Robin Boyd Award Explained

Robin Boyd Award for New Residential Architecture
Current Awards:	Edition Office
Awarded For:	Highest Residential Architecture Award in Australia
Presenter:	Australian Institute of Architects
Country:	Australia
Year2:	2024

The Robin Boyd Award for New Residential Architecture is an Australian national architecture prize presented annually by the Australian Institute of Architects since 1981.

The award is the highest in the residential architecture category. Alongside the named award, secondary awards are given including a 'National Award' and 'National Commendation' to highly regarded entries.

The award is presented in memory of the Australian architect Robin Boyd (1919—1971), and is awarded to residential architecture that sets benchmarks for meeting client's needs, responding to the site and providing shelter that is at the leading edge of house design.

Multiple winners

Sydney based architect Peter Stutchbury has been awarded the Robin Boyd Award on four occasions; 2003, 2005, 2020 and 2021.

The office of Durbach Block Jaggers based in Kings Cross, Sydney has won the award three times; in 1998 and 2004 (as Durbach Block) and 2017.

Two time winners include Glenn Murcutt, Lindsay Clare, John Wardle, Timothy Hill, Sean Godsell, Alexander Tzannes, Kerstin Thompson, Troppo Architects and Denton Corker Marshall.

List of recipients

Robin Boyd Awards by year

Year	Winner	Project	Location	Other RAIA/AIA Awards
1981		Two Houses (Nicholas and Carruthers Houses)^[1]	Mount Irvine	Wilkinson Award, 1981
1982	NO AWARD
1983		Sea House	Caraar Creek Lane, Beleura Hill, Mornington
1984		Downes–Stoney Residence	East Perth
1985		Magney House^[2] ^[3]	Bingie Bingie Point, New South Wales	National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2011 New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award, 2011 Wilkinson Award, 1985
1986	Geoffrey Pie Architects/Planners	Pie Residence^[4]	Peregian Beach	Robin Gibson Award for Enduring Architecture, 2012 (QLD)
1987	Ken Woolley, Ancher Mortlock Woolley	Palm Beach House	Palm Beach
1988		Henwood House^[5]	Paddington
1989	Don Watson	Campbell House/Graceville House^[6]	35 Molonga Terrace, Graceville
1990		Griffin House	8a Rockley Street, Castlecrag
1991	Gabriel Poole (Joint Winner)	Tent House
	Dale Jones–Evans (Joint Winner)	Gallery House	23 Morang Road, Hawthorn
1992		Clare House	Buderim
1993	Gordon & Valich (Joint Winner)	Palm Beach House
	Hamish Lyon and Astrid Jenkin with Charles Salter (Joint Winner)	Lyon/Jenkin House^[7]	Carlton
	Troppo Architects (Joint Winner)	Commonwealth Defence Housing Authority, Larrakeyah Housing Precinct 2^[8]	Larrakeyah, Darwin	Tracy Memorial Award, 1993 (NT)
1994	Bud Brannigan	Brannigan Residence^[9]	St Lucia
1995	Clare Design (Joint Winner)	Hammond Residence^[10]	Cooran
	Craig A Rossetti (Joint Winner)	106–112 Cremorne Street (Six Terraces)	Richmond
1996	Ken Latona (Joint Winner)	Additions to a front verandah^[11]	Woollahra
	John Mainwaring & Associates (Joint Winner)	Chapman House^[12]	Noosa Heads
1997		House	Northbridge
1998	Durbach Block Architects	Droga Apartment	Foster Street, Surry Hills
1999	Denton Corker Marshall (Joint Winner)	Sheep Farm House^[13]	Kyneton
	Graham Jahn Associates (Joint Winner)	Grant House	1 Esther Street, Surry Hills
2000		Emery Residence^[14]	Cape Schanck
2001		D House^[15]	Harcourt Street, New Farm	House of the Year Award, 2001^[16]
2002		Lavarack Barracks Redevelopment Stage 2^[17]	Townsville
2003	Stutchbury + Pape (Joint Winner)	Bay House^[18]	Watsons Bay	NSW Chapter Award for Architecture – Single Housing, 2003^[19]
	Kerry Hill Architects (Joint Winner)	Ogilvie House^[20]
2004	Durbach Block Architects	House Spry^[21]	Point Piper	NSW Chapter Award for Architecture – Single Housing, 2004
2005	Stutchbury and Pape	Springwater^[22]	Seaforth	NSW Chapter Award for Architecture – Single Housing, 2005
