Thirty-three outstanding projects have been recognised at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2012 National Architecture Awards tonight at the Midland Railway Workshops in Perth.

Tasmania’s MONA – Museum of Old and New Art by Fender Katsalidis, a unique collaboration, was awarded The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture. It is the first time in the Awards’ 31 year history that a Tasmanian project has received the coveted award which is considered the Institute’s highest honour for a project.

The jury found it to be a ‘powerful and entertaining experience for displaying and engaging with art that theatrically delivers visitors to a sandstone-walled space within a steel container that is already weathering inexorably into the landscape – creating one of the best examples in the country of the benefits of cultural tourism’.

‘A lodging of pure poetry that harmonises completely with its rural setting’ was honoured with The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses. The Shearer’s Quarters by John Wardle Architects ‘provides accommodation for travelling shearers as well as rural contractors and JWA staff and has a wonderful sense of spirit, tactility and purpose’.

Reflecting on the task of identifying the most outstanding projects Jury Chair, Brian Zulaikha noted ‘these projects should embody best practice principles, showcase sustainable solutions and ultimately go on to become part of our architectural history’.

‘We travelled the suburbs of Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Brisbane, where architects had found a link to their own ideas and created meaningful contributions to the broader community. With poetics of space and materials the winners have enriched our communities, and skilfully advocated for the quality of our profession and our professionalism.’