Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Design

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GUEST OBSERVATION
At the Australian Institute of Architecture’s 2014 <a href="https://architecture.com.au/events/national/awards/national-awards">National Architecture Awards</a> in Darwin last night, a total of 43 awards and commendations were given across 13 categories by five jurors, chosen from 56 projects shortlisted across eight states and territories from a total of 153 eligible projects.
So in this “best of the best”, as the jury put it, what are some of the emerging themes and trends?
The buildings speak for themselves. They will endure, adapt, change and weather, each in its own way, as all good architecture does. My interest here is in how the profession presents itself, how it fronts up to its constituencies.
In the words of the jury – chaired by Paul Berkemeier – accompanying each award, the language is telling and marked here in quotation marks. It reveals what seems to matter most to architects today, what they value, how they wish to be portrayed and how they see their role and contribution.
Various themes are at work in the jury citations.
Themes
One theme is “aesthetic” and praises the award-winning buildings largely in terms of power (bold, strong, giant, muscular, massive, grand, robust, daring, dramatic); another is “character” (thoughtful, original, visionary, inspired, refined, confident, joyful, playful, whimsical, theatrical, extroverted, modest, timeless, poetic, unassuming, delicate, authoritative, exuberant, sensitive, elegant, adventurous, expressive, rich, beautiful, delightful, humble, efficient, thorough, rigorous, intellectual); yet another is “experience” (exciting, striking, thrilling, vibrant, mesmerising, shimmering, evocative).
Significantly, “bold” and “playful” predominate.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63813/area14mp/kfd7xx6g-1415236718.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63813/width668/kfd7xx6g-1415236718.jpg" alt=""></a>
Winner of the Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage – Eternity Playhouse by TZG. AIA/ Brett Boardman
Skills
Another theme highlights the skills architects wish to be known for, the capacities they claim as expertise: ingenuity, cleverness, care, imagination, restraint, thoughtfulness, considerateness, subtlety, seduction, discreteness, grace, gentleness, craft, care, ambitiousness, resourcefulness, playfulness, passion, commitment, tenacity.
Projects succeed variously by being cleverly manipulated, adroitly transformed, artfully curated, intelligently arranged, sensitively handled or delicately manoeuvred.
There is widespread valorisation of a “limited palette” of materials, implying that luxury comes through scarcity and paucity, where “a strong singular idea and a restrained material palette can lead to a rich architectural outcome”.
This particular value system, with self-evident moral overtones, is consistent in both the language of citations and the materiality of the projects themselves: raw, restrained yet rich material palette; soft material palette; modest but sensitive palette of materials; Brutalist approach to material selection; restraint and thoughtfulness in the choice of materials.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63815/area14mp/jcvcsvrz-1415236944.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63815/width668/jcvcsvrz-1415236944.jpg" alt=""></a>
The former Rocks Police Station by Welsh &amp; Major Architects was awarded the National Commendation for Heritage. AIA/ Katherine Lu
Much value is given to architecture’s recuperative function, its role in preserving or “<a href="https://theconversation.com/national-architecture-awards-2014-lets-look-at-the-heritage-finalists-31964">repurposing</a>” historical built fabrics; renewing environments and settings; “finding new uses” for neglected buildings; engaging “rich local history” or “helping to protect, manage and preserve endangered landscapes”.
Among the subjects of this “loving preservation and reinvention” was the former Rocks Police Station in George Street, Sydney, by <a href="https://www.welshmajor.com/">Welsh &amp; Major Architects</a> which received the National Commendation for Heritage with an adaptation for use as a café.
And the <a href="https://www.darlinghursttheatre.com/eternity-playhouse">Eternity Playhouse</a> in Darlinghurst by <a href="https://www.tzg.com.au/">Tonkin Zulaikha Greer</a> (TZG) won the Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage.
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Transformation and education
Another pervasive theme makes claims about architecture’s transformative, didactic role of indicating and educating, leading by example, promoting innovation and pushing boundaries.
A notable trend across the awarded projects is the move to enlightened hybrid programming that is adding value to the national intellectual, research and civic endeavour.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63816/area14mp/kzxm2yv2-1415237080.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63816/width668/kzxm2yv2-1415237080.jpg" alt=""></a>
Awarded a National Award for Public Architecture, the Dandenong Mental Health Facility – Bates Smart Whitefield McQueen Irwin Alsop Joint Venture. AIA/ John Gollings
Such mixed programs are devised through the initiative of far-sighted institutional and private partnerships, often including architects who are well placed to devise, model and test new typologies equal to the challenge.
