Written by Sara Kirby, Images appear courtesy of practices. Above image: Church St John by Tessellate

Architectural practices from around Victoria were praised for their ingenuity at the eighth ArchiTeam Awards on Wednesday night, at Melbourne’s No Vacancy Gallery.

The 83 entries were judged by Jeremy McLeod, founding director of Breathe Architecture, Rachel Nolan, director of Kennedy Nolan, and Stuart Harrison, director of HAW.

OLA’s Ari Apartments in Hawthorn East

Abbotsford based architects, OLA Studio, won the ArchiTeam Award/Residential (New) Award for the Ari Apartments in Hawthorn East. Reconstructed from a Victorian shop-front, the demolition crew discovered a 120-year-old painted advertisement on one of the building’s walls, which was then incorporated as a feature piece within the design. Bricks from the original were also reused throughout the construction, which is situated in the centre of a historical brick-making area.

NGV Art Book Fair by Fold Theory

Winning the Sustainability Award was Fold Theory for its work at the NGV Art Book Fair, in which cardboard architect Tobias Horrocks filled Melbourne’s Great Hall with furniture made from recycled cardboard, including bookcases and an upside-down dome, which was suspended from the ceiling.

Harry Hal by Davidov Partners Architects

The Commercial Award prize winner was Harry Hall – Restaurant and Wine Bar, by Davidov Partners Architects. The Malvern venue features raw surfaces paired with simple materials including recycled brick and blonde wood. Also featuring bonkette seating, the eating area is divided from the wine bar by a strategically placed double-sided fireplace.

Church St John by Tessellate

The Community Award was given to Tessellate for their considered design of Church St John. The angular entrance creates a dynamic approach to the building, engaging a modern congregation by projecting a contemporary face for the church.

Kata Tjunta Freeway Ecological System project by Nervegna Reed

This year’s Unbuilt Award winner was the Power Street Loop Competition/Kata Tjunta Freeway Ecological System project by Nervegna Reed. The proposal suggests a striking sculptural resolution to create a sense of place at an undeveloped inner city site.

This year’s Residential (Alterations and Additions) Award was taken out by two winners – Claire Scorpo Architects for Thornbury, and Architecture Architecture for The Portal.

Claire Scorpo’s timber bungalow is an offsite skeleton frame designed to accommodate an expanding family. Featuring a library link and a reading nook, the placing of the bungalow allows for three individual courtyard spaces, and takes advantage of the abundant northern light.

The Portal by Architecture Architecture

Architecture Architecture’s The Portal, situated in Brunswick West, also encompasses open, sun-drenched-living spaces. With a Californian bungalow set at the property’s rear, The Portal draws on passive solar design principals to achieve environmental efficiency. Read our interview with Architecture Architecture here.

The winning designs and general submissions will be on display at No Vacancy Gallery, QV, from 25 November to 6 December.

For more information on the awards and ArchiTeam’s initiatives, please visit www.architeam.net.au