Winners of the 2017 Darling Downs/West Moreton Regional Architecture Awards Announced

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The Royal Hotel Roma by DM2 Architecture has won the William Hodgen Award for Building of the Year in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2017 Darling Downs/West Moreton Regional Architecture Awards. 

In awarding what the jury described as the ‘modern successor to a fire ravaged 1920s hotel’ they noted that the building had ‘successfully re-interpreted the traditional outback pub vernacular through the architect’s use of well-considered and understated regional qualities.’ They commended the ‘light filled, casual atmosphere [that] permeates through this family orientated hotel, which respects its place in the community.’

Other award winners announced at the University of Southern Queensland tonight include House on Guido by Shane Denman Architects which won House of the Year and Walton Stores by Aspect Architects and Project Managers with Newlands Group which was awarded the Regional Project of the Year Award.

The jury said House on Guido’s exterior was ‘a simple strong element’ that ‘sits comfortably with the power and character of this site. The clarity in the design approach is carried through into the interior where the elegantly simple yet practical spaces add to the appreciation of the site’s beauty’.

Walton Stores was praised for its ‘creative and sensitive architectural consideration of a heritage precinct’. The jury said the project ‘makes an important contribution to the fabric of the CBD and Toowoomba in general’ proving ‘heritage and modern living can be successfully married together’.

In addition to the Building of the Year, Regional Project of the Year and House of the Year, the above projects were  awarded Regional Commendations along with  three other projects, all commended projects now progressing to the Queensland State Architecture Awards to be announced on 23 June in Brisbane.

A full list of commended projects is below.

Regional Commendations