# Victorian Architecture Medal

The Victorian Architecture Medal is the highest honour awarded annually by the Victoria Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) and has been awarded 38 consecutive times since 1987. The Medal was originally known as the ‘Street Architecture Medal’ introduced by the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects (RVIA) in 1929 as an award for the design of a building of exceptional merit. Buildings were judged on their "urban propriety and architectural etiquette; the building had to front a street, road, square or court" and with a requirement of being publicly accessible, thereby excluding residential and private commissions.

## Background
### Definition

The Victorian Architecture Medal is awarded as part of the Victorian Architecture Awards and selected from the AIA Victoria Chapter 'named award' winners, from all direct entry categories and can also be drawn from the winners of the Sustainable Architecture Award, Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture, Melbourne Prize or Regional Prize. The winner of the Medal is judged to be the most outstanding project of the year, by definition making it 'a building, place or structure of exceptional merit', often winning multiple prizes across different award categories.

### Medal

A cast circular bronze medal is awarded to the winner and usually affixed on the winning project in a prominent position.

### Public vs residential awards

The medal winner usually has a strong civic and public character with architectural qualities that contribute to the greater public realm of the city or environment. Two exceptions were the awarding of the Medal to John Wardle Architecture for a private residence, Balnarring Beach House in 1997 and to Wood Marsh for the Yve Apartments on St Kilda Road in 2006.
Changes to the concept of 'public architecture' as the basis for the judging of the award occurred after World War II. The first post war Medal was awarded in 1954 to Roy Grounds House for a residential house and four apartments in Toorak. This was followed ten years later with the private and remote Grimwade House by McGlashan Everist who were awarded the second Medal in 1963. On only six occasions it has been awarded to projects located outside metropolitan Melbourne (1940, 1963, 1987, 1997, 2022 and 2024).
Since 1996 the annual William Wardell Award for Public Architecture has specifically recognised institutional and public buildings. The Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize established in 1997 has become another significant award that addresses the civic and public realm contributions of architecture to the city, but does not focus solely on the experience of the 'street'.

## Street Architecture Medal (1929–1942)
### RIBA influence

The Royal Victorian Institute of Architect's (RVIA) 'Street Architecture Medal' is considered the predecessor and equivalent of the current Victorian Architecture Medal. It was first awarded in 1929 and consecutively 14 times until 1942. The Street Architecture Award was a concept imported from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) that had established an award with the same name in 1923, an idea which had been around since before World War I. The award was created to encourage design excellence in architecture and increase public interest in the 'street architecture' of London. The first award for best public building in London was made to W. Curtis Green for Wolseley House at 157–160 Piccadilly.

### First Medal 1929

The 'Extracts from the Examining Jury's Report' of the first Victorian award by chair P.A. Oakley and jury were reported in the Journal of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in July 1929."As architects, we feel deeply the proud responsibility enjoyed by members of our profession as sponsors of the city buildings which form possibly the most important visible expression of a city’s individuality and attractions." The jury could recognise any building built within the past five years, with the objectives of the award listed as twofold —"Firstly, that buildings which notably contribute to the civic beauty and architecture of the cities of this State should be publicly singled out and acknowledged, in order that universal appreciation of their good qualities and emulation of their characteristics may be encouraged, and that through this means a widespread sense of civic responsibility may be developed and fostered in the architects and citizens of our State..." and secondly that "...due recognition by his fellow practitioners and fellow citizens may be made of the high achievement of the architect responsible for a building deemed worthy of this award...".
It was also noted that a competition was to be held for the design of the bronze plaque to be attached to the winning building, open to RVIA Members and students. In July 1930 it was announced that the design competition for the Street Architecture 'plaque' was won by Mr. J.C. Barton and Mr. H.J. Tribe.
The first medal was presented to Francis House at 107 Collins Street in Melbourne, a narrow fronted five storey office building with a ground level shopfront, designed by architects and cousins Blackett and Forster. William Blackett was the then president of the RVIA in his second term (1928–1930). The building still stands in near original condition. It was built in 1927–1928 for the established pharmacists and chemists, Henry Francis & Co. It was notable for its bronze shopfront details and beige and orange retractable awning, inspired by the shopping streets of Paris and New York, greatly contributing to the characterisation of the area as the 'Paris End' of Collins Street.