2006		St Andrews Beach House^[23]	St Andrews Beach	Victoria Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2006
2007	Paul Morgan Architects	Cape Schanck House^[24]	Bass Vista Boulevard, Cape Schanck	Victoria Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2007
2008	McBride Charles Ryan	Klein Bottle House^[25] ^[26]	Rye	Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award for Residential Architecture, 2008
2009	Chenchow Little Architects	Freshwater House^[27] ^[28]	Freshwater	NSW Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2009
2010	HBV Architects (James Jones)	House at Trial Bay^[29] ^[30]	3101 Channel Highway, Kettering	Tasmania Chapter, Esmond Dorney Award (Residential Architecture), 2010
2011	Neeson Murcutt Architects	Castlecrag House^[31] ^[32]	Castlecrag	NSW Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2011
2012		Shearer's Quarters^[33]	North Bruny Island	Tasmania Chapter, Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture, 2012 Tasmania Chapter, Esmond Dorney Award (Residential Architecture), 2012
2013		Fairhaven Beach House^[34] ^[35]	Fairhaven Beach, Fairhaven	Victoria Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2013 (1 of 3 awarded)^[36]
2014		House at Hanging Rock^[37]	Hanging Rock	Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award for Residential Architecture, 2014^[38]
2015	Jesse Bennett Architect	Planchonella House^[39]	Cairns	Queensland Chapter, Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture, 2015^[40] 2015 Houses Awards: Australian House of the Year^[41]
2016	Smart Design Studio	Indigo Slam^[42]	63 O'Connor Street, Chippendale	Wilkinson Award, 2016 Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture (National), 2017 NSW Architecture Award for Interior Architecture, 2017 World Architecture Festival (INSIDE) Awards, Residential (International), 2016
2017	Durbach Block Jaggers	Tamarama House^[43]	23 Kenneth Street, Tamarama	Wilkinson Award, 2017
2018		House on the Coast^[44]	Mornington Peninsula	Victoria Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2018 (1 of 3 awarded)^[45]
2019	Partners Hill (Timothy Hill)	Daylesford Longhouse^[46]	Daylesford	Victoria Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2019 (1 of 5 awarded)^[47]
2020	Peter Stutchbury Architecture (Joint Winner)	Basin Beach House^[48] ^[49]	Basin Beach, Mona Vale	NSW Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2020 (1 of 5 awarded)^[50]
	Kerstin Thompson Architects (Joint Winner)	East Street^[51] ^[52]	350 East Street, East Albury	NSW Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2021 (1 of 5 awarded)^[53]
2021		Night Sky^[54] ^[55]	Blackheath	NSW Chapter, Residential Architecture Award – New Houses, 2021 (1 of 5 awarded)
2022	NO AWARD
2023	SJB (Adam Haddow)	19 Waterloo Street^[56]	19 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills	Wilkinson Award, 2023 (NSW) Commendation, New House (under 200m^2), Houses Awards^[57] Commendation, Residential Design, AIDA^[58]
2024	Edition Office	Naples Street House^[59] ^[60]	17 Naples Street, Box Hill South, Victoria	Harold Desbrowe—Annear Award, Residential Architecture – Houses (New), 2024 (Victoria)

2022 Award

In 2022 the following projects were shortlisted for the award:^[61]

• Mays Point House, Mays Point, Tasmania^[62] — Tanner Architects
• LiveWorkShare House, Samford Village, Queensland^[63] — Bligh Graham Architects
• Curl Curl House, Curl Curl, New South Wales^[64] — TRIAS (2022 National Award)
• Stable House, Forest Lodge, New South Wales^[65] — Sibling Architecture
• Corner House, Flinders, Victoria^[66] — Archier (2022 National Commendation)
• Jimmy's House, Goonderup, North Perth, Western Australia^[67] — MJA Studio with Studio Roam and IOTA (2022 National Award)

For only the second time, and the first time in forty years, no named award was given by the jury; Tony Giannone (Chair), Caroline Pidcock, Adrian Iredale, Poppy Taylor and Tim Ross.