Projects such as the <a href="https://www.plantbank.org.au/">Australian PlantBank</a> (main image) by <a href="https://www.donovanhill.com.au/">BVN Donovan Hill</a> in Mount Annan (NSW), which won a National Award for Public Architecture, combines research institute, seed repository, museum and public building.
Also recognised with a National Award for Public Architecture was the Dandenong Mental Health Facility (VIC) by <a href="https://www.batessmart.com.au/">Bates Smart</a> (above), which “reinvents” the familiar institutional typology by recasting it in domestic scale around care and therapeutics.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63817/area14mp/9d5rk5xg-1415237188.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63817/width668/9d5rk5xg-1415237188.jpg" alt=""></a>
Winner of the National Award for Residential Architecture – Oxlade Drive House by James Russell Architect. AIA/ Toby Scott
The Oxlade Drive House in Queensland by <a href="https://jrarch.com.au/">James Russell Architect</a>, which won the National Award for Residential Architecture, creates a new “prototype for the suburban typology”.
The Commons by <a href="https://www.breathe.com.au/">Breathe Architecture</a> in Melbourne, which “revolutionises apartment living in Australia”, was awarded the Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture, and congratulated for “eliminating what the ‘market’ insists is necessary in multi-residential design”.
Celebration
The most recurrent term casts architecture in quasi-religious light: the key word is “celebration”.
Hence a building “celebrates its spectacular waterfront location”, “celebrates the horizon”, “celebrates beach culture”, “celebrates the hedonism of Bondi life”, “celebrates the use of the verandah in vernacular Queensland architecture”, “celebrates a building’s former life”, “celebrates the terrace and wonderful view”, “glows in celebratory fashion like a lantern on the beach".
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63818/area14mp/zx82r9mz-1415237323.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63818/width668/zx82r9mz-1415237323.jpg" alt=""></a>
The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture was awarded to The Commons by Breathe Architecture. AIA/ Urban Angles
Architecture’s defining fact is that it “celebrates … the whole theatre of it all". Yet celebration originates with the Latin mass and means “to assemble (in great numbers) to honour or sing the praises of”.
This turn of phrase, “celebration”, serves as an indicative subtext for an architecture of restraint and self-effacement.
An architecture that functions as a neutral setting, enabling what lies properly outside of it – that is, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeworld">lifeworld</a> – to be noticed, solicited and experienced.
Michael Tawa is professor of architecture at University of Sydney<a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney"></a>.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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What the National Architecture Awards tell us about architects

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Kerstin Thompson's House at Hanging Rock has won the top honour at the 2014 National Architecture Awards.
A favourite for the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture, House at Hanging Rock also took out the Australian Institute of Architects Victorian award for best new house, the Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award for Residential Architecture – New, earlier this year.
The win seems fitting, as rumour has it artist Titania Henderson and her husband commissioned Kerstin Thompson Architects to design the home (pictured above) after they missed out on buying South Yarra's Walsh Street House. The former Boyd family home is now the headquarters of the Robin Boyd Foundation.
Titania and Ian Hendersen remain supporters of Boyd's architecture, and are donors to the foundation.
Overlooking Hanging Rock, the winning home is made of three parallel bands running east to west on a sloping block.
The central and largest section, which overlaps at the ends with the upper and lower bands, holds the kitchen, living and dining areas. The main bedroom suite and a study area are situated in the upper band, and a versatile studio and guest space are in the lower band.
Thompson's design allows the home to take in all aspects of the surrounding environment.
The use of brutalist materials is a defining feature of the house. In June, Titania Hendersen told Radio National's By Design: "This is an environment that has extreme weather conditions, so concrete was important to me. Of course concrete is very difficult to build, and that wasn't easy, but I'm very pleased that I chose this material."
The materials also give the house a high Bushfire Attack Level rating.
This year was the first time the National Architecture Awards divided the Residential – Houses category into new builds and alteration and additions.
West Australian practice Philip Stejskal Architecture won the inaugural award for alterations and additions for a Bellevue Terrace home, pictured below.
