The growing importance of ecologically sustainable design (ESD) in architecture has been seen in the winning entries in the 2002 Royal Australian Institute of Architects awards, with many addressing this issue in some form.

The winners are: Sir Zelman Cowan award for public buildings - John Wardle Architects and DesignInc Melbourne for RMIT Biosciences Building, Bundoora campus - ESD aspects of the project include geo-thermal pre-cooling and reclaiming of stormwater; Robin Boyd award - Bligh Voller Nield in association with Troppo Architects for the Lavarack Barracks Redevelopment Stage 2; Walter Burley Griffin award - Urban Design for the Sidney Myer Music Bowl; the Commercial Award and the Colorbond steel award - Paul Berkemeier for the Shear Outback; the Lachlan Macquarie award for heritage - Dawson Brown Architecture for the restoration of a timber bungalow at Sydney’s Palm Beach; the sustainable architecture award - Troppo Architects for the Rozak House; and the interior award - Bligh Voller Nield for Campus MLC, North Sydney.

In addition to the eight named awards, the jury also gave commendations to: Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne by Nation Fender Katsalidis Architects; Connolly Residence, Lindsay Holland Architect; Woodford Academy, Design 5 Architects; The Goodwill Bridge, Brisbane, Cox Rayner Architects.

Source: Building Products News.