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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Rachel Neeson, Brit Andresen, James Jones, Chris Connell and Cameron Bruhn PHOTO CREDIT: Jonathan Butler

The ‘Houses Awards’ is an annual program celebrating Australia’s best residential architecture.

Excellence is rewarded in eight categories, with the best architecturally designed house receiving the premier award of ‘Australian House of the Year’.

Entries are judged by an eminent panel of architects and designers who are themselves recognised for creating inspirational Australian homes.

The jurors for 2012 have been appointed on the basis of their practical expertise, professional standing and high profile – crucial for credibility. This year the jury consists of:

• Rachel Neeson formed Neeson Murcutt Architects with her late partner, Nicholas Murcutt in 2004. Neeson Murcutt Architects work on a range of project types, from bespoke houses to housing prototypes and public commissions. The practice was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects ‘Robin Boyd Award’ for Residential Architecture – Houses in 2011 for the Castlecrag House in Sydney.

• Brit Andresen, a Norwegian architect who teaches and practises in Australia is Professor Emeritus at the University of Queensland. Current projects include timber houses that explore the expressive capacity of eucalyptus hardwood and the potential for engagement with the Australian landscape. In 2002 Andresen was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal.

• Chris Connell, Director of Chris Connell Design, is an internationally renowned Melbourne-based designer. With over twenty years’ experience and a reputation for elegantly shaping residential and commercial interiors Connell is known for simplicity and attention to detail in the design of his interior and architectural projects. MAP International, a furniture, object and artefact design business, operates alongside Chris Connell Design.

• James Jones is Design Principal with Architectus in Melbourne. He was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects ‘Robin Boyd Award’ for Residential Architecture – Houses in 2010 and jointly received the inaugural Houses Award for best House Alteration and Addition over two hundred square metres for the Trial Bay House in Tasmania while he was a director of HBV Architects.

• Cameron Bruhn is the Editorial Director of Architecture Media. Prior to his appointment as Editorial Director, Cameron was the Editor of Artichoke and Landscape Architecture Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Queensland and is currently undertaking a practice-based PhD at RMIT University. Cameron has been a peer juror, sessional teacher and guest speaker.

• Peter Williams, Founding Director of Williams Boag Architects, is a highly regarded practitioner who successfully combines the responsibilities of heading a prominent architectural firm and membership of allied professional bodies and other organizations within the community. Peter was a member of the Victorian Heritage Council 2002-2008.
  Under Peter’s guidance WBa has been acknowledged by more than 40 design awards at national, state and local government levels including the prestigious RAIA Architecture Medal in 1994, the international Stockholm Partnerships for Sustainable Cities program in 2002 and both state and national awards in two separate categories in 2005. Peter was the chair to advise on the NEW ‘Heritage’ category. He joined the jury for this category only.

Announcement of the 2012 ‘Houses Awards’ winners will take place from 6.00 pm, Thursday 26 July at the magnificent Art Gallery of New South Wales.  Tickets will go sale this month.

Houses is Australia’s leading residential architecture magazine for designers and their clients. Houses presents inspiring residential projects by Australia’s leading architects and designers. These projects reveal the way that a house, through occupation, becomes a home – the architectural ideas, and the people and products behind them.

Houses include extensive pictorial coverage and engaging stories together with floor plans and detailed lists of the products used.  It is the only publication to carry endorsements from both the Australian Institute of Architects and the Design Institute of Australia.

http://housesawards.com.au/