Submissions for 2021 Awards now open!
Entries are now open for the 2021 Inner West Built Environment Awards. The two awards, which celebrate the rich heritage of the inner west, are the Marrickville Medal for Conservation and the Inner West Urban Photography Competition.
The theme of this year’s awards is “Our Heritage For the Future”.
Entries for the two awards can be lodged via the application forms below:
2021 Marrickville Medal Submission Form
2021 Urban Photography Submission Form
Marrickville Medal for Conservation
The Marrickville Medal for Conservation has been awarded annually since 1995 and was one of the first of its kind in New South Wales.
It celebrates built conservation works that contribute to the understanding and preservation of the Inner West’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.
The award coincides with the state-wide National Trust Heritage Festival held in April–May every year.
Eligibility and judging
The award is open to all building works, completed in the past three years, having positive conservation outcomes. Conservation includes any of the following approaches:
- Preservation
- Restoration
- Reconstruction
- Adaptation
- Interpretation
Works can be large or small, private or public, but the judges will be looking for thoughtful and innovative outcomes.
The three-person judging panel may include: a heritage specialist, a member of a local heritage society and a conservation architect.
Inner West Urban Photography Competition
The Inner West Urban Photography Competition is open to people of all ages and abilities, and encourages people to engage with the Inner West Council urban landscape.
Eligibility and judging
Inner West Urban Photography Competition images must in some way feature, reference or comment on heritage attributes of our built environment within the Inner West Council local government area.
The municipality is full of uniquely interesting places, spaces, and details which may evoke strong emotive responses.
The competition specifically seeks a contemporary perspective on the layers of urban fabric around us.
The judging panel may include two or more of the following judges: a photographic teacher or curator, Council's Cultural or Heritage Advisor, a member of the local heritage societies, a commercial photographer or head of photography, and/or an LRAC member.
The Built Environment Awards are part of the National Trust’s 2020 Australian Heritage Festival which runs throughout April and May.
Additional information about the Heritage Festival can be found at the National Trust website.
2020 winners and finalists
Details about our 2020 winners and finalists can be found below.
Marrickville Medal for Conservation
Winner: 6 Montague Street, Balmain
Judges Comments:
The adaptative reuse of the c.1912 former Temperance Hall to provide five new apartments within the existing building envelope has been carried out in a way that retains the principal significance of the historic building, including its significant streetscape elevation, while adapting the building for contemporary living.
The timber hardwood beams with iron arch braces from the original hall are exposed within the new apartments, and these have been incorporated in an innovative way into the new designs. Original fabric has been repaired, including the timber windows and the historic pressed metal ceilings. The double-height spaces within the hall have been retained, with the new mezzanines set back from the trusses. The work included the management of noise separation and fire compliance, without compromising the heritage fabric and spaces, often difficult in adaptive reuse projects of this nature.
The jury considers that juxtaposition of the historic structure and the contemporary architectural expression has created a lively conversation between old and new, and demonstrates the possibilities for positive heritage outcomes by the creative partnership between a supportive owner and an enthusiastic architect.
High commendation: Cnr Norton & Marion Streets, Leichhardt
Judges Comments:
The conservation and repair works to the external fabric of the 1880s Victorian neoclassical Leichhardt Town Hall are exemplary and have been carried out to a high standard, and they follow the process of research & analysis before decision making.
The Town Hall is a local landmark and a significant and prominent civic building at the corner of Norton and Marion Street in Leichhardt. The new stone-coloured paint scheme that has been implemented, based on an understanding of the historic colour schemes, interprets the historic schemes to accentuate the architectural modelling of the building and enhance its street presence.
The reconstruction of the window to the former library returns an important detail to the elevation fronting Marion Street which has been missing for over half a century. Other conservation work included repair works to windows, clock faces, foundation stone and to the tower and roof finials. New external lighting has been installed.
The project demonstrates a strong collaboration between client, heritage architect and builder, who set up a joinery repair shop on site to carry out the works.