2023 Award

The following projects were shortlisted for the 2023 Robin Boyd Award by the AIA:^[68]

• 19 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales^[69] – SJB (2023 Robin Boyd Award)
• Blok Stafford Heights, Stafford Heights, Brisbane, Queensland^[70] – Blok Modular with Vokes and Peters
• Celilo Springs, Mount Lawley, Perth, Western Australia^[71] – Western Architecture Studio
• Merricks Farmhouse, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria^[72] – Michael Lumby with Nielsen Jenkins (2023 National Award)
• Mossy Point House, South Coast, New South Wales^[73] – Edition Office (2023 National Commendation)
• Spring Creek Road Farm House, Bannockburn, Victoria^{[74] [75]} – Architect Brew Koch (2023 National Award)
• Triptych, Rural Tasmania^[76] – Room 11 Architects

The 2023 jury members were Shannon Battisson (Chair), Shaneen Fantin, William Smart, Stephanie Kitingan and Scott Burchell.^[77]

The Robin Boyd Award was presented to Adam Haddow and Stewart Cowan from SJB for 19 Waterloo Street, at the National Awards^[78] held in Canberra on 31 October 2023. National Awards were also presented to Merricks Farmhouse by Michael Lumby with Nielsen Jenkins and Spring Creek Road Farm House by Architect Brew Koch. Mossy Point House by Edition office was presented a National Commendation.

2024 Award

The following projects were shortlisted for the 2024 Robin Boyd Award by the AIA:^[79]

• 27 Rule Street, North Fremantle, Western Australian — Officer Woods
• Burnt Earth Beach House, Anglesea, Victoria — Wardle (2024 National Award)
• Courtyard House, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria — Clare Cousins Architects
• James Street, Launceston, Tasmania — Taylor and Hinds Architects
• Kidman Lane, Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales — Plus Minus Design
• Maitland Bay House, Killcare Heights, New South Wales — Studio Bright (2024 National Commendation)
• Naples Street House,^[80] Box Hill South, Melbourne, Victoria — Edition Office (2024 Robin Boyd Award)
• Six Ways House,^[81] North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria — Kennedy Nolan (2024 National Award)
• Three Gardens House, Adelaide Hills, South Australia — Parabolica

The Award was presented to Edition Office at the National Awards held in Adelaide on 7 November 2024. National Awards were also presented to Burnt Earth Beach House by Wardle and Six Ways House by Kennedy Nolan. Maitland Bay House by Studio Bright was presented a National Commendation.

Distribution and location of Awards

To 2024 a total of 50 Robin Boyd Awards had been given in the 42 years of the award, with no award given in only two years (1982 and 2022). On seven occasions joint winners have been awarded; 1991, 1993 (three winners), 1995, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2020.

A total of 80% of the Awards have been given to freestanding houses (40 of 50), and almost half of those to beach houses or holiday houses (19 total). Houses located in remote areas accounts for 40% of the awards, while only 18% of winning projects would be considered inner urban. A total of 17 suburban projects have won the award, around 34% of all Award winners.

Around 47% of awards have been won by projects in metropolitan urban areas, and 53% in non–metropolitan locations. Ten awards have been won in regional Victoria compared with only four awards in regional New South Wales – two of those by Glenn Murcutt — and seven awards in regional Queensland.

To 2024 more than two-thirds of all awards have been won by houses located in New South Wales or Victoria, and 92% of all awards won on the mainland eastern seaboard states of New South Wales (42%), Victoria (28%) and Queensland (22%). No architects or projects from South Australia or ACT have been awarded since the award began.

The most common site locations for awards have been Sydney beachside or harbourside suburbs (10 awards or 20%), Queensland coastal areas (7 awards) or on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria (6 awards). A total of 24 projects or 50% would be considered coastal, 18% inner city, 12% rural and 34% suburban.

