Melbourne, Australia – The ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact, set for 2025, unveils its jury while announcing the opening for submissions. This prestigious prize celebrates architectural projects that go beyond mere form to substantially benefit society.
The award highlights designs that prioritize public interest and empathy, reinforcing architecture’s role in societal enhancement. The winning projects are recognized for fostering social cohesion, promoting racial justice, and improving accessibility among other critical social contributions.
This year’s judges bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from various corners of the architectural world. The panel includes Helen Barrie from the University of South Australia, Amelia Borg of Sibling Architecture, Shaneen Fantin, a noted architect and researcher, Philip Thalis from Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects, and Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media. Rory Hyde from the Melbourne School of Design at the University of Melbourne will convene the jury.
The previous year’s recipient of the award, Wangaratta District Specialist School, designed by Sibling Architecture, was lauded for its innovative approach to creating inclusive and versatile learning environments, demonstrating the powerful impact of thoughtful architectural design in educational settings.
The 2025 edition of the award offers a $5,000 cash prize, encouraging architects to present projects that demonstrate a tangible social impact. Entrants are urged to showcase how their designs have addressed issues such as inclusive housing, equity, and social sustainability.
Submission for projects is open until March 7, 2025. Interested participants are encouraged to refer to prior awarded and commended projects to gauge the competition and understand the level of social impact the jury seeks.
The ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact is managed by Architecture Media and supported by the Melbourne School of Design along with Latitude Group and Pepto Lab as partners. This collaboration underscores the community’s commitment to recognizing architectures that enrich public spaces and lives.
The award serves not only as a commendation of innovative design but also as a beacon encouraging architects to blend aesthetics with altruistic functions, pushing the boundaries of how buildings shape societies.
Architecture, at its best, creates environments that are not only visually appealing but also socially resonant. This award stands as a testament to the industry’s potential to effect positive change and to inspire architects to craft spaces that truly make a difference.
This article was automatically written by Open AI. The facts, people, and circumstances depicted may be inaccurate. For corrections or removal requests, please email [email protected].