Tanderrum Bridge by John Wardle Architects and NADAAA has added to its hoard of accolades with the 2017 Premier’s Design Award for Architectural Design.
The bridge traverses Batman Avenue roadway and links the parklands of Birrarung Marr, on the Yarra River’s north bank, with the outer courts of Melbourne Park, home to the annual Australian Open tennis tournament.
The bridge is the second collaboration between John Wardle Architects and Boston-based practice NADAAA, following the completion of the similarly well-received Melbourne School of Design in 2015.
The Premier’s Award is the latest in a string of prizes won by the architects for the bridge since its completion in January 2017, including the Australian Urban Design Award for Delivered Outcome – Small Scale and the Melbourne Prize at the Victorian Architecture Awards.
The design team included landscape architects Oculus, engineers GHD and signage and wayfinding specialists Büro North.
Also rewarded were Melbourne-based practice My Architect, which was named the best in the Service Design category. Focused on residential projects, the practice states it provides architectural services in a “more accessible, flexible and transparent format.” Its service model includes low-cost consultations and the use of set fees at each stage of the process.
The overall winner of the awards was the YMCA Playnasium by industrial designers Bayly Group, marketing agency McCann and the YMCA. Composed of a set of three outdoor gym objects, the Playnasium couples children’s play equiment with adult exercise equipment for their parent or caregiver.
The awards are administered by Good Design Australia on behalf of the Victorian Premier. Established in 1996 as the Victorian Design Awards, the program is intended to reward projects and designers that “raise awareness of the impact design can have on productivity and business outcomes and the role it plays in helping to shape a better environment and society.”
The other finalists in in the Architectural Design category were:
Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub – Six Degrees Architects
Coppel and Piekarski Family Disability Respite Centre – Jackson Clements Burrows
Cirqua Apartments – BKK Architects, Aspekt Construction Group, Acor Kersulting, NJM Design, Urban Digestor
Garden State Hotel – Techne Architecture + Interior Design, Sand Hill Road, Schiavello Construction, SEMZ Property Group, Robert Bird Group
Haven’t you always wanted…? 2016 NGV Architecture Commission – M@ Studio, ARUP, d__Lab RMIT, Stephen Hennessy Art and Design Pty Ltd (SHAD), Engineering Directions
Henry Street House – Eugene Cheah Architecture, Co-Struct, Area Construction Group, Timberbuilt, CH Group
Promenade Aqui – MAB Corporation, Woods Bagot
The Commons Co-working (South Melbourne) – Siren Design Group
Tribe Hotel – Travis Walton Architecture, John Clemons, 21-19 Studio
Red Hill Residence – Travis Walton Architecture
Remembrance Drive Interchange – Oculus, VicRoads, Paul Thompson, John Holland Group, Michael Taffe
R.A.W. Studios – Travis Walton Architecture, 21-19 Studio, RAD Construction
South Melbourne Beach House – Topology Studio, Lew Building, Clive Steele Partners, SBLA, John Hallett Design and Fabrication