WHILE many architects dream of making architecture more accessible, Sarah Lebner is doing it.
That’s what Australian Institute of Architects’ president Alice Hampson said about Sarah, 32, of Gungahlin, when she was announced as the winner of the National Emerging Architecture Prize.
The award was unexpected for the principal architect at the multi-disciplinary firm, Light House Architecture and Science.
“I always dreamt of winning the state one. Some of the state winners have always been my idols so I was pretty blown away [to win the national prize],” says Sarah after she was applauded by the prize jury for her work in making quality, architect-designed homes more affordable, and for her role in educating the community.
Anzac Hall… under threat of demolition