<img src="/images/2014/11/06/1Res-AA_PhilipStejskalArchitecture_BellevueTerraceAlterations_BoWong.jpg" alt="">
Source: AIA. Photograph by Bo Wong.
University of Queensland's Advanced Engineering Building by Richard Kirk Architect and HASSELL was the most awarded project of the night, taking home the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, the Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture and a Sustainable Architecture Award (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/11/06/Sustainable_RichardKirkArchitectHASSELL_UQAdvancedEngineeringBuildi_PeterBennetts.jpg" alt="">
Source: AIA. Photograph by Peter Bennetts.
The jury was headed by the Architecture Institute of Australia's immediate past present Paul Berkemeier.
"It is encouraging that so many projects embodied best practice with informed clients, effective procurement methods, appropriate funding models and intelligent architecture. This provides us with great optimism for the future of our public spaces – an area that has so often delivered dispiriting outcomes," said Berkemeier.
Oxlade Drive House in Brisbane by James Russell Architect won the first ever People's Choice Award (pictured below) ahead of last night's ceremony, where it also picked up the National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).
<img src="/images/2014/11/06/8Res-New_JamesRussellArchitect_OxladeDriveHouse_TobyScott.jpg" alt="">
Source: AIA. Photograph by Toby Scott.
The full list of winners are on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 The National Architecture Awards 2014 winners:
Commercial Architecture
<ul>
<li>The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture: White Bay Cruise Terminal – Johnson Pilton Walker (NSW)</li>
</ul>
National Awards for Commercial Architecture
<ul>
<li>8 Chifley Square – Lippmann Partnership/Rogers Stirk Harbour &amp; Partners (NSW)</li>
<li>Bread in Common – spaceagency (WA)</li>
</ul>
National Commendation for Commercial Architecture
<ul>
<li>Prahran Hotel – Techne Architects (Vic)</li>
</ul>
Enduring Architecture
The National Enduring Architecture Award
<ul>
<li>CB Alexander College, Tocal – Ian McKay and Philip Cox, Architects in Association (NSW)</li>
</ul>
Heritage
The Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage
<ul>
<li> Eternity Playhouse – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects (NSW)</li>
</ul>
National Commendation for Heritage
<ul>
<li>Former Police Station, 127-129 George Street, The Rocks – Welsh + Major Architects with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (NSW)</li>
</ul>
Interior Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture
<ul>
<li>UQ Advanced Engineering Building – Richard Kirk Architect HASSELL Joint Venture (Qld)</li>
</ul>
National Awards for Interior Architecture
<ul>
<li>Bread in Common – spaceagency (WA)</li>
<li>Garangula Gallery – Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects (NSW)</li>
<li>Hotel Hotel – March Studio (ACT)</li>
<li>Sustainable Industries Education Centre – MPH Architects + Architectus in association (SA)</li>
</ul>
International Architecture
The Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture
<ul>
<li>Stonehenge Exhibition + Visitor Centre – Denton Corker Marshall (United Kingdom)</li>
</ul>
Award for International Architecture
<ul>
<li>Shelter@Rainforest – Marra + Yeh Architects (East Malaysia)</li>
</ul>
Public Architecture
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture
<ul>
<li>UQ Advanced Engineering Building – Richard Kirk Architect HASSELL Joint Venture (Qld)</li>
</ul>
National Awards for Public Architecture
<ul>
<li>Australian PlantBank – BVN Donovan Hill (NSW)</li>
<li>Dallas Brooks Community Primary School – McBride Charles Ryan (Vic)</li>
<li>Dandenong Mental Health Facility – Bates Smart Whitefield McQueen Irwin Alsop Joint Venture (Vic)</li>
<li>Prince Alfred Park + Pool Upgrade – Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with City of Sydney (NSW)</li>
<li>UTAS Institute for Marine &amp; Antarctic Studies – John Wardle Architects + Terroir, in Association (Tas)</li>
</ul>
National Commendations for Public Architecture
<ul>
<li>North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club – Durbach Block Jaggers in association with Peter Colquhoun (NSW)</li>
<li>South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute – Woods Bagot (SA)</li>
</ul>
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Australian Institute of Architects Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
<ul>
<li>Bellevue Terrace Alterations + Additions – Philip Stejskal Architecture (WA)</li>
</ul>
National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
<ul>
<li>West End Tower – Owen and Vokes and Peters (Qld)</li>
</ul>
National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
<ul>