### 1937 Medal

In 1936 the president of the RVIA described the purpose of the award was to "encourage excellence of design and public interest in street architecture, the Institute having decided to examine annually buildings completed during the previous three years and to award a medal for a building of exceptional merit". Describing the 1937 medal winning project the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Building on Spring Street in East Melbourne by Leighton Irwin and Roy K. Stevenson "The Jury considers that this is an unusual example of street architecture as it actually faces streets on all four elevations and presents a very interesting treatment of the various facades."

### 1938 Medal

A jury of eleven men judged the 1938 Award, consisting of Mr. Leslie M. Perrott, Vice-President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects; Mr. Percy Everett, Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works, Mr. J.S. MacDonald, Director of the National Gallery (NGV); Mr. W.R. Dean, the Art Inspector, Education Department, State of Victoria and seven architects appointed by the Institute Council; G.R. King, Marcus W. Martin, Charles E. Serpell, A.C. Collins, E. Keith Mackay, Edward F. Billson and John F.D. Scarborough. For the first time a building outside the City of Melbourne won the award for the Second Church of Christ, Scientist in Cookson Street, Camberwell, by Bates Smart McCutcheon, their third medal in 10 years. The jury commentary of the building stated that "restraint rather than decoration tends to characterise accepted standards of good architecture to-day and this building reveals a particularly happy balance between these two considerations. It represents a satisfactory solution to the architectural problem of a modern church without resort to traditional ecclesiastical motifs."

### Other Street Architecture Awards and Medals in Australia

In the 1930s the Royal Institute of British Architects began awarding Street Architecture Awards and Bronze Medals to international projects, including Hackett Memorial Buildings at University of Western Australia which was awarded a RIBA Bronze Medal in 1931. Later Perth Girls' School in Western Australia was awarded a RIBA Bronze Medal in 1939, for the period 1936–1938. British Medical Association (BMA) House at 137 Macquarie Street, Sydney, by architects Fowell and McConnel was presented the RIBA Street Architecture Medal in 1935 for buildings completed in the five years to end of 1933. This was the first time the award had been presented in New South Wales. The RIBA provided the architects with a bronze medal to be affixed to the building and a signed diploma. It was planned at the time for an award to be presented every three years to a new building in New South Wales.

### Post World War II changes

A long pause caused by World War II and a slow return to a regular annual architecture awards in Victoria saw none given until 1954 at around which time the Street Architecture Medal was replaced and renamed with the 'Bronze Medal', 'the medal' or the 'RVIA Architecture Award'. During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s few medals were awarded. It was not until 1987 that an annual medal was awarded consistently and named the Victorian Architecture Medal, and has been given annually until present.

