24 July 2015
The 2015 Development Excellence Awards demonstrate a new look for iconic apartment buildings, says the Urban Taskforce.
“Three of the big winners at the 2015 Urban Taskforce Awards are ground breaking apartment buildings that demonstrate the innovative spirit of the developers and their architects,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “These three projects break the mould in three different ways. One has a ‘sky garden’ six floors above ground level, another erupts in a kinetic art inspired riot of colour while the third presents a 31 storey high image of an aboriginal elder back to the city.”
“The Development of the Year 2015 was East Village, Victoria Park by Payce Consolidated Limited with an incredible aerial garden over 32,540 sqm of commercial and market spaces. A dramatic flowing timber ceiling gives the market area a distinctive character. The building is a model for many urban centres where often a large supermarket sits on its own. East Village demonstrates how a garden can be planted on the supermarket roof and that this can be contained by over 200 apartments. The architecture is by Turner with the innovative supermarket ceiling by Koichi Takada”
“The ‘Innovative Development Award 2015’ went to Viking by Crown Group designed by MHNDU architects. This building is a narrow triangle that erupts in a riot of colour on its southern elevation. Orange and red window surrounds are punched out of the building influenced by the kinetic art of Yaacov Agam. The effect is to make the building a recognisable icon very different in character to many of the surrounding less interesting buildings.
“The ‘High Density Development Award’ went to Swanston Square Apartments by Grocon located in the Melbourne CBD. The building has attracted global media attention through the modulation of the spandrel panels to form a 31 storey high image of indigenous elder William Barak when viewed from a distance. This is certainly not an ordinary building thanks to its clever design by architects Ashton, Raggett, McDougal.”
“The Urban Taskforce supports innovation and fresh ideas as demonstrated by the three awards. We are concerned that planning systems often lead to ‘more of the same’ as planners call for contextual fit. Our cities need variety and excitement from new development.”
Awards jury chair, NSW Government Architect, Peter Poulet said “I am encouraged by the flowering of creative spirit that is coming through in this years awards particularly with apartment buildings. It seems that consumers are now looking for buildings with personality.”
