This year, the Australian Institute of Architects has chosen to award “controversial” firm, ARM Architecture, the Gold Medal. The prize is the country’s highest architecture accolade. In the competition’s 56-year history, it is only the second time the Gold Medal has gone to a group of three.
Perth Arena (Courtesy Wikipedia)
“This is a practice that has been a genuine leader, influencer, provocateur, culture builder and disseminator of ideas for nearly three decades, and at the core of the practice are three outstanding architects who have created some of the most extraordinary buildings in the short post-colonial history of this country,” said Clements.
The award acknowledges their notable works, including the Perth Arena in Western Australia, Storey Hall at RMIT University, the refurbishment of Hamer Hall, Melbourne Recital Hall and the reconfiguration of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, a project that took ten years. On receiving the honour Ian McDougall said “We’ve always been interested in architecture that tells stories about our lives, about our cities. It is humbling to have our ideas acknowledged in this way.”
Past winners of the Gold Medal include Glenn Murcutt, Jørn Utzon (known for the Sydney Opera House), Brit Andresen, Harry Seidler and Robin Boyd.
