At a gala event on Saturday night, the very best developments in WA were crowned at the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA WA) Awards for Excellence 2023.
From one of the world’s most sustainable developments in the South West, to the height of luxury in Subiaco, the award winners reflect the growing diversity of housing options available to the West Australian market.
“Many of this year’s award winners successfully navigated significant challenges in the wake of the pandemic including cost escalations, supply chain issues, worker shortages and general disruption caused by shutdowns and restrictions,” UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck said.
“The quality of these projects and their market success is testament to the dedication and vision of the teams behind them,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“The awards display the absolute quality in the WA development industry, and we are very proud to be able to showcase what has been achieved,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“In the midst of a housing supply crisis, it is fantastic to be able to celebrate what the industry is delivering to the market, and we hope to see more of it in the coming years,” Ms Steinbeck said.
A major catalyst for the reinvigoration of Perth’s inner suburbs, ONE Subiaco by Blackburne Property Group took out the top gong on the night, securing the Russel Perry Award for Urban Development Excellence. ONE Subiaco also won in the Apartments (High Rise) category.
The Russel Perry Award is chosen out of all the winners on the night and the winning project reflects the very best urban development for 2023.
ONE Subiaco is a luxury apartment development located on the former Pavillion Market site that offers a mix of apartment living and mixed-use commercial tenancies including the already popular Subi Continental on the ground floor.
The three luxury residential buildings atop the podium level, reflect a stunning and thoughtful design and accommodate 236 beautiful, immaculately finished apartments that have attracted many owner occupiers from the local area.
“ONE Subiaco is a fantastic example of how quality infill development can enhance local communities and provide options for locals to downsize within the area that they are familiar with and have ongoing connections with,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“Blackburne have done a fantastic job in delivering a beautiful project that appeals to the market and enhances its surroundings.”
Another project that secured two awards on the night is a sustainable development in the South West that has been decades in the planning.
Witchcliffe Ecovillage by Sustainable Settlements Pty Ltd and Perron Developments Pty Ltd was awarded in both the Excellence in Sustainability category and the Affordable Housing category.
Witchcliffe EcoVillage is a carbon negative community that is showcasing innovative approaches to sustainability across a range of areas.
The development is self-sufficient in renewable energy for households and electric vehicles, rainwater and fresh food produce. Regenerative agriculture practices are being implemented, along with passive solar and low carbon building techniques. Over 50% of the 120-hectare site is community gardens and public open space.
The EcoVillage also has an Affordable Housing Strategy that takes a holistic approach to affordable living from initial purchase price to the ongoing cost of living.
The village’s eleven residential clusters include a component of small ‘Groupie’ lots with a lower purchase price and a 100m2 maximum house size to ensure genuinely affordable product options.
There are also medium density ‘microclusters’ offering another affordable option to buyers.
“There are so many innovations that have been trialled and implemented at Witchcliffe, so many hurdles needed to be overcome to get this project off the ground,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“The project is a true reflection of absolute commitment to sustainability and community from the development team,” Ms Steinbeck said.
Another double winner on the night, Victoria House by Hesperia won the Excellence in Design Award and the Medium Density category.
This adaptation of a State Heritage listed building has resulted in a stand-out centrepiece for the broader Montario Quarter precinct.
The site of Perth’s first infectious diseases hospital is now home to 81 residential apartments, a range of health services focused on children and young adults and a commercial café that utilizes materials salvaged from the original hospital.
Victoria House comprises a mix of one-, two and three-bedroom residences across three boutique buildings, Ochre, Umber and Siena, meaning there is a diversity of options for homeowners.
“Victoria House is a great example of how under-utilized urban spaces can be transformed to provide housing and lifestyle options for Perth’s growing population,” Ms Steinbeck said.
Several other medium density projects were recognised in the awards, reflecting the growing significance of this type of development to Perth’s urban growth and maturity.
DevelopmentWA’s Montario Quarter won in the Urban Renewal category, Salt Lane, also by DevelopmentWA won in the Boutique Development category, while the stunning NOMA Residences by Parcel Property won in the Apartments (Mid-Rise) category.
NOMA Residences is a superbly designed apartment project that offers luxury living in a well-connected context. The overall design of the building, which features a brick façade treatment, archways, bronze window frames and extensive landscaping ensures it complements the distinctive character of Mosman Park.
In a reflection of how Perth development is evolving, Exchange at Curtin University won in the Masterplanned Communities category, recognised for showcasing how a university can meaningfully integrate with the local community and provide a diverse range of uses including student teaching facilities, hotel, student accommodation, commercial enterprises, retail, social and sporting facilities all within a bustling Transit Oriented Development site.
Moving further afield, a new community emerging in the Swan Valley area was recognised as the best Residential Subdivision.
Henley Brook by Mirvac has preserved the rural character of the location through the retention of over 600 mature trees, rejuvenation of an existing stream, an orchard and the gas pipeline reserve turned into a useable recreation space.
From the wide tree lined boulevard, to the generous hand- laid Toodjay stone entry, community orchard, living stream and Whadjuk/Noongar art trail, the community sits perfectly and respectfully within its surrounds.
The Judge’s Award was bestowed on Foundation Housing for their Specialist Disability Accommodation at 7A & 7B Carman Way in Bassendean.
Other winners on the night included Rockingham Youth Centre by City of Rockingham in the Social & Community Infrastructure category; and Ora Sorrento by Megara Property in the Marketing category.
Individual winners on the night were Nicole Lockwood, Chair of Infrastructure WA for the Women in Leadership Award and Lachlan McCaffrey from Stockland won the Young Development Professional Award.
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Read the Winners Showcase magazine here.