2024 Gallery
Award: Sustainability Advancement
Kennedy Nolan with Finding Infinity for Wilam Ngarrang Retrofit
Wilam Ngarrang was a partnership between Kennedy Nolan and Finding Infinity on a minimal-intervention retrofit of a 1970s apartment block in Fitzroy concentrating on improving thermal performance, extending the life-span of the building and increasing amenity for tenants, while creating a sense of domestic comfort
Jury Citation
Wilam Ngarrang Retrofit is an exemplar of a truly sustainable approach to design that values and improves an existing 1970s apartment block, making it a very worthy recipient of the Sustainability Advancement Award. It uses what was already there and elevates simple yet joyful design through emphasising the positive impact it can have on the everyday lives of people. The jury unanimously agreed that this project begins and ends with sustainability, impressively standing out for its modest, considered approach to adaptive re-use and longevity. It successfully highlights the value in existing building stock by bringing it to life via a notable list of sustainable initiatives. The designers have set an example by making adaptive re-use and regeneration the primary consideration, while creating welcoming and comfortable human-scale living spaces.
