For awards in Commercial Architecture and Sustainable Architecture respectively, architects from both sites were presented awards by The Australian Institute of Architects to an audience of 800 guests at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Local firm Wood Marsh took out the Sir Osborn McCutcheon Award for Commercial Architecture for the Port Philip Estate Winery on the Mornington Peninsula. Giorgio Gjergja, the owner of Kooyong and Port Phillip Estate wines, selected leading architects Wood Marsh to fulfill his vision to build the most exciting new winery in Victoria. The brief and vision was simple: a truly outstanding and uncompromising architectural landmark. Working closely with the Wood Marsh team throughout the collaboration, Gjergja comments that, “The building reflects the level of skill, craft and artisanship that is involved in making fine wine.”

Receiving the Sustainable Architecture award for converting an inner city warehouse space into a coffee roastery and cafe is Breathe Architecture for Seven Seeds. The large open cafe space in Carlton provides a stimulating environment that reflects the processes of the coffee bean purveyors, bring produce from farm to plate, or in this case, cup. Mark Dundon, owner of Seven Seeds, noted “our ethos with the design was to keep the industrial history of the building as well as trying to minimize our impact on the surrounds. We incorporated the water storage and green room as well as bike parking with this in mind.”

Both winners, along with 37 others from Victoria will compete against winners from around the country in The National Architecture Awards held in Melbourne later in October.

An exhibition of all the Victorian Awards entries is currently on display at Guildford Lane Gallery in Melbourne.