Powerhouse Place Excels in Sustainable Architecture Awards

The Powerhouse, located in Mildura, has been transformed from an early 20th-century power station to an event and exhibition space called Powerhouse Place. This new cultural precinct recently received accolades for its sustainable architecture and urban design at the Australian Institute of Architects' national awards. Designed by Public Realm Lab, the project successfully incorporated original structures from the power station and is notable for using hempcrete in public buildings for the first time in Australia. Judges praised the site as a meaningful space for community connection, emphasizing its exemplary transformation of colonial and industrial heritage. This award was part of a larger recognition of various architectural achievements across Australia. Among the winners, the renovated 19th-century Sydney mansion for Atlassian's Mike Cannon-Brookes also gained top honors. The Spinifex Hill Project Space in South Hedland, Western Australia, was celebrated for its steel architecture, designed to withstand challenging climate conditions while engaging local cultural contexts. This initiative is one of several that demonstrate architecture's role in promoting social cohesion in divided communities. Overall, the outcomes of this year's awards reflect the conviction that thoughtful design can unite differing communities and foster connections through public buildings and spaces.