## Victorian Architecture Medal winners (since 1987)

Modern Era Medal Winners by Year :
| Year | Winner | Project | Location | Other AIA awards |
| 2024 | Public Realm Lab | Powerhouse Place | Hugh King Drive, Mildura | Regional Prize, 2024 Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2024 Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2024 |
| 2023 | Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban | University of Melbourne Student Precinct | University of Melbourne, Carlton | Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture, 2023 Heritage Architecture Award for Creative Adaptation, 2023 Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2023 Walter Burley Griffin Award, 2023 (National) National Award for Heritage Architecture |
| 2022 | Noxon Giffen Architects (with McGregor Coxall) | Grampians Peaks Trail Stage 2 | Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) | Regional Prize, 2022 |
| 2021 | Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University | Woodside Building for Technology and Design | 20 Exhibition Walk, Monash University Clayton Campus | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2021 Melbourne Prize, 2021 Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture, 2021 Award for Educational Architecture, 2021 |
| 2020 | Kerstin Thompson Architects | Broadmeadows Town Hall | 10 Dimboola Road, Broadmeadows | Public Architecture Commendation, 2020 |
| 2019 | Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design | Parliament of Victoria Members' Annexe | Spring Street, East Melbourne | National Award for Public Architecture, 2019 Melbourne Prize, 2019 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2019 Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2019 Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2019 |
| 2018 | Lyons with NMBW Architecture Studio, Harrison and White, MvS Architects and Maddison Architects | New Academic Street, RMIT University | Bowen Street, Melbourne | Melbourne Prize (Joint Winner), 2018 Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2018 Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture, Interior Architecture — Architecture Award, 2018 National Award for Urban Design, 2018 |
| 2017 | Silver Thomas Hanley, DesignInc & McBride Charles Ryan | Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) | 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2017 |
| 2016 | ARM Architecture | Geelong Library and Heritage Centre | 51 Little Malop Street, Geelong | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2016 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2016 Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture, 2016 Regional Prize, 2016 |
| 2015 | ARM Architecture | Shrine of Remembrance, Galleries of Remembrance | Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2015 Melbourne Prize, 2015 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture,2015 John George Knight Award (Heritage Architecture), 2015 Urban Design Architecture Award, 2015 |
| 2014 | McBride Charles Ryan | Dallas Brooks Community Primary School | 26—36 King Street, Dallas | National Award for Public Architecture, 2014 Melbourne Prize, 2014 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2014 |
| 2013 | Sean Godsell Architects in association with Peddle Thorp Architects | RMIT University Design Hub (Building 100) | 150 Victoria Street, Carlton | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2013 Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture, 2013 |
| 2012 | Billard Leece Partnership and Bates Smart | Royal Children's Hospital | 50 Flemington Road, Parkville | Melbourne Prize, 2012 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2012 |
| 2011 | Cox Architecture | AAMI Park | Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne | Melbourne Prize, 2011 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2011 Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture, 2011 |
| 2010 | Woods Bagot and NH Architecture | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre | 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf | Melbourne Prize, 2010 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2010 Steel Architecture Award, Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2010 |
| 2009 | ARM Architecture | Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre Project, (Southbank Theatre) | 31 Sturt Street, Southbank | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2009 Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2009 Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture, 2009 |
| 2008 | John Wardle Architecture | Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership, Melbourne Grammar School | 47 Domain Road, Melbourne | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2008 National Award for Public Architecture, 2008 Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture, 2008 |
| 2007 | Grimshaw Jackson Joint Venture | Southern Cross Station | Spencer Street, Melbourne | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2007 Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design (National Award) |
| 2006 | Wood Marsh Architecture | Yve Apartments | 576–578 St Kilda Road, Melbourne | Harold Desbrowe–Annear Residential Award, 2006 Residential Architecture — Multiple Housing (National), 2016 |
| 2005 | McBride Charles Ryan Architecture and Interior Design | Templestowe Park Primary School Multipurpose Hall | 399 Church Road, Templestowe | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2005 |
| 2004 | ARM Architecture | Shrine of Remembrance Visitor Centre and Garden Courtyard | Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne | Melbourne Prize, 2004 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2004 John George Knight Award (Heritage Architecture), 2004 Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design (National), 2004 |
| 2003 | Lab Architecture Studio in association with Bates Smart | Federation Square | Flinders Street & St Kilda Road, Melbourne | Melbourne Prize, 2003 Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2003 Mahony Griffin Award for Interior Architecture (National Award), 2003 |
| 2002 | Lyons | Victoria University Online Training Centre, St Albans Campus | University Boulevard, St Albans | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2003 |
| 2001 | Denton Corker Marshall | Melbourne Museum | 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton Gardens, Carlton | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2001 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2001 |
| 2000 | FIELD Consultants | Holyoake Cottage, Eaglemont | Eaglemont, Victoria | Harold Desbrowe–Annear Award, 2000 |
| 1999 | Nation Fender Katsalidis Architects | Ian Potter Museum of Art | Swanston Street, Melbourne | Commendation for Public Architecture (National), 1999 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 1999 Melbourne Prize, 1999 |
| 1998 | Wood Marsh/Pels Innes Neilson Kosloff | Eastern Freeway Extension (Stage 3) Sound Barriers | M3 Eastern Freeway (Doncaster Road to Springvale Road), Doncaster, Doncaster East and Blackburn North | Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design (National), 1998 |
| 1997 | John Wardle Architecture | Isaacson Davis Residence | Balnarring, Mornington Peninsula | Harold Desbrowe–Annear Award, 1997 |
| 1996 | ARM Architecture | Storey Hall (RMIT Building 16) | 336 Swanston Street, Melbourne | William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 1996 Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture, 1996 Interior Award (National), 1996 |
| 1995 | Edmond & Corrigan in association with Demaine Partnership | RMIT Building 8 | 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne | Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design (National), 1995 Award for Institutional Alterations & Extensions, 1995 City of Melbourne Award for Institutional Buildings, 1995 |
| 1994 | Williams & Boag | Tyne Street Multiple Housing | 8–28 Tyne Street, Carlton | Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 1994 (National) Merit Award for Multiple Residential, 1993 City of Melbourne Building and Planning Awards Merit Award—Multiple Dwellings Category, 1994 |
| 1993 | Crone Ross | Chapel of the Holy Trinity | Trinity Grammar School, Charles Street, Kew | Merit award for New Institutional Buildings, 1993 |
| 1992 | Tompkins Shaw and Evans/Daryl Jackson | MCG Southern Stand Redevelopment (Great Southern Stand/Shane Warne Stand) | Brunton Avenue, East Melbourne | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, (National) 1993 Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, 2020 |
| 1991 | Peter Elliott | Carlton Baths and Community Centre | 248 Rathdowne Street, Carlton | 1991 New Institutional Award [merit], 1991 BHP Steel Profile Architecture of the Decade Awards 1981–1991 [highly commended], 1991 BHP Steel Sheet and Coil Products Division and Metal Building [merit], 1991 |
| 1990 | ARM Architecture | Brunswick Community Health Centre | 11 Glenlyon Road, Brunswick, Victoria | Institutional Award |
| 1989 | Edmond & Corrigan with Ministry for Housing and Construction | Dandenong College of TAFE, Stage 3 | Dandenong, Victoria | Commendation for Public Architecture (National), 1989 Outstanding Architecture Award — New Institutional Category (Victoria Chapter), 1989 |
| 1988 | Katsalidis & Partners | Deutscher Fine Art Gallery & Residence | 7 Elm Street, Carlton | |
| 1987 | Gregory Burgess | Catholic Church of St Michael & St John | 9 McLachlan Street, Horsham | |

