Perth Arena has taken out the highest overall honour at the industry-voted WA Architecture Awards, with Brookfield Place voted best commercial building.
Joint venture architects ARM Architecture and Cameron Chisholm & Nicol received the Australian Institute of Architects’ George Temple Poole award for best overall building for the striking $548 million Perth Arena, which has played host to a raft of big-name acts since opening late last year.
Inspired by Christopher Monckton’s Eternity Puzzle, the boldly-designed arena has split public opinion but was lauded by jurors as representing a “coming of age” for the city.
“Visually, the Perth Arena is a building that delivers an aesthetic unlike anything previously existing in Western Australia and regardless of whether it is revered or reviled, it generates enormous interest and stands as an outstanding example of what architects contribute to the built environment,” the jury noted.
“The architects have delivered a building of great visual complexity, outstanding functionality, a building that has captured the imagination of the general public and delivers for Perth an iconic piece of public infrastructure.”
Recent winners of the George Temple Poole award include one40william and Saint Mary’s Cathedral.
In addition to being recognised as the best commercial development, Brookfield Place also took out awards for urban design and heritage for architects Hassell and Fitzpatrick + Partners.
Brooking Design Architects took out the award for best interior architecture for a kindergarten building at the John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School while TAG Architects and Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects were recognised for best sustainable development for West Kimberley Regional Prison.
The WA award-winners will now progress to the national awards in November.
