Country-centred urban design scheme wins 2026 AA Prize for Unbuilt Work

The winning and awarded projects of the 2026 AA Prize for Unbuilt Work have been named, selected from a shortlist of 24 entries.

The prize, which seeks conceptually rigorous, inventive responses to contemporary architectural issues, was won this year by Whadjuk Balardong Elder Robyn Collard with Simon Pendal Architect for their project Walyalup/Fremantle - What If.

An urban planning scheme, the proposal reclaims Country through a series of connected "garden archipelagos" and posits new uses and incentives for increased density with minimal demolition of the existing building fabric.

"By suggesting changes to town planning codes, the team isn't just thinking about building on their specific site, they're looking at how to create a bigger, more positive impact across the whole city," the jury commented.

"This project is bold but grounded, showing how cities can reconnect with their landscapes through smart policy changes and creative design ideas. By making space for nature and encouraging more green, shady places, the team sets a great example of how to remediate Country for the benefit of everyone," they added.

According to jury chair Georgia Birks, associate editor of Architecture Australia, "For this year's prize, the jury was impressed with the number of concepts that interrogated planning codes, challenged the status quo of what a 'project solution' could be, and considered how an idea could be replicated across sites around Australia to improve the quality of social and environmental contexts."

In this vein, honourable mentions were awarded to Are You Being Served? by Eliza Innes, a proposal that transforms a contaminated petrol station in Penola, South Australia, into a thriving hub, as well as Spectral Dialogues by Katie Taylor, which posits environmental and cultural regeneration through the amplification of marginalised histories on a site in Glen Davis, New South Wales.

The 2026 jury comprised Ingrid Bakker of Hassell; Kirsteen Mackay from the Office for Design and Architecture SA; Deo Prasad of the University of New South Wales; Stuart Vokes of Vokes and Peters; and Georgia Birks, associate editor of Architecture Australia, as jury chair.

The winning and mentioned proposals are:

Walyalup/Fremantle - What If - Whadjuk Balardong Elder Robyn Collard with Simon Pendal Architect

Are You Being Served? - Eliza Innes

Spectral Dialogues - Katie Taylor

Friends of the Void - Jamie Bond

Gutless Wonder - Yasmin Fennessy

Kidscapes - Kali Marnane and Tess Martin in collaboration

The AA Prize for Unbuilt Work is organised by Architecture Media, publisher of ArchitectureAu, and supported by presenting partner Adelaide University.