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Australia's Sustainable Architecture Awards 2026: Top Projects Revealed

award · 2026-08-06

The Australian Institute of Architects has revealed the winners and finalists for its 2026 sustainable architecture awards, showcasing projects that emphasize community involvement, carbon reduction, and adaptive reuse. The sustainability award for the Victorian chapter was awarded to Younghusband in Melbourne, a repurposed wool store designed by Woods Bagot, which achieved an impressive 84% reduction in embodied carbon and operates at net-zero. The Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal cultural centre in Port Adelaide, crafted by Ashley Halliday Architects, is a finalist in three categories after securing awards from the South Australia chapter. Additionally, the Port Phillip EcoCentre in Melbourne, designed by Bourke and Bouteloup Architects, aims for carbon negativity, while Trella Architecture's North Wright Compact Housing in Canberra features 23 compact residences, and Woods Bagot's Forest at the University of Tasmania incorporates an indoor forest along with hempcrete.

Key facts

  • Younghusband by Woods Bagot in Melbourne achieved an 84% reduction in embodied carbon and net-zero operational performance.
  • Yitpi Yartapuultiku by Ashley Halliday Architects in Port Adelaide is a finalist in three categories of the 2026 awards.
  • Port Phillip EcoCentre by Bourke and Bouteloup Architects houses the first citizen science laboratory in the southern hemisphere.
  • North Wright Compact Housing by Trella Architecture and Interiors in Canberra comprises 23 compact courtyard homes.
  • The Forest by Woods Bagot in Hobart is a new campus for the University of Tasmania with an indoor forest of 3,200 native plants.
  • The Forest features the largest commercial use of hempcrete in Australia.
  • Younghusband won the Victorian chapter's award for sustainability.
  • Yitpi Yartapuultiku has already claimed South Australia chapter awards for sustainability, steel architecture, and public architecture.

Entities

Artists

  • Woods Bagot
  • Ashley Halliday Architects
  • Bourke and Bouteloup Architects
  • Trella Architecture and Interiors

Institutions

  • Australian Institute of Architects
  • University of Tasmania
  • Kaurna Elders and Custodians

Locations

  • Melbourne
  • Australia
  • Kensington
  • Port Adelaide
  • St Kilda Botanic Gardens
  • Canberra
  • Hobart

Sources