BVN Architecture received three architecture awards at the NSW Institute of Architects annual Architecture Awards presentation that was held last night in the Sydney Hilton Hotel.

An apartment block at 20 Alfred Street was given the inaugural Aaron Bolot award for residential architecture multiple housing by the jury for ‘The simple and disciplined floor plan (that) accommodates a flexible and differentiated apartment layout at each level.’

BVN’s client for 20 Alfred Street Rowan Wall said ‘We were eight friends who set out to build a lifestyle, every single floor had different requirements, for example I have two front doors, so that my adult daughters can come and go without disturbing me.’

According to the jury, ‘In the rationality of this building, BVN has created a laconic and timely statement,’ and they go on to point out that by focussing on the plan, the natural light and air, rather than material inclusions, BVN Architecture has offered a model for ‘future exclusive buildings’.

The merit award for interior architecture BVN received for the Challenger workplace in an existing older 60’s office building was noted for developing ‘some innovative design solutions’ and ‘converting a B-grade office space into a premium commercial venue.’

Bill Dowzer, Principal of BVN Architecture, said ‘we realised the only way to meet the client’s brief to make a work-space for ‘one team’ was to connect all four floors by cutting a big hole out of the centre of each floor thereby creating a vast atrium and inserting a continuous stair linking all floors.’  

This decision was fundamental to the project’s success and as the jury found, ‘delivers a work environment that is light filled, cohesive, and has a sense of spaciousness that belies the compact scale of some of the areas.’  It is also, the jury noted an enviable space that has a ‘fundamental and positive impact on its users.’

Showing the breadth of their skills, BVN Architecture’s third award was in the urban design category for the reworking of Redfern Park and Oval.  In the jury’s words, ‘The once derelict site has been skilfully transformed by a number of strategic landscape moves into an active and elegant community facility.’

Choosing to sink the football field below the surrounding parkland allows views that were previously not available, this was part of the design approach to integrate the football field and grandstand back into the overall landscape of the regenerated park.

The facilities include a grandstand for 2,500 spectators and the South Sydney Rugby League Club change and training rooms.  According to the jury, ‘The result is a place that captures the site’s historical importance, while presenting to the community a high quality, contemporary place for active and passive recreation.’

These latest awards add to BVN’s growing architecture prize collection, which now exceeds more than 125 in the last five years.