The 2026 Victorian Architecture Awards took place on Friday 19 June over a gala dinner at 1 Hotel Melbourne.

The presentations evening – a highlight of the Victorian architecture calendar – celebrated 64 winners and commendations across the state.  

Woods Bagot Design Director Peter Miglis observed this year’s named projects featured a strong emphasis on sustainability, whether sustainable construction methods and materials reuse or supporting community resilience through social infrastructure and shared amenities.

“Juries this year have placed a strong emphasis on the social and environmental impacts of architecture, with projects selected for their contributions beyond aesthetics to carbon reduction, heritage retention, and community character,” says Miglis.

Jury chair Simon Knott commented, “The winners in this year’s Victorian Architecture Awards feature beloved landmarks that have transcended their function as a piece of infrastructure.”

Woods Bagot was a category winner for Sustainable Architecture and received a commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing.

Younghusband – Award, Sustainable Architecture

From a shortlist of nine projects, Younghusband was announced the category winner for Sustainable Architecture.

Jury chair Simon Knott said the jurors saw many examples of community projects that take “prosaic pieces of existing architecture and making them a place of recreation”, with many projects given new life as public hubs with a multitude of amenities. As a prime example of adaptive reuse at a civic scale, Younghusband balances strong sustainability credentials with human responsive design, creating a precinct that considers its impacts at community, civic, and environmental level.

Architects have taken a comprehensively circular approach to construction on Younghusband, adding only what is needed, and removing only when absolutely necessary. The majority of the existing materials have been retained, with upgrades to roof, windows and entries for improved thermal performance.

Reuse of materials on Younghusband has resulted in an 84% reduction in embodied carbon compared to similar reference buildings (equivalent to 11,335,000kg in carbon savings).

The Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award went to Port Phillip Eco Centre by Bourke and Bouteloup Architects. Commendations were also awarded to: Balam Balam Place by Kennedy Nolan, Finding Infinity and Openwork; Caulfield Grammar School, Senior School Teaching and Learning Building 01 by Designinc Melbourne and 3XN; and Melbourne Metro Tunnel by Hassell, WW+P and RSHP.

Gore Street – Commendation, Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Gore Street has received a commendation for the Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing category.

Featuring 49 residences on a Fitzroy site, Gore Street reinterprets the history of Melbourne’s oldest suburb, drawing on the rhythm of the light-industrial warehouses and historic workers’ cottages that once held the site.

Woods Bagot Design Director says that great architectural outcomes rely on the vision, courage and integrity of a good client. “Piccolo’s continual pursuit of excellence in residential living positins them at the vanguard of industry achievement, pursuing outcomes for character and community,” says Miglis.  

“A recognition like this affirms what we set out to do together,” says Piccolo. “Not simply to build apartments, but to create homes that carry a genuine sense of community and belonging.”

Jury chair Simon Knott said this year’s entries featured “many examples of density done well”,  with multi-residential projects offering “intriguing templates” for how we can increase housing supply in inner-city areas.

The Best Overend Award was awarded to 9 Wilson Ave by MA and Co. Awards in this category were given to Merri Northcote by Six Degrees Architects;  Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi by Kennedy Nolan; Northumberland Road Community Housing  by Caleb Smith Architect; and SDA Housing Project by Studio Bright. A commendation was also awarded to Northcote Townhouses by Birthisel Wittingslow Architects, Studio Esteta and Carr.

Recipients of Named Awards, Architecture Awards or Regional Prizes at Chapter level will now progress to the National Awards Program, held in October.

Read the full list of 2026 winners and commendations on ArchitectureAU.

Media enquiries
Isla Sutherland
Content and Communications Manager (Australia & New Zealand)