See also

• Australian Institute of Architects
• Robin Boyd
• Victorian Architecture Medal
• Sir John Sulman Medal
• Wilkinson Award

External links

• RAIA Robin Boyd Residential Buildings Award: Winners and commendation recipients: 2006-1981

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nicholas and Carruthers Houses . 5 August 2023 . Area.
2. Web site: 26 April 1999 . Robin Boyd Award Medallion and Box Awarded to Glenn Murcutt . 4 August 2023 . Powerhouse Collection, MAAS, NSW Government.
3. Web site: Magney House . 7 August 2023 . Wiki Arquitectura.
4. News: Bruinsma . Richard . 24 June 2012 . Home wins architecture award . . 5 August 2023.
5. Web site: Tzannes . Alec . 1 December 2012 . First House: Henwood House by Tzannes Associates . 4 August 2023 . Architecture.com.au.
6. Web site: 9 July 2021 . Coming soon: Graceville icon 'Campbell House' with state-of-the-art redesign . 4 August 2023 . The Real Estate Conversation.
7. Web site: Dickinson . Michael . 1 October 1993 . Back on the rails after 80s extravaganza . 7 August 2023 . Australian Financial Review.
8. Web site: Larrakeyah . 7 August 2023 . Troppo.com.au.
9. Web site: Brannigan Residence, St Lucia 1994 . 5 August 2023 . University of Tasmania.
10. Web site: Hammond House, 1994 . 5 August 2023 . Clare Design.
11. Web site: 1 November 1996 . Robin Boyd Award for Housing – joint winners . 4 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
12. Web site: 1 November 1996 . Robin Boyd Award for Housing – joint winners . 4 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
13. Web site: Sheep Farm House . 6 August 2023 . Denton Corker Marshall.
14. Web site: Cape Schank House . 6 August 2023 . Denton Corker Marshall.
15. Web site: D House (Donovan Hill) . 5 August 2023 . Partners Hill.
16. Web site: 1 July 2001 . Headlines: Architecture Australia, July 2001 . 11 September 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.
17. Web site: 1 November 2002 . Robin Boyd for residential buildings . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
18. Web site: 1 November 2003 . Robin Boyd Award for Residential Buildings 2003—Bay House . 6 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
19. Web site: 21 July 2003 . 2004 NSW Chapter Architecture Award Winners . 7 September 2023 . Sydney Morning Herald.
20. Web site: Taylor . Jennifer . 1 May 2004 . The Ogilvie House . 5 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
21. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/28/1098667911557.html Richard Jinman: Born-again cathedral clinches top design prize
22. News: 8 October 2005 . Art of Zen captured in the new suburban paradise . . 6 August 2023.
23. Web site: St Andrews Beach House . 27 October 2023 . Sean Godsell.
24. Web site: 1 November 2007 . Robin Boyd award for residential architecture — houses, Cape Schanck House, Paul Morgan Architect . 20 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
25. Web site: 1 November 2008 . Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture, Klein Bottle House, McBride Charles Ryan . 4 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
26. Web site: 24 October 2008 . Klein Bottle house / McBride Charles Ryan . 5 August 2023 . Arch Daily.
27. http://www.theage.com.au/executive-style/luxury/architecture-award-winners-20091029-hnmv.html The Age: Architecture award winners, 30 October 2009
28. Web site: 2009 . Freshwater House . 5 September 2023 . Chenchow Little Architects.
29. Web site: Barnes . Amelia . 14 December 2022 . Tasmania's Stunning Trial Bay House Is For Sale . 6 August 2023 . The Design Files.
30. Web site: Trial Bay House . 6 August 2023 . Forbes Global Properties.
31. Web site: 3 November 2011 . Castlecrag House, National Architecture Awards Jury 2011 . 5 September 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
32. Web site: The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture . Wilson . Darcy . 2 November 2011. build.com.au. 11 January 2013.
33. Web site: National Architecture Awards 2012: Residential Architecture. 2 November 2012. architectureanddesign.com.au. Architecture & Design. 11 January 2013.
34. Web site: The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses. 6 November 2013. Australian Institute of Architects . 21 January 2014.
35. Web site: Fairhaven Beach House . 4 August 2023 . Wardle.
36. Web site: 24 June 2013 . Elegance and harmony triumph at 2013 Victorian Architecture Awards . 5 September 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
37. Web site: 2014 National Architecture Awards: Robin Boyd Award.
