Awards for James Christou + Partners Architects

The designs of Perth based architects James Christou + Partners Architects have been rewarded at the Australian Institute of Architects WA (AIAWA) Architecture Awards.

The practice's new Curtin Stadium sport and recreation facility at the Curtin University of Technology in Bentley (pictured) brought an Architecture Award for Interior Architecture.

The AIAWA jury recognised the complexity of the challenge involved in creating a number of different spaces, linking together to form the stadium complex, stating "central to the stadium is a multi-purpose space equally suited to large formal functions such as graduation ceremonies, examination hall and sports stadium."

The jury was impressed by the element of discovery and surprise integrated into transition spaces through the clever use of flush-detailed 'secret' doors, providing a clean and uncluttered backdrop for movement, with the extra width allowing these corridors to serve as multi function spaces.

Here the jury stated "the project successfully combines a well controlled, robust material pallet with sophisticated acoustic attenuation, efficient cross ventilation and natural illumination and appropriate furniture and fittings, resulting in high quality interior spaces that can accommodate a broad range of activities."

James Christou + Partners also received an Architecture Award for their work at the Forrest Library at Hale School. Here the jury cited the successful indoor-outdoor relationship of controlled spaces within the library and the building's interaction with the site and existing school buildings, adding "the Forrest Library with its associated teaching-learning spaces acknowledges its context in a well mannered way while adding a significant contemporary element and a new entry statement to Hale School.

"The building presents a delightfully open, naturally lit and welcoming learning environment into which several relaxed conversation spaces and flexible classrooms are integrated. These learning spaces are expressed externally as louvered elements to the overall benefit of the buildingâs form."

At the recent Masterbuilders-Bankwest 'Excellence in Construction' Awards, entrants awarded James Christou + Partners Architects the Best Practice Award for Architects.

The Masterbuilders-Bankwest Awards also saw Curtin Stadium receive the Best Commercial Project Award for Best Public Use Building for Doric Constructions.

Curtin Stadium was featured in the May/June 2010 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

For further information contact James Christou of James Christou + Partners Architects on 08 9321 4077, E: jcpa@christou.com.au, www.jcpa.com.au