Winning Project:

Bunjil Placeby fjmt



Award Finalists:

Ol Be-al by FMD Architects

Strongbuild Head Office by Fitzpatrick + Partners and Strongbuild



Winning Project Details -

Structural Engineer: Taylor Thomson Whitting

Fabricator: Hess Timber

Builder: Multiplex Global

Photographer: John Gollings, Andrew Chung, Trevor Mein

Location: Casey, Victoria


Award sponsor:


Project description:


Bunjil Place is a new form of community and civic building used as a library, a performance theatre, a public gathering space, a place of exhibition, gallery and display. The entrance foyer houses an impressive Glulam timber grid shell that dominates and defines the central atrium.
The use of wood defines a warm and innovative design emphasises the lightness of the roof through a fluid, organic geometry while reinforcing the open and welcoming nature of the complex to reach out to the public open space. The architectural intent was for the timber grid shell to appear weightless as it touched the ground at two points, as a form of wings, protecting and sheltering the community. The central theme was the interpretation of the land in the culture of Wurundjeri, Bunurong and Boon Wurrung people, the traditional owners and inhabitants of this land. The two stories inspired the architects ‘The Meeting of Many Paths’ and ‘Bunjil’ the eagle.
The non-load bearing shell design was made from geometrically complex 3D forms which required a detailed form-finding investigation to optimise the spatial model. As architecture, the building embraces new construction technology and innovation to express eternal and timeless themes true to the unique nature of this place.