Four Australian projects have been recognised in the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) International Awards for Excellence 2026.
Among the 34 award-winning projects across 15 countries, awards group chair Neil Gillespie identified “a strong sense of generosity towards people, place and the future” as a defining theme.
“These projects demonstrate a confidence in architectureʼs ability to create delight and dignity while working within existing constraints, whether environmental, social or economic. Rather than relying on spectacle, they show the value of thoughtful, enduring design that is rooted in context and capable of enriching everyday life,ˮ commented Gillespie.
Two Sydney projects by Angelo Candalepas and Associates received awards: Church of the Living God, a civic and spiritual hub consolidating places of worship, community outreach and crisis accommodation, and the Porter House Hotel, which transforms the heritage-listed 1870s Porter House into a contemporary mixed-use destination.
The remaining Australian recipients were Burnt Earth Beach House by Wardle, a multigenerational beach house in Victoria built almost entirely from terracotta, and Darlington Public School by FJC Studio, a Sydney primary school with flexible learning spaces.
All four projects are now in contention for the prestigious RIBA International Prize, with the winner to be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on 15 October 2026 in London.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