<li>Strohmayr House – Troppo Architects (NT)</li>
</ul>
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
<ul>
<li>House at Hanging Rock – Kerstin Thompson Architects (Vic)</li>
</ul>
National Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
<ul>
<li>Oxlade Drive House – James Russell Architect (Qld)</li>
</ul>
National Commendations for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
<ul>
<li>Hover House – Bower Architecture (Vic)</li>
<li>Southern Outlet House – Philip M Dingemanse (Tas)</li>
</ul>
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
<ul>
<li>The Commons – Breathe Architecture (Vic)</li>
</ul>
National Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
<ul>
<li>UNSW Kensington Colleges – Bates Smart (NSW)</li>
</ul>
National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
<ul>
<li>Gantry – Bates Smart (NSW)</li>
</ul>
Small Project Architecture
The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture
<ul>
<li>Bicheno Surf Life Saving Club + Boathouse – Birrelli art + design + architecture (Tas)</li>
</ul>
National Awards for Small Project Architecture
<ul>
<li>Balmain Apartment – Durbach Block Jaggers (NSW)</li>
<li>Kew Studio – Sean Godsell Architects (Vic)</li>
</ul>
National Commendation for Small Project Architecture
<ul>
<li>Studio 217 – Amalie Wright &amp; Richard Buchanan (Qld)</li>
</ul>
Sustainable Architecture
The David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture
<ul>
<li>The Commons – Breathe Architecture (Vic)</li>
</ul>
National Awards for Sustainable Architecture
<ul>
<li>Australian PlantBank – BVN Donovan Hill (NSW)</li>
<li>The Wayside Chapel – environa studio (NSW)</li>
<li>UQ Advanced Engineering Building – Richard Kirk Architect HASSELL Joint Venture (Qld)</li>
</ul>
Urban Design
The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design
<ul>
<li>Prince Alfred Park + Pool Upgrade – Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with City of Sydney (NSW)</li>
</ul>
National Award for Urban Design
<ul>
<li>GASP! Stage 02 – Room 11 (Tas)</li>
</ul>
COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
The National COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
<ul>
<li>White Bay Cruise Terminal – Johnson Pilton Walker (NSW)</li>
</ul>
2014 Jury
Paul Berkemeier – Immediate Past President, Australian Institute of Architects and Principal, Paul Berkemeier Architects (Jury Chair) Clare Cousins – Director, Clare Cousins Architects Justin Hill – Director, Kerry Hill Architects Virginia Kerridge – Principal, Virginia Kerridge Architect Lindy Johnson – Director, Lindy Johnson (Lay Juror)
Main picture from AIA. Photograph by Trevor Mein.
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Kerstin Thompson Architects win with House at Hanging Rock

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A modernist Allen Jack &amp; Cottier-designed home in Vaucluse has been sold for $3.5 million.
Some six bidders competed for the dry side Coolong Road property.
There was an opening bid of $2.8 million.
It was bought by a young family returning from Melbourne.
The five-bedroom home features exposed brick walls, quarry tiled floors and Scandinavian inspired design.
The property was sold through Michael Dunn and James Dunn of Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay having been tightly held by one family for over 30 years.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-118070319" target="_blank">It was marketed as having versatile spaces</a> including a formal living room with walled garden and family room with alfresco court-garden. Upstairs has a living room with balcony, master wing with sitting room/guest room and study area, and four further bedrooms.
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Allen Jack & Cottier 1970s Vaucluse home sells for $3.5 million

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GUEST OBSERVATION
A small group of people is gathered around a campfire in a Victorian State Forest. Members of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TinyHousesAustralia" target="_blank">Tiny Houses Australia community</a>, they’re attending a spring camp to talk about how to build a tiny house, and compare notes on how to address common barriers, like local government planning schemes.
The group is diverse, from students to professionals and retirees. One has been living temporarily in caravans. Others were forced to move into shared accommodation or board with family. Most have given up on the idea of buying their own home, put off by the high price tag or the size of the mortgage, or the downside of living far from family or employment.
Most of the group are also fierce promoters of a more sustainable, minimalist way of life who want their new houses to reflect this. You won’t find many en suites or walk-in wardrobes in their floor plans.
