SYDNEY, 2025-06-20 12:02:00
Sydney Metro Stations Win Top Architecture Award
sydney’s newest metro stations have been recognized for their innovative design and impact on the city’s landscape.
- Sydney’s new metro stations took home a top prize at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2025 NSW Architecture awards.
- The First Building in Bradfield, part of the new city’s growth, also received a Premier’s prize.
- Various projects across Sydney and Coffs Harbour, showcasing heritage and modern design, were also recognized.
The Australian Institute of Architects announced on Friday night that Sydney’s recently opened network of city metro stations has claimed a major victory at the 2025 NSW Architecture awards. this recognition highlights the transformative impact of these stations, which are reshaping the city’s experience for commuters.
Dozens of Australian architecture firms, engineering companies, landscape designers, and public art experts were involved in the project, which included stations at Central, Barangaroo, Gadigal, Victoria Cross, Martin Place, Waterloo, Sydenham, and Crows Nest. Judges lauded the stations as a “legacy-making” and “city-shaping” collaboration across multiple sectors.
“The project is transformative,not just in transport terms but in how it redefines civic experience in Sydney,” the judges’ citation stated. The judges emphasized the infrastructure’s role in supporting social and cultural connections.
Other Winning Projects Showcase Design Diversity
Bradfield’s First Building
More than 130 NSW projects were considered for the awards. the Premier’s prize was given to the first building constructed for the new city of Bradfield and the surrounding Aerotropolis-the site of Sydney’s future second international airport. Hassell’s First Building is a prefabricated timber pavilion, designed for future adaptability through disassembly, expansion, or relocation.
“A new city requires a big dream … it’s incredibly exciting to see that dream taking shape here in Bradfield,” Premier Chris Minns said about the Hassell design. He admired the building’s play with natural light and its commitment to sustainability.
- Prefabricated timber pavilion design.
- Designed for disassembly, expansion, or relocation.
- Emphasizes natural light and sustainability.
Yarrila Place in Coffs Harbour
BVN’s Yarrila Place in Coffs Harbour also received accolades. This civic hub combines a library, gallery, museum, and council chambers, creating a vibrant community space.
The judges appreciated that “BVN have taken all the ingredients of a civic hub… and layered them with intentional unpredictability.Proportions, adjacencies and stackings defy conventions.”
Other Notable Winners
Design 5’s remodelling of the White Bay power station received the Greenway award for heritage, while the conservation award was given to Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Purcell architecture for their work on the NSW Parliament House in Sydney.
Marra+Yeh Architects’ Eco-House in Leura won the Colorbond award for steel architecture. The house’s design deflects winds and captures water for reuse, while its interior is adaptable to the seasons.
- Deflects winds and captures water for reuse.
- Adaptable interior for different seasons.
- Won the Colorbond award for steel architecture.
BVN was also recognized in the residential category for transforming a suburban block in Byron bay into the Lighthouse. Casey Brown Architecture also received recognition in the residential category for its remodelling of Babylon, Edwin Kingsberry’s 1950s residence.
the judges noted the interior was “full of contradictions – ramshackle and refined, rich and restrained,” and the final result was “unexpected, joyful, and completely unique”.
AJC Architects’ Moore Park Gardens in Sydney won in the Enduring Architecture category, and Tzannes’ 39 Martin Place took the Sir arthur G Stephenson award for commercial architecture. Wardle’s Bourke & Bowden, an industrial park in Alexandria, was also recognized.
- Recognized as an outstanding industrial park.
- Located in alexandria, Sydney.
The awards also highlighted the growing importance of incorporating sustainability into architectural designs. The Bradfield building, designed by Hassell, exemplifies this trend with its emphasis on natural light and a design that allows for disassembly, expansion, or relocation. This focus mirrors the modern architectural shift towards adaptable, eco-conscious structures that can evolve with the city’s needs, and also reduce thier environmental impact.
Similarly, the Eco-House in Leura, designed by Marra+Yeh Architects, showcased innovative lasting practices by incorporating wind deflection and water reuse, demonstrating the critical intersection of aesthetics and ecological responsibility. These features highlight architects’ proactive efforts to integrate environmental consciousness into the design process, contributing to a more sustainable future. The award for heritage, given to Design 5 for their remodeling of the White Bay power station, also reflects the shift toward sustainably refunctioning old structures into new community hubs.
The selection criteria also underscore the significance of community spaces. Yarrila Place in Coffs Harbour, integrating a library, gallery, museum, and council chambers, was applauded for creating a vibrant civic hub.As urban populations grow, integrating mixed-use projects like Yarrila Place and other diverse community hubs becomes increasingly crucial for establishing healthy social connections and a strong sense of place.
Along with the awards, the recognition of residential projects like the Lighthouse in Byron Bay and the remodelling of Babylon demonstrates the importance of adaptability and personalization in residential design. The judges’ positive comments on the interior of the Lighthouse, with its “ramshackle and refined” nature, and of the Babylon House, reflect the evolution of residential architecture towards uniqueness and functional adaptability, aligning with evolving residents’ lifestyles and needs, whether it involves remodelling or starting a new life. The final winners such as Moore park Gardens and Bourke & Bowden emphasize the importance of design in infrastructure. The 2025 Architecture Awards demonstrate the continuing evolution from aesthetics to user experience.
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