The 2024 Houses Awards have recently announced the winners, showcasing the most innovative, sustainable, and inspirational homes in Australia. These homes represent the pinnacle of residential architecture in the country, addressing present-day environmental, economic, and population challenges through good design. Let’s take a closer look at some of the award-winning projects:
Australian House of the Year: Red Hill House and Studio – QLD
The Australian House of the Year award went to Red Hill House and Studio, a humble Brisbane worker’s cottage that doubles as a home and office. Designed by Zuzana Kovar and architect Nicholas Skepper, this property stood out for its thoughtful redesign of the existing worker’s cottage, adding only what was necessary for home and work to run smoothly. The project was praised for its restraint and recognition in the House Alteration and Addition under 200 sqm category.
Sustainability: Carrickalinga Shed, Architects Ink – SA
Carrickalinga Shed, designed by Mladen Zujic of Architects Ink, won the Sustainability category for its biophilic design strategy, sectional layout, and investment in sustainable technologies. Inspired by Roman villas and Australian farmhouses, this bunker-like residence offers a new pinnacle of sustainable living, showcasing a careful integration of environmental health and human wellbeing.
New House Over 200 sqm: Shed House, Breakspear Architects – NSW
Shed House by Breakspear Architects is a suburban home that cleverly melds home and workspaces, demonstrating how high-impact design can be achieved with less costly materials. The project embraces standard fabrication methods and materials, with a facade of corrugated steel reminiscent of the Australian shed aesthetic.
House Alteration and Addition Over 200 sqm: Arcadia – Plus Minus Design – NSW
Arcadia by Plus Minus Design was a joint winner in this category, celebrating and maximizing the concept of "alterations and additions" with great skill and care. The project highlights aspects of the original house while incorporating contemporary elements around a courtyard pool, creating a delicate reshaping of a 1920s house.
Apartment or Unit: 57 Martin Street – Neometro – VIC
57 Martin Street by Neometro was recognized for its design excellence and simple living, offering a living environment that is simple, elegant, robust, and low maintenance. The townhouse provides a blueprint for how modest, medium-density homes in inner suburbia can be designed to promote sustainable living.
Garden or Landscape: Redfern House – Anthony Gill Architects with Sacha Coles – NSW
Redfern House offers a systemic approach to a narrow inner-suburban block, blurring the lines between home, garden, and street. The project demonstrates a holistic integration of home and garden, exploring the role every suburban block can play in ensuring the ecological future of our cities.
House in a Heritage Context: Tomich House, Mark Jeavons Architect with Ohlo Studio – WA
Tomich House impressed the jury with its highly intelligent approach to the restoration and adaptation of a distinctive house designed in 1971 by architect Iwan Iwanoff. The project carefully restored the original features and extended the house to honor its architectural legacy, delivering an architectural delight that is commensurate with its significance to Western Australia’s architectural legacy.
Overall, the 2024 Houses Awards showcase the best of Australian residential architecture, highlighting innovation, sustainability, and inspiration in the design of homes that address the challenges of today’s world. Each winning project offers a unique perspective on how good design can enhance our living environments and contribute to a more sustainable future.