## Gallery of awarded projects

* 1992 Victorian Architecture Medal, Great Southern Stand MCG by Daryl Jackson
* 1995 Victorian Architecture Medal, RMIT Building 8 by Edmond & Corrigan
* 1996 Victorian Architecture Medal, Storey Hall RMIT by Ashton Raggatt McDougall
* 1999 Victorian Architecture Medal, Medal installed at Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne
* 1999 Victorian Architecture Medal, Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne
* 2001 Victorian Architecture Medal, Melbourne Museum by Denton Corker Marshall
* 2004 Victorian Architecture Medal, Shrine of Remembrance Visitor Centre and Garden Courtyard by Ashton Raggatt McDougall
* 2007 Victorian Architecture Medal, Southern Cross Station by Grimshaw Jackson Joint Venture
* 2008 Victorian Architecture Medal, Nigel Peck Centre, Melbourne Grammar School by John Wardle Architecture
* 2011 Victorian Architecture Medal, AAMI Park by COX
* 2013 Victorian Architecture Medal, RMIT Design Hub by Sean Godsell
* 2015 Award, Shrine of Remembrance (Education Courtyard), Melbourne, Victoria
* 2016 Victorian Architecture Medal, Geelong Library and Heritage Centre by Ashton Raggatt McDougall
* 2021 Victorian Architecture Medal, Woodside Building for Technology and Design at Monash University by Grimshaw
* 2023 Victorian Architecture Medal, University of Melbourne Student by Precinct by a team led by Lyons