Is bigger really better?
Something is wrong when <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/25372224/170k-family-priced-out-of-perth/" target="_blank">a professional earning A$170,000</a> cannot afford to live close to work; or <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/property/firsthome-crisis-triggers-call-for-action-20131115-2xmcv" target="_blank">a doctor needs a parental loan</a> to buy a house. All 25 major urban housing markets in Australia are ranked as <a href="https://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf" target="_blank">severely unaffordable</a>; and Australia has the <a href="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/index.htm" target="_blank">second most unaffordable</a> housing market among member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Australian houses are also <a href="https://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf" target="_blank">among the largest</a> in the OECD. In 2008, the average new house was 214 square metres, double the size of an average 1950s house. Very large houses are not only more expensive, but environmentally unsustainable. For example, the major factors that determine a house’s greenhouse gas emissions are its size and location; the bigger and more isolated the house, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10901-011-9212-2#page-1" target="_blank">the larger its emissions</a>.
For many, particularly young people entering the market and older people leaving the workforce, the “great Australian dream” of a big house on a quarter-acre block is a distant fantasy. And even for those who are living the dream, a sudden interest-rate rise, job loss or chronic illness could rapidly turn it into a nightmare.
Regardless of the debate over whether we’re in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/memo-to-the-imf-there-is-no-housing-bubble-27925" target="_blank">housing bubble</a>, the affordability problem is much broader than property prices. The most serious issue is the lack of affordable <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8462.2008.00502.x/full" target="_blank">rental accommodation</a>.
Finding sanctuary in a tiny house
From this backdrop has emerged a trend towards <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-09/tiny-houses-big-with-u-s-owners-seeking-economic-freedom" target="_blank">building much smaller houses</a>. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_house_movement" target="_blank">tiny house movement</a> originated in the United States in the late 1990s, largely in response to problems with housing affordability, although it has also been spurred on by the <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/global-financial-crisis" target="_blank">global financial crisis</a> and a widespread desire to live more sustainably. The movement has now spread to New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
Tiny houses are generally smaller than 40 square metres, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/beautiful-tiny-homes-2014-8#this-60-square-foot-home-is-the-smallest-house-in-the-uk-16" target="_blank">can take many forms</a>, from granny flats, to repurposed shipping containers, to <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/21/tiny-house-on-wheels-abbotsford_n_5003376" target="_blank">complete houses built on trailers</a>.
<img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/63676/width668/m36s92m7-1415151376.jpg" alt="">
Room to manoeuvre: some tiny houses have wheels - just don’t call them caravans. The Tiny Abode Co., Author provided
The benefits of tiny houses include <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-houses-infographic">overall sustainability</a>, reduced energy and water use (tiny houses are often “off the grid”) and, of course, affordability. Some tiny houses can cost less than A$10,000. Moreover, they <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1162/1088198054084680/abstract">use significantly less resources</a> to build, and are often constructed from salvaged materials or sustainably sourced products.
Mobile tiny houses could even help their inhabitants adapt to climate change; a house on wheels can be moved out of danger from floods or storm surges. They can allow adult children or aged parents to live independently, yet maintain access to family, employment and public transport.
Tiny houses can even address aspects of homelessness. In the United States, some local governments are donating land for <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/greensboro-north-carolina-tiny-homes_n_6054590?ir=Impact" target="_blank">homeless people to build their own tiny homes</a>.
This article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The biggest issues with a tiny house
Although <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TinyHouseBlog" target="_blank">information is plentiful</a> on building techniques, plans and design, it is not very easy to build a tiny house. However, as attendees at the Spring Camp agreed, perhaps the biggest problem with building a tiny house is finding a place to put it.
Tiny houses do not conform to many <a href="https://www.berkeleyside.com/2011/01/07/a-city-looks-for-big-solutions-in-a-little-very-little-house" target="_blank">local government planning schemes</a> or building codes, which mandate minimum house sizes, maximum number of houses per plot, connection to utilities, parking provisions, and restrictions on temporary occupation.
It might also be argued that allowing tiny houses will reduce land values and lead to health and safety concerns, such as overcrowding. But people currently live in crowded conditions or illegally in sheds or caravans.
