Global Awards News

LONDON: The shortlist for the best retirement housing design has been declared.

Over 250 designs have been considered by the awards secretariat. One of the finalists in this category is shown below.

A new farmhouse built utilising recycled materials has also won a 2021 Design Matters National Annual Building Design Award.

The residential property at the foot of Mount Buninyong was designed by Ballarat’s Project Now architects with an emphasis on shared spaces and inside-outside connectivity, says company director Luke Jennings.

Making use of extensive amounts of salvaged timber and brick, the challenge with the brief was to find local builders and craftspeople who could make the mix of old and new work, Mr Jennings said.

“The challenge in a job like this is ensuring that the trades are excited and enthusiastic to take it on, and certainly for this particular project they were engaged and supportive of that direction, particularly the builder, Madigan builders, and the bricklayer, Newmac bricklaying,” he says.

“They were instrumental drivers in the repurposing of reclaimed materials and getting that tactile nature so important to this project.

The building won the Best Residential Design New House award. Design Matters National is a leading professional body for building designers and related industry professionals.

Inspired by the surrounds of the semi-rural property, Mr Jennings says what drove the design process was the concept of ‘connection’, creating open, inviting warm spaces and entertaining areas for both family use and entertaining.

He says the use of a strong gable design as well as recycled material has meant several other homes in Ballarat and nearby have drawn inspiration from the house.

“It’s a very bold and strong form, quite popular at the moment,” he says.

The Global Award winner will be announced in December in London. (Globals)