WA Museum Boola Bardip wins top gong at WA architecture awards

John Taylor, the 2021 WA Architecture Awards chair of juries, said “Boola Bardip” meant “many stories” in the Nyoongar language and the museum reflected a care for the shared cultural heritage of all West Australians.

“In dealing with the constraints of the site, the architects have made a wider urban design contribution – providing vital activation and renewal of the Perth Cultural Centre,” he said.

The jury also commended “the connection of the highly significant existing buildings to new volumes, assisting the museum to unfold in a series of exciting spatial experiences” and predicted the museum would “soon be recognised as a design of national and international significance”.

Hassell principal Peter Dean said a key element of the design was the integration of the site’s heritage and its celebration of Indigenous culture, with the museum’s diversity of uses among his favourite elements of the project.

“It’s more than a museum … it’s a venue, and it’s a destination. It’s got that real richness of uses,” he said.

“From a museum perspective, it was about being people-first and emphasising that inclusivity, whether it’s a physical, social or democratic aspect [and] really understanding what the users would like and need.

“It’s also having a range of uses so it’s not all about the museum,” Dean said. “It’s about the sustainable assets of the museum – the learning studios, the commercial tenancies, the retail – you’ve got a real diverse range of people coming onto the site.

“And without using the word iconic, it was to make it recognisable around the world.”

AIA WA Chapter president Peter Hobbs said the awards themselves demonstrated how architecture helped to build communities and foster a sense of place within the built environment.

“From revitalised heritage buildings to unique accommodation and inspiring educational hubs, there’s been consideration of people, history and cultural heritage throughout the designs,” he said.

“The rejuvenation of buildings and places in both metropolitan and regional areas has created memorable experiences which honour our rich history – with WA Museum Boola Bardip an exemplar of carefully conceived] design making an enormous contribution to the state.”

Other winners:

Commercial architecture
– The Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for commercial architecture: Warders Hotel & Emily Taylor by Matthew Crawford Architects
– Architecture Award: Farmers’ Home Hotel, Northam, by spaceagency architects

– Architecture Award: Shelter by Paul Burnham Architect
– Architecture Award: EPIC – Empowering People in Communities, by Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects
– Commendation: Rauland Perth by AHArchitecture

Educational architecture
– The Hillson Beasley Award for educational architecture: EZONE UWA by Hassell
– Architecture Award: Margaret River Senior High School – Major Additions by With Architecture Studio
– Commendation: Scotch College Mathematics + Commerce Building by Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick
– Commendation: Eaton Community College – New Science Building by SITE Architecture Studio

Heritage architecture
– The Margaret Pitt Morison Award for heritage: Farmers’ Home Hotel, Northam, by spaceagency architects
– Architecture Award: Strawberry Hill/Barmup Visitor Orientation Hub, Albany, by PTX Architects
– Architecture Award: Warders Hotel & Emily Taylor by Matthew Crawford Architects
– Commendation: WA Museum Boola Bardip by Hassell + OMA

Interior architecture
– The Julius Elischer Award for interior architecture: Bilya Marlee UWA by Kerry Hill Architect
– Architecture Award: Parmelia Hilton Refurbishment by Cox Architects
– Commendation: Central Park Lobby Refurb by Woods Bagot

Public architecture
– The Jeffrey Howlett Award for public architecture: WA Museum Boola Bardip by Hassell + OMA

– Architecture Award: Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Healthcare Hub Newman by Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
– Commendation: Karingal Green Health and Aged Care Community by Hassell

Residential architecture – houses (alterations and additions)
– The Peter Overman Award for residential architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) – Beaconsfield House by Simon Pendal Architect
– Architecture Award: Garden House, Rule Street by spaceagency architects
– Architecture Award: East Fremantle House by Nic Brunsdon
– Commendation: Nanhob Street by Klopper and Davis Architects

Residential architecture – houses (new)
– The Marshall Clifton Award for residential architecture – houses (new): Marmion Street House by Philip Stejskal Architecture
– Architecture Award: Macdonald Road House by Philip Stejskal Architecture
– Commendation: Carr Street by Klopper & Davis Architects

Residential architecture – multiple housing
– The Harold Krantz Award for residential architecture – multiple housing: Glyde Street by MJA Studio
– Architecture Award: The Social on Henry by Matthews & Scavalli Architects
– Commendation: 3×3 Houses by Gerry Kho Architects

Small Project architecture
– The Iwan Iwanoff Award for small project architecture: Hayman Theatre Upgrade by With Architecture Studio

Sustainable architecture
– The Wallace Greenham Award for sustainable architecture: Macdonald Road House by Philip Stejskal Architecture
– Architecture Award: EZONE UWA by Hassell

Urban Design
– The John Septimus Roe Award for urban design: WA Museum Boola Bardip by Hassell + OMA

Enduring architecture award
– The Richard Roach Jewell Award for Enduring Architecture: Town of Northam Council Offices (former) and Library by Iwan Iwanoff

Bluescope Colorbond steel architecture
– Colorbond Award for steel architecture: Eaton Community College – New Science Building by SITE Architecture Studio
– Commendation: WA Museum Boola Bardip by Hassell + OMA

Mondoluce WA lighting award
– The Mondoluce WA Lighting Award: Warders Hotel & Emily Taylor by Matthew Crawford Architects
– Commendation: Central Park Lobby Refurb by Woods Bagot
– Commendation: Belridge Performing Arts Centre by Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects