Elsie Adamo
MOUNT Gambier Airport’s design won a major state architecture award last week.
Architecture firm Ashley Halliday Architects won both the overall SA Architecture Medal and the Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture for their work on the project at the 2022 South Australian Architecture Awards.
Renovations on the airport terminal were completed in late 2020, commissioned by Grant District Council, which runs the facility.
Associate at Ashley Halliday Architects Rupert Lindon said the win came as a surprise to the team.
“It is very exciting for us to pick up an award like that, everyone was really pleased and proud of our efforts,” Mr Lindon said.
“We managed to pick up two awards, one being the SA Architecture Medal which is for the best projects of the award program which was definitely a surprise.”
Mr Lindon said the team had been inspired by the local landscape in their design.
“For us, it is kind of clear that these regional airports are a gateway to the whole region,” he said.
“It is a spot where people often get their first impression for the region, and their last impression as well.
“We worked hard to make the terminal reflective of the wider Limestone Coast region.”
One example was the large circular skylight near the airport entrance, a feature that was commended by the judges.
“That was taking some inspiration from the limestone geology and the sinkholes around the area,” Mr Lindon said.
“As people step through that threshold into the building, it makes it something that ties the memory to the region.”
As the project won the night’s top honours, it will now be an entrant into the national competition later in the year, potentially bringing interest from further afar.
“It is not only a nice thing for us but for the Council and the region to have the eyes and publicity you get from these things on the region,” Mr Lindon said.
“It is about generating tourism and traffic through the airport so hopefully that all helps.”
Grant Council chief executive Darryl Whicker said he and the team was thrilled with the win.
“The Architects really captured the essence, story and geology of our region in the terminal design,” Mr Wicker said.
“This project was delivered by a group of dedicated staff in partnership with the Elected Council, Architects, Builders and Contractors and is an iconic first impression to our region.
“On behalf of the District Council of Grant I congratulate Ashley Halliday Architects on winning this prestigious award and wish continued luck as the design advances in the National Architecture Awards.”
Judges of the awards commended the architects for their unexpected and memorable design.
“Despite its relatively small built form, this regional airport building is an impactful addition to the body of South Australian architecture,” they said.
“The project provides a refreshing abstract on how to represent a destination in an innovative and striking way.
“The consideration and thought put into representation of the Limestone Coast and the distinctive features of Mount Gambier is subtle but rewarding.”