## Architecture Medal winners (1943–1986)

In the period following World War II and the resumption of some awards in 1954, the Street Architecture Medal was dropped as an award, with more than 12 years passing since it was last judged and awarded. Perhaps responding to the rise of modernism and new concerns in architecture it was seen as outmoded and out of date, although there was a widespread use of the term 'Bronze Medal' often for housing projects during the period it is unclear if these medals equate to the status of the current Victoria Architecture Medal.
Medal Winners by Year :
| Year | Winner | Project | Location | Other AIA awards |
| 1986–1980 | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS |
| 1979 | Edmond and Corrigan | Resurrection School | 402 Corrigan Road, Keysborough | Victorian Architecture Medal, Buildings Award "Judged an outstanding contribution to architecture" (text on cast medal) |
| 1976–1978 | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS |
| 1975 | Yuncken Freeman | BHP House$^†$ | 140 William Street, Melbourne | Award of Merit, 1973 Bronze Medal, 1975 National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2005 |
| 1974–1969 | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS |
| 1968 | McGlashan Everist | Heide II$^†$ | Heide Gallery, 7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen | Bronze Medal, 1968 Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, 2016 |
| 1968 | Romberg & Boyd | Fletcher House$^{††}$ | 8 Avonbury Court, Brighton | Bronze Medal, 1968 |
| 1967 | Yuncken Freeman | Royal Insurance Group$^†$ | 430—444 Collins Street, Melbourne | General Building Category |
| 1966–1964 | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS |
| 1963 | McGlashan Everist | Grimwade House | 28–54 Dundas Street, Rye, Victoria | |
| 1962–1955 | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS |
| 1954 | Grounds, Romberg & Boyd | House and Four Apartments (Roy Grounds House) | 24 Hill Street, Toorak | RVIA Architecture Award, 1954 (Medal inscription on building) |
| 1953–1943 | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS | NO AWARDS |
Note:
* Street Architecture Medal concept dropped by 1954.
* Definition of award changed to consider private and residential projects.
* No 'Victorian Architecture Medals' were awarded between the years 1955–1962 and 1964–1986 (according to the AIA).
* $^†$ Bronze Medals were awarded during periods when the AIA have stated no VAMs were awarded.
* $^{††}$ Bronze Medal for The Age/RAIA House of the Year.
* Status of Bronze Medals to be determined.

## RVIA Street Architecture Medal winners (1929—1942)

Predecessor (and equivalent) to Victorian Architecture Medal :
| Year | Winner | Project | Location |
| 1942 | Meldrum and Noad | Western Branch of the National Bank of Australasia Limited | 460 Collins Street, Melbourne (corner of William Street) |
| 1941 | Stephenson and Turner | King George V Jubilee Maternal and Infant Welfare Pathological Building | Women's Hospital, Melbourne |
| 1940 | Edward F. Billson | Sanitarium Health Food Company Building | 3475 Warburton Highway, Warburton |
| 1939 | Peck & Kempter and AC Leith & Associates | Heidelberg Town Hall and Municipal Offices | 275 Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe |
| 1938 | Bates, Smart and McCutcheon | Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Melbourne | 41 Cookson Street, Camberwell |
| 1937 | Leighton Irwin and Roy K. Stevenson | Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Building | 250—290 Spring Street, East Melbourne |
| 1936 | Godfrey and Spowers (design architects: Norman H Seabrook and WR Godfrey) | Bank of New South Wales office | 368–374 Collins Street, Melbourne since demolished |
| 1935 | A&K Henderson and Partners (Kingsley Henderson) | Shell Corner | Corner of Bourke and Williams Street, Melbourne, demolished 1958 |
| 1934 | Bates, Smart and McCutcheon (Walter Osbert McCutcheon) | Buckley & Nunn Building (now part of David Jones) | 294–312 Bourke Street, Melbourne |
| 1933 | Sidney Smith, Ogg and Serpell | Port of Melbourne Authority Building (now the Port Apartments) | 29–31 Market Street, Melbourne |
| 1932 | Bates, Smart and McCutcheon | AMP Building | 419–429 Collins Street, Melbourne |
| 1931 | A&K Henderson and Partners | Lyric House | 250 Collins Street, Melbourne |
| 1930 | E. Evan Smith, Chief Architect; designed and constructed by the Public Works Department of Victoria | Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy (RMIT Building 13) | 405 Russell Street, Melbourne |
| 1929 | WAB Blackett and WB Forster | Francis House | 107 Collins Street, Melbourne |
Notes:
RVIA Street Architecture Medal
* No Street Architecture Medals were awarded during the war years and post–war years between 1943 and 1953.
* 5 of 12 awards were for buildings on Collins Street, Melbourne.
* 10 of 12 awards were for buildings in Melbourne's CBD.