Some states, such as New South Wales, allow property owners to build <a href="https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Portals/0/plansforaction/affordablehousing/docs/Affordable%20Housing_Fact_Granny%20Flats.pdf" target="_blank">granny flats</a>. In other states, the regulations differ between and within each local government, although almost almost all have restrictions on the duration of temporary occupation.
For non property-owners, particularly those who don’t want to take any legal risks, the options are fewer. And of course, local governments can and should impose planning restrictions on tiny houses, and ensure that they comply with building codes and standards.
Tiny houses are not for everyone. They will probably <a href="https://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&amp;recordOId=4196241&amp;fileOId=4196242">always remain a niche market</a>, more suited to people with no children, or retirees.
Niche, yes, but for some people tiny houses could be a lifeline. Being unable to afford to buy property, fulfil mortgage commitments, or even rent a home can lead to <a href="https://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&amp;aid=1046376&amp;fileId=S0033291706009767" target="_blank">mental and physical illness</a>. In a sustainable city, everyone should be able to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0811114032000147430#.VFB38vmUd8E">access affordable housing</a>, and a tiny house is certainly better than no house at all.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/32225/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Heather Shearer is research fellow, urban research program at <a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/" target="_blank">Griffith University</a>.
Heather is a member of the Greens Party, 350 Org and the Tiny Houses Australia Facebook Group. 
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
Feature picture courtesy of the author.
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Move over, McMansions – the tiny house movement is here

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The former home of television producer turned resort entrepreneur Henry Crawford and his wife Nina Hill has been listed for auction.
The couple sold The Stables in Clovelly for $2.4 million in 2004 to the current vendors.<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-clovelly-118213759" target="_blank"> It is now listed</a> through Chris Volpatti and Conrad Panebianco of McGrath Coogee with $3.25 million plus expectations.
Crawford and Hill gave the converted stables an Asian-inspired renovation the year before selling. The four bedroom house is now described as an "eclectic fusion of tropical resort style aesthetics with state-of-the-art bespoke inclusions" by the listing agents.
The dark façade of the home belies its light-filled interiors, with high raked ceilings with exposed timber beams. The Stables retain many of its original timber floorboards, with trap doors formerly used to throw hay to its original early 1900s inhabitants.
{qtube vid:=xafIwZ_3vPE}
The ground floor holds a number of entertaining and break out areas. There is a lounge and gym area, a games room and media room with built in cabinetry and Sonos wiring, with a studio towards the back of the house with a kitchen and butler's pantry.
On the upper level, there are three bedrooms and a gallery area. The kitchen, dining, living and master bedroom all have a view to the covered alfresco entertaining area on the upper level, which features a plunge pool.
The current owners have quite the art collection, with work by artists including David Bromley and Bill Henson hanging on the walls. A large mural covers two walls of one of the home gym.
After beginning his career as an actor and lawyer, Crawford joined Crawford Productions, at that time one of Australia's largest production companies, owned by distant relatives Dorothy and Hector Crawford. He went on to produce about 1,000 hours of drama before he decided to try his hand at the tourism industry, building Vatulele, a luxury "eco-sensitive" resort in Fiji.
Crawford is now on the Urban Design Panel at the Queenstown District Lakes Council in New Zealand.
1 Greville Street will be auctioned on Saturday 15 November.
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Henry Crawford's former Clovelly conversion on the market

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Guriganya, a pavilion-style residence in Paddington, Sydney, was passed in at auction last night.
The top bid was $5.2 million when auction at Cooley Auctions. Some $5.25 million is being sought.
While not the first pavilion-style house built in Sydney, Guriganya’s design received <a href="/news/paddingtons-guriganya-and-the-pavilion-trend-he-said-she-said">much acclaim when it was built in the late 1970s</a> including a merit award in 1980 from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
Designed by architect Terry Dorrough and his wife, artist and interior designer Helen, the three-pavilion abode was built on the site of Sydney's fourth progressive school, Guriganya Community School.
The single storey pavilion style residence, with a mezzanine level over the garage, surrounds a courtyard garden on its 443 square metre block. 
At its 2006 auction through Ray White Double Bay agents Michael Finger and Kim Hayes, Guriganya sold for $4.83 million to insurance guru John Mills and his partner Greg Clark.
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Guriganya, Paddington passed in at $5.2 million

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A two bedroom house surrounded by gardens was the cheapest sold at weekend auction in Adelaide.
