The winners of the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards, hosted by the Australian Institute of Architects – Victorian Chapter, were announced last night.

A total of 19 Named Awards, 21 Architecture Awards, and 17 Commendations were presented across 15 categories from over 350 entries.

A theme among this year’s awards were projects highlighting the transformative power of architecture in shaping communities, including the Northern Memorial Park Depot by Searle x Waldron Architecture awarded the prestigious Victorian Architecture Medal.

In the Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) category, Dunstan by SSdH took out top honours. Set within Preston’s Newlands Housing Estate, this home embodies the garden city aspirations of the original development, while acknowledging the reality of our changing suburbs.

The Named Award in Residential Architecture – Houses (New) was given to Hedge and Arbour House by Studio Bright — described by the jury as a project that deftly reconciles the tension between domestic suburbia and the wild terrain of its bushland reserve below.

Nightingale Preston by Breathe Architecture won the Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing category, recognising ​the project as an elevated benchmark for apartment living that prioritises the fundamentals while establishing a lively neighbourhood.

In the Interior Architecture category, Melbourne Place by Kennedy Nolan was awarded top honours for its richly layered and meticulously crafted interior, that confidently redefines the experience of a contemporary hotel.

Winners of the Named and Architecture Awards will now progress to be considered for the National Architecture Awards.

Winners of the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards

Interior Architecture
Melbourne Place by Kennedy Nolan – The Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture
Eva and Marc Besen Centre by Kerstin Thompson Architects – Architecture Award
she sells sea shells by multiplicity – Architecture Award
Domain by Flack Studio – Commendation
Hume Council Chamber by Architecture Associates – Commendation

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
Dunstan by SSdH – The John and Phyllis Murphy Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
Carlton Cottage by Lovell Burton Architecture – Architecture Award
Gunn Ridge House by Kennedy Nolan – Architecture Award
A Light Addition by Office MI–JI – Commendation

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Hedge and Arbour House by Studio Bright – The Harold Desbrowe Annear Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Otway Beach House by Kerstin Thompson Architects – Architecture Award
she sells sea shells by multiplicity – Architecture Award
Terrace House by Rob Kennon Architects – Architecture Award
Fishharven by Neil Architecture – Commendation
Shady Creek Farm House by MRTN Architects – Commendation
Stumpy Gully House by Adam Markowitz Design with Stavrias Architecture – Commendation

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Nightingale Preston by Breathe Architecture – The Best Overend Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Newburgh Light House by Splinter Society Architecture – Architecture Award
Shiel Street North Melbourne by Community Housing Project and Clare Cousins Architects – Architecture Award
The Paddock by CROSBY architects – Commendation

View the winners of the remaining categories Commercial Architecture, Educational Architecture, Heritage Architecture, Public Architecture, Small Project Architecture, Urban Design, Enduring Architecture, COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture, Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize, EmAGN Project Award, Regional Prize, Sustainable Architecture, Emerging Architect Prize, and the Bates Smart Architecture in Media here.