture for Brindabella Business Park, praised for its warm, natural materials and fine, human-scaled details within the six-storey triangular plaza.

The Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture went to Roger Pegrum and Pegrum/Ciolek Architects for the 1995 The Chancery at Government House, described as a highly considered, inconspicuous office space nestled into the landscape.

Envelope Architecture’s “Narrabundahaus” won The Derek Wrigley Award for Sustainable Architecture, the Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture and the Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).

The recycled-brick, flexible home is highly energy efficient and designed for best practice thermal comfort for Canberra weather, as well as indoor air quality and light.

Craig Tan Architects won three honours for their Dairy Road project, including Awards for Interior Architecture and Urban Design.

And Ben Walker won the President’s Medal.

Other award winners were:

• “Such and Such”, MyMyMy Architecture, The Pamille Berg Award for Art in Architecture;
• Research School of Physics, Stage 1 Building, ANU, Hassell, The Robert Foster Award for Light in Architecture;
• “Best Foot Forward” Allan Spira Architects with Enfold Em, AGN Project Award;
• Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Clem Cummings Medal;
• Byron Kelly, Architecture Professional Practitioner Award;
• Vlasta Jeftic, Emerging Architect Prize;
• Julia McGrath, The John Redmond Prize;
• Frank Tottingham, ACT Chapter Student Medallion and DJAS Architecture Graduate Prize;
• Government Fitout – Civic, COX Architecture, The W Hayward Morris Award for Interior Architecture;
• Kaleen House, Ben Walker Architects, The Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New);
• Bach House, Light House Architecture & Science, Award for Sustainable Architecture; and
• Hyde Place Modern, The Mill: Architecture + Design, Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions).