The winners of Australia’s peak international design awards were announced today during the 2021 Good Design Awards Week. The Good Design Awards are the highest honour for design and innovation in the country and reward projects across 12 design disciplines and 30 subcategories.

Reservoir Station received a prestigious Good Design Award Winner Accolade in the Architectural Design category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation.

Commissioned by the North West Program Alliance (Level Crossing Removal Project, Metro Trains Melbourne, John Holland and KBR), Reservoir Station stands as a physical and cultural link between the central community’s high streets, creating an accommodating, intuitive and environmentally conscious public space. Designed by Genton (Architecture, Urban Design) and McGregor Coxall (Landscape Architecture, Urban Design), the station received an Australian-first 5 Star Green Star As-Built Rating.

Nick Griffin, Associate Director and Co-Studio Leader of Mcgregor Coxall’s Melbourne Studio, said:

“We are committed to using sustainable design for the betterment of our communities, globally. For Reservoir Station – a project completed in our own backyard – to be included in such a prestigious list of world-shaping entries is an honour and true testament to the maturity and growth of our Melbourne Studio as a whole.”

Forming one of 75 development sites in the Victorian Government-led Level Crossing Removal Project, the redesign of Reservoir Station presented significant opportunity to greatly improve commuter safety and reduce traffic congestion to and through the station. The previous on-grade station and surrounding complex main road intersections effectively cut-in-half Reservoir’s two high streets – Edwardes St and Broadway. The objective was to create a new transport precinct that accommodates for the growing community along the rail corridor, creating a destination with lasting environmental legacies including increased biodiversity, water management solutions, and active transport access.

The 2021 Good Design Awards attracted a record number of submissions with 933 design projects evaluated by more than 70 Australian and international Jurors, including designers, engineers, architects and thought leaders. Each entry was evaluated according to a strict set of design evaluation criteria which includes good design, design innovation and design impact. Projects recognised with an Australian Good Design Award demonstrate excellence in professional design and highlight the impact a design-led approach has on business success and social and environmental outcomes.

The Good Design Awards Jury commented: “A great example of integrated design thinking, from concept to implementation. An environmentally smart and beautiful execution that achieves multiple outcomes - a safer, more connected and healthier community. The intriguing facade is stand out, playing with lightness and transparency creating delight for users and passers-by. The project should be commended for its integration of environmentally sustainable design, which is reflected in its Australian-first 5 Star Green Star As-Built Rating for a train station. The central plaza creates a place for the community to gather and dwell and the architectural form reflects the surrounding context. Well done.”

Dr. Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia said: “Receiving an Australian Good Design Award is testament to embedding design excellence at the heart of a product, service, place or experience. Although 2021 continues to be another challenging year, it is incredibly inspiring to see designers and businesses working together to find innovative, customer-centric design solutions to local and global challenges and to see them recognised and rewarded for their efforts through these prestigious Awards.

“The importance of embracing good design principles is now more important than ever as many businesses around the world have had to completely re-think their business strategies to remain competitive. The standard of design excellence represented in this year’s Awards is the best I’ve ever seen in my 25 years of running these Awards, an encouraging sign that the design sector is flourishing,” Dr. Gien added.

About the Australian Good Design Awards

The Australian Good Design Awards is the country’s oldest and most prestigious international awards for design and innovation with a proud history dating back to 1958. The Awards celebrate the best new products and services on the Australian and international market, excellence in architectural design, precinct design, engineering, fashion, digital and communication design, and reward new and emerging areas of design including design strategy, social impact design, design research and up-and-coming design talent in the Next Gen category.