Library, State Buildings share Poole prize

The City of Perth Library and Public Plaza and the State Buildings have shared the George Temple Poole award at the WA Architecture Awards held on July 1.

Both projects were designed by Kerry Hill Architects, while Palassis Architects served as heritage architects on the State Buildings, formerly known as the Old Treasury Buildings.

The projects are adjacent to one another and form the new Cathedral Square, with the $100 million redevelopment of the State Buildings carried out by property developer and 2016 Western Australian of the Year, Adrian Fini.

The State Buildings houses the luxury Como The Treasury hotel and a number of hospitality offerings including The Petition (a beer hall, wine bar and kitchen), and prominent chef Jed Gerrard’s Wildflower.

The $60 million five-storey City of Perth Library opened its doors in March.

Announcing the results, the jury said both projects were innovative, highly rigorous and incredibly strong in their design approach.

“They deliver jointly and individually an incredibly rare and high order of public realm and civic amenity, which will be enjoyed by people of all ages for a very long time,” the jury said.

Along with the George Temple Poole award, the library also received the Jeffrey Howlett award for public architecture, and a commendation in the interior architecture category.

The State Buildings received the top accolade in heritage category and also won the Colorbond award for steel architecture, while its hotel and hospitality venues were recognised in six of the 15 categories.

Petition Wine Bar & Merchant on the corner of St Georges Terrace and Barrack Street, which was designed by Spaceagency, won an award in the interior architecture and heritage categories, and a commendation in the steel architecture category.

The winners will progress to the national awards, which will be held later this year.