Kristy Dundon of Harris Real Estate sold the house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-blackwood-118120775" target="_blank">20 Brightwood Avenue</a>, Blackwood for $450,000.
The home is located in Blackwood, at the foot of the Adelaide hills.
On the lower level there is a kitchen and dining room, bedroom, bathroom and living area that opens onto an outdoor entertaining deck. The mezzanine level holds the main bedroom and a living space. Double height windows look onto the property's well established gardens, set over 898 square metres of land.
The property also includes a separate studio, a double carport and storage under the house.
The sellers bought the home for $173,000 in 2000.
<a href="/news">Blackwood</a> has a median sale price of $480,000, according to RP Data.
Earlier this year Property Observer's contrarian commentators Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok debated <a href="/expert-insights/investing/a-frame-houses-do-they-work-he-said-she-said">the merits of the A-frame design</a>.
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A-frame Blackwood home Adelaide’s cheapest at auction

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Gerard Smith Design took home three awards at the first ever National Building Design Awards last week.
River House, in the Sunshine Coast, won  National Building Design of the Year, Best Residential Interior Design and Best New Residential Design for homes with a construction cost over $1 million.
According to Smith, the house's natural surroundings were a central focus of the home's design.
"Our objective was to incorporate natural products and complement the natural landscaping on the exterior of the home, which formed the inspiration for the palette of materials and colours used throughout the interior," said Smith.
The house's interiors feature polished concrete, natural stone tiles, hardwood timbers and wool carpet.
"We used these materials in the joinery to work in harmony with the other natural materials in the home and with the natural environment," he said.
The home's design takes full advantage of its waterfront position, with water views available through the living space upon entry. The open living space offers views to the pool, landscaped courtyard or river from every position.
On the upper level there is an expansive master bedroom, complete with walk-in-robe, concealed kitchenette and parents' retreat area.
The ensuite includes a raised bath overlooking the water, while a wraparound balcony also delivers river views.
The the merits of entries in the National Building Design Awards were considered in terms sustainability, success as a design solution, relationship of internal and external spaces, utility, quality and balance of internal and external aesthetics.
Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud, who presented the awards, called River House "a delightful and triumphant design".
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Sunshine Coast's River House wins big at inaugural National Building Design Awards

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The Whale Beach award-winning Archer House has been relisted with $10 million aspirations.
Architect Craig Rosevear won the 2001 Wilkinson Award after it was commissioned by venture capitalist entrepreneur David Archer and his blogger wife, Vicki.
The London-based couple are best known for their time at Craig-y-mor at Point Piper.
The 251 Whale Beach Road block cost $385,000 in 1986. 
The Hobart architect designed the minimalist three-level house which has since featured in the 2004The Phaidon Atlas Of Contemporary World Architecture. 
It has two main bedrooms, a guest bedroom and a large bunk room. The upper level of the steel frame and glass house has the kitchen, dining and living rooms. 
A floor panel of translucent glass runs the length of the house and separates the kitchen and living areas. 
Its waxed concrete floors provide coolness in summer and underfloor heating in winter. The 832 squre metre beachfront property has a pathway through native flora to the sand.
The stunning four-bedroom residence has been listed <a href="https://www.ljhooker.com.au/2ZAF6Z/4-bedroom-house-for-sale-whale-beach" target="_blank">through LJ Hooker Palm Beach's David Edwards</a> who is taking offers until 27 November. 
Title Tattle recalls in 2009 the Belgravia, London based couple - who maintain a holiday home at Saint-Remy de Provence in France - were seeking offers of more than $10 million.
 
 
 
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Craig Rosevear-designed Wilkinson winning Archer, Whale Beach house listed

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The Rippon House, on Burns Road, Wahroonga which was designed 45 years ago by the late Gerry Rippon, has been listed for sale.
The vendors Michelle and Michael James want to find a loving custodian who will protect the house.
It remains unaltered in any significant way since designed in 1969 with Rippon's intent to create a canopied treehouse.
It is marketed as uniquely Australian, while gently evocative of Japanese architecture and the works of Frank Lloyd Wright.
There are double-height glass and timber living pavilion to the west, single-storey brick sleeping wing to the east.
Modern House <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-wahroonga-117895295" target="_blank">has the offering</a>.
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