Commendation: 16 Balfour Street, Dulwich Hill
Judges Comments:
The conservation and new addition to a c. 1914 timber house in Dulwich Hill included the removal of fibro cladding, replacement of aluminium windows with timber windows, and the reconstruction of the front verandah. New windows were based on the historic layout and form of the original windows, using in situ evidence of the original opening. The profile of the original weatherboards was reproduced to replace those missing from the front elevation. The bullnose front verandah was a conjectural reconstruction, taking its cue from similar houses locally. A new timber picket fence was constructed. Internally, the building was adapted and extended for contemporary living in a way that retains the open space of the backyard.
The jury considered the works to building to have reinstated the streetscape contribution of this house, while updating it for contemporary living.
Commendation: 313 Marrickville Road, Marrickville
Judges Comments:
The adaptive reuse of the c.1920 former Marrickville hospital building, which has been conserved, repurposed and integrated into the new library to create a new civic hub. The jury were impressed with the careful adaption of the historic building to accommodate the new uses, and that the uses were selected based on a ‘best-fit’ allowing the former ward spaces to remain legible, including the roof trusses, and historic joinery, with the reconstruction of the former verandahs which are now reading rooms. The slate roof of the building has been restored and is visible from within the new library.
The heritage interpretation referring to pre-European links to the site, and to the former brickyards and hospital uses building along with women authors and librarians is a positive feature of the works.
The innovative contemporary additions facilitate a wide range of uses on site, and have been designed around an open space which has been embraced by the local community. The jury commends the project team for an outcome which provides a new and lively use for the historic building.
Urban Photography Awards
Open Category
Winner: Serkan Ogdum, Symmetry In Time
Judges Comments:
The jury considered this to be a beautifully composed and well cropped photo displaying strong creativity. It has great graphic qualities through the colours, the strong geometry, and the contrast of the pattern of the blockwork and the texture of the natural sandstone, enlivened by the movement and human of the person at the top right of the image. The Rozelle/Balmain sign, which is vertically aligned with the corner of the wall above, and the placement of the various shadows, all contribute the composition.
Commendation: Ann Hodgson, Tank 101
Commendation: Ann Hodgson, The Flour Mill
Commendation: Jake Starr, The King's Concourse
Commendation: Pierre Mardaga, Humphrey, Skylar & Erykah - Pugs
Commendation: Richard Sydenham, Lustre-Glo
Commendation: Skye Gellmann, When the Paint Peels 3
Secondary School Category
Winner: Charlie Moore, Old and new in parallel
Judges Comments:
The jury considered the winning image of the historic Whipple bridge in Lewisham to be an adventurous photo which captures in black and white the silhouette of the underside of the former railway line. The photograph makes good use of similar elements to create a repetitive rhythm, and a strong contrast of forms.
COMMENDATION Evan Black, Old Through New
Primary School Category
Winner: Jesper Svensson, I Have a Dream
Judges Comments:
The jury considered the winning image to be have a strong graphic quality; it is colourful and well composed and well cropped to highlight the subject which includes the iconic ‘I have a dream’ mural in King Street, Newtown.
2020 Awards Judges
Marrickville Medal
Scott MacArthur: Scott is a conservation architect, and is currently in his sixth year as President of the Marrickville Heritage Society. He is a previous winner of a NSW Government Heritage Volunteer Award and the Marrickville Medal Heritage Promotions Special Achievement Award in recognition of his work with the Society to champion the built heritage of the former Marrickville LGA.
Matt Devine: Matt is an architect and heritage specialist with over 25 years experience working in small - medium size commercial architectural practices, as well as the Government Architect’s Office, National Trust of Australia (NSW) and the Australian Institute of Architects. Since 2017, he has been engaged in sole practice, as well as working in strategic planning at the City of Sydney. Recent projects involve the conservation of, alterations and additions to, and management of heritage buildings and landscapes across NSW. In association with practice, has been involved in architectural education for over 10 years, as a lecturer, critic, tutor and course supervisor.
Urban Photography Awards
Michael Nicholson: Michael is an established and award-winning commercial photographer who has specialised in architectural and interiors photography for the past 30 years. He has a degree in architecture from the University of Sydney and brings the same level of vision, skill and experience to photography as an architect brings to design, which has made him the photographer-of-choice for several leading architects. After embarking on his photographic career, Michael further honed his craft alongside Max Dupain for two years. His images appear in collections including the National Gallery of Australia, in specialist books, and in publications including Habitus, Indesign, Architecture Australia, Architectural Digest, Wallpaper and Domus.
Congratulations to all Winners and Award recipients! See below for a full listing and gallery of all 2020 finalists.
2020 Marrickville Medal for Conservation Finalists
| Property |
Designer |
Builder |
Photographer |
| 3 Hearn Street, Leichhardt |
Robert Parisi Architecture + Design |
DCD Group Pty Ltd |
Tom Ferguson Photography |
|
6 Montague Street, Balmain - Winner
|
Mike Macaulay Architects
|
Cubic Construction Management P/L
|
Belle Property Group
|
| 12 Piper Street, Annandale |
Carter Williamson Architects |
Andrew Burton Constructions |
Katherine Lu |
|
16 Balfour Street, Dulwich Hill - Commendation
|
Bluemist Designs Pty Ltd |
Paul Toni |
Paul Toni |
| 16 Lilydale Street, Marrickville |
Mirvac Design/TZG |
Mirvac Construction |
Mirvac |
| 21 Thompson Street, Marrickville |
Bruce Welch |
Men in White |
Bruce Welch |
|
313 Marrickville Road, Marrickville - Commendation
|
BVN/GML Heritage |
CD Construction Group |
Tom Roe |
|
Cnr Marion Street and Norton Street, Leichhardt - High commendation
|
Hector Abrahams Architects |
A J Bristow and Sons |
Mark Syke |
2020 Urban Photography Awards Finalists
Primary Category
| Name |
Title |
| Audrey Marczan |
New surrounding renewed |
| Jesper Svensson |
I Have a Dream |
| Lucia Sepahpour |
Extinction |
Secondary Category
| Name |
Title |
| Charlie Moore |
Old and new in parallel |
| Evan Black |
Old Through New |
| Max Hepburn |
Old home new colours |
Open Category
| Name |
Title |
| Aixin Wu |
Newtown Enmore 2 |
| Ann Hodgson |
The Flour Mill |
| Ann Hodgson |
Tank 101 |
| Asad Rajbhoy |
Petersham Reservoir 1
|
Colleen Harris
|
Locked Up |
Faye Jenkins
|
Paint and Tiles - Darling St, Balmain |
| Frances Smith |
Untitled 3
|
Gaanesh Prasad
|
Fly High |
Geoff Harvey
|
Campbell St St Peters |
George Fetting
|
Arcade - Leichhardt 2040 |
Hayden Walsh
|
Adaptation
|
Ian Gilmour
|
2.32am
|
Jake Starr
|
The King's Concourse
|
Joanne Karcz
|
Power Station
|
Kathy Wallace
|
Brickyards Night School
|
| Mark Gardiner |
Old Corner Shop |
Melissa Hagarty
|
Petersham Station
|
| Pierre Mardaga |
Humphrey, Skylar and Erykah - Pugs
|
Richard Sydenham
|
Lustre-glo |
Rosina Schinella
|
Puzzle of Life |
Serkan Ogdum
|
Symmetry In Time
|
Skye Gellmann
|
When the Paint Peels 3
|
Stephen Finlay
|
Colgate Building - imposing and balanced with surroundings |
Terry Armstrong
|
Sun Lit |
Terry Armstrong
|
Livingstone Rd Smoke
|
Tim Murphy
|
Lane Ways of Annandale |
2019 winners and finalists
On Saturday 4 May, the 2019 Built Environment Awards were presented at the Kirkbride Theatre, Sydney College of the Arts, Lilyfield. Congratulations to all Award recipients! An exhibition of the finalists was held at Leichhardt Library from 3 June to 31 July 2019.