A pioneering First Nations cultural landmark has made history at the 2026 Living Future Oceania Biophilic Design Awards, taking top honours in a competitive field of sustainable projects from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Quandamooka Arts & Culture Centre (QUAMPI) on Minjerribah, designed by COX Architecture, was named a dual winner at an industry celebration.
The cultural hub won the Buildings Scale Award alongside Canopy House by Brett Hulley Architecture. QUAMPI was also named the inaugural recipient of the Visionary Award, a new category introduced to recognise exceptional projects that are socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.
Co-designed alongside Quandamooka Elders, QUAMPI embeds land and sea elements into its physical structure, including local native timbers and rammed earth walls constructed from sand recycled from the island’s former mining operations.
In other major categories, the Interiors and Renovations Award was presented to the Kingsbury Glasshouse Project by Tessa Kingsbury Architect for its inventive residential transformation. Described by judges as ‘delightful,’ Kingsbury Glasshouse transformed existing elements into a home that celebrates warmth, material honesty, quality and the beauty of imperfection.
Living Future Oceania CEO Laura Hamilton-O’Hara praised the mature execution of this year’s entrants, noting that incorporating natural, localised systems into the built environment has shifted into the mainstream.
“The calibre of projects entered this year was exceptional and reflects the growing maturity of biophilic design across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand,” Hamilton-O’Hara said.
“Our winners demonstrate that biophilic design is no longer a niche concept that projects add on – it is increasingly shaping the way we design homes, workplaces, public buildings and community spaces.”
Independent judging panels assessed entries across distinct brackets, evaluating how effectively the regional projects reconnected human habitats with the natural world.