38. Web site: 23 June 2014 . 2014 Victorian Architecture Awards . 5 September 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
39. Web site: 2015 National Architecture Awards: Robin Boyd Award for Houses (New).
40. Web site: 26 June 2015 . 2015 Queensland Architecture Awards . 11 September 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.
41. Web site: 31 July 2015 . 2015 Houses Awards . 17 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
42. Web site: 2016 National Architecture Awards: Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).
43. Web site: 2017 National Architecture Awards: Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).
44. Web site: 2018 National Architecture Awards: The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).
45. Web site: 29 June 2018 . 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards . 5 September 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
46. Web site: 2019 National Architecture Awards: The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).
47. Web site: 28 June 2019 . 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards . 5 September 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
48. Web site: 2020 National Architecture Awards: The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).
49. Web site: Projects: Mona Vale 'Basin Beach House' . 6 August 2023 . Capital Construct.
50. Web site: 2020 . 2020 NSW Architecture Awards Winners . 5 September 2023 . Architecture.com.au.
51. Web site: 2020 National Architecture Awards: The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).
52. Web site: Albury House . 6 September 2023 . Kerstin Thompson Architects.
53. Web site: 2020 . 2020 NSW Architecture Awards Winners . 5 September 2023 . Architecture.com.au.
54. Web site: Night Sky, Blackheath . 26 August 2023 . Modern House.
55. Web site: 2021 Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) . ArchitectureAU . en.
56. Web site: 31 October 2023 . 2023 Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) . 1 November 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.
57. Web site: 28 July 2023 . New House under 200 square metres, 2023 Awards . 1 November 2023 . Houses Awards.
58. Web site: Residential Design 2023 Awards . 1 November 2023 . Australian Interior Design Awards.
59. Web site: 7 November 2024 . 2024 Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) . 9 November 2024 . ArchitectureAU.
60. Web site: Naples Street House . 9 November 2024 . Edition Office.
61. Web site: 12 September 2022 . 2022 National Architecture Awards Shortlist Revealed . 17 August 2023 . Architecture.com.au.
62. Web site: Mays Point House . 28 December 2023 . Tanner Architects.
63. Web site: LiveWorkShare House . 17 August 2023 . Bligh Graham Architects.
64. Web site: Curl Curl House . 5 September 2023 . Trias.
65. Web site: Living in the Landscape Stable House . 29 October 2023 . Sibling Architecture.
66. Web site: Corner House . 29 October 2023 . Archier.
67. Web site: Jimmy's House . 29 October 2023 . MJA Studio.
68. Web site: 14 July 2023 . Best Australian houses of 2023 . 7 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
69. Web site: 19 Waterloo Street . 7 August 2023 . SJB.com.au.
70. Web site: Blok Stafford Heights . 7 August 2023 . Vokes and Peters.
71. Web site: Bernstone . Rachael . 3 May 2023 . Celilo Springs by Western Architecture Studio . 7 August 2023 . ArchitectureAU.com.au.
72. Web site: Merricks Farmhouse, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria in collaboration with Michael Lumby Architecture . 7 August 2023 . Nielsen Jenkins.
73. Web site: Mossy Point House by Edition Office . 7 August 2023 . The Local Project. 5 March 2023 .
74. Web site: Spring Creek Road Farm House, Architect Brew Koch . 7 August 2023 . Architecture.com.au.
75. Web site: Essex–Plath . Thomas . 27 October 2023 . Spring Creek Road Farm House by Architect Brew Koch . 1 November 2023 . ArchtiectureAU.com.
76. Web site: Triptych, Room 11 Architects . 7 August 2023 . Architecture.com.au.
77. Web site: 27 April 2023 . 2023 National Architecture Awards Jury Announcement . 17 August 2023 . Architecture.com.au.
78. Web site: Australian Institute of Architects . 31 October 2023 . National Architecture Awards 2023 (Live stream recording) . 2 November 2023 . YouTube.
79. Web site: 10 July 2024 . Shortlist revealed: 2024 National Architecture Awards . 6 August 2024 . Architecture AU.
80. Web site: Bhopti . Nikita . 2 July 2024 . Naples Street House by Edition Office . 10 November 2024 . ArchitectureAU.com.
81. Web site: Musiatowicz . Martin . 16 August 2024 . Six Ways House by Kennedy Nolan . 10 November 2024 . ArchtiectureAU.com.