A "creative and inventive" project won the most honours at the Australian Institute of Architects’ Newcastle Architecture Awards recently held at the Merewether Surfhouse.

One among sixteen projects from across the region receiving honours on the night, The Axis House by Jonathan Dawes in conjunction with EJE Architecture was the overall winner, taking home the Award for Excellence. Described as "creative and inventive" by the jury, The Axis House also won in the Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) category and received the Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture – Commendation, making it the most awarded project of the night.

The jury said: “Alterations can be a challenge when dealing with new and old, and so too collaborations between large and small architectural practices. The Axis House has executed these challenges perfectly; the result is a rewarding piece of architecture."

Awards in the Public Architecture and Small Project Architecture categories went to Watt Space Gallery by Andrew Donaldson Architecture and Design, a project described by the jury as a "meticulously crafted jewellery box".

According to the jury, the gallery project is "a successful example of clever planning and detailing within a constrained budget resulting in an intelligent, beautiful and light filled space that is not only a joy to be in but also harmoniously blends new and old."

Winning projects on the night also included The Gateway Commercial Development by CKDS Architecture for Commercial Architecture; Damascus Centre, St Paul’s High School by QOH Architecture for Educational Architecture; SDA Workplace by SDA Space Design Architecture for Interior Architecture; Urban Eclectic House by SDA Space Design Architecture for Residential Architecture – Houses (New); and Institute of Energy and Resources by EJE Architecture for Sustainable Architecture.

The jury awarded a total of eight awards and thirteen commendations on the night. Projects that received an award are now eligible for the NSW Architecture Awards to be announced on Friday 1 July.

Full list of winning projects

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

The Axis House by Jonathan Dawes in conjunction with EJE Architecture (Toronto)

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Photography by Nathan Dawes


COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE

AWARD

The Gateway Commercial Development by CKDS Architecture (Newcastle)

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Photography by Damien Furey

COMMENDATION

  • Club Maitland City by Terroir (Rutherford)

EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

AWARD

Damascus Centre, St Paul’s High School by QOH Architects (Booragul)

2016080534-0-qoh_architects-damascus_centre-_st_pauls_high_school-andy_warren-1.jpg
Photography by Andy Warren

COMMENDATION

  • Institute of Energy and Resources by EJE Architecture (Shortland)

HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE

COMMENDATION

  • Masonic Hall Refurbishment by EJE Architecture (Speers Point)

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

AWARD

SDA Workplace by SDA Space Design Architecture (The Junction)

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Photography by Damien Furey

COMMENDATIONS

  • The Gateway Fitout by CKDS Architecture (Newcastle)
  • Mingara Leisure Group Corporate Offices by Graphite Architects (Tumbi Umbi)

PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE

AWARD

Watt Space Gallery by Andrew Donaldson Architecture and Design (Newcastle)

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Photography by Brett Boardman

COMMENDATIONS

  • ANZAC Bridge Memorial Walk by EJE Architecture (Bar Beach)
  • Newcastle Airport by SHAC (Williamtown)
  • Newcastle Courthouse by Cox Richardson Architects (Newcastle)

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS)

AWARD

The Axis House by Jonathan Dawes in collaboration with EJE Architecture (Toronto)

2016080764_TheAxisHouse_JonathonDawesIn-etal_NathanDawes_9.jpg
Photography by Nathan Dawes

COMMENDATION

  • Power House by SDA Space Design Architecture (Islington)

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (NEW)

Award

Urban Eclectic House by SDA Space Design Architecture (Hamilton East)

2016080670-9-sda_space_design_architecture-urban_eclectic_house-phil_stefans-1.jpg
Photography by Phill Stefans

COMMENDATION

  • Grasemere Way by Webber Architects (Warners Bay)

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – MULTIPLE HOUSING

COMMENDATION

  • Eclipse Residential Development by CKDS Architecture (Cook’s Hill)

SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE

AWARD

Watt Space Gallery by Andrew Donaldson Architecture and Design (Newcastle)

2016080747-0-andrew_donaldson_architecture_and_design-watt_space_gallery-brett_boardman-1.jpgPhotography by Brett Boardman

COMMENDATION

  • University of Newcastle Entry Canopies by CKDS Architecture (Callaghan)

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

AWARD

Institute of Energy and Resources by EJE Architecture (Shortland)

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Photography by Marcus Clinton


COLORBOND AWARD FOR STEEL ARCHITECTURE

AWARD

University of Newcastle Entry Canopies by CKDS Architecture (Callaghan)

2016080581-0-ckds_architecture-uon_entry_canopies-collaborative_construction_solutions-1.jpg
Photography by Collaborative Construction Solutions

COMMENDATION

  • The Axis House by Jonathan Dawes in conjunction with EJE Architecture (Toronto)