A public building, described as “beautiful inside and out” has taken out the top award at the 2021 Far North Queensland Architecture Awards, announced by the Australian Institute of Architects on 28 May.
The Cairns Performing Arts Centre by CA Architects and Cox Architecture in collaboration was one of five projects that received regional commem ndations at the awards, and it also received the Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year.
“CPAC and associated Munro Martin parklands create a benchmark in regional performance arts space,” said the jury. “The intensely tropical response with cloaking landscape, filtered sunscreen, lofty public space opening to both inside and out, below the fly towers and theatres clad in a pallet of cloud-like colours always reflecting the changing tropical skies.”
CA Architects also took home the House of the Year award for Blue Lagoon Residence, which the jury described as “an elegant, well-executed tropical design response.”
Elsewhere in the awards, Big Small House by POD received the Regional Project of the Year award. As well, it was joint winner of the Sustainable Architecture award along with JCU Idreas Lab by Wilson Architects.
The recipients of awards and regional commendations will advance to the Queensland Architecture Awards, which will be announced via a live broadcast on 24 June.
Far North Queensland
The Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year
Cairns Performing Arts Centre – CA Architects and Cox Architecture in collaboration
Regional Project of the Year
Big Small House – POD (People Oriented Design)
Regional Award for Sustainable Architecture – Joint winners
Big Small House – POD (People Oriented Design)
JCU Ideas Lab – Wilson Architects with Clarke and Prince
House of the Year
Blue Lagoon Residence – CA Architects
Regional Commendation
Educational Architecture
Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Primary School – Innovative Learning Centre – Peddle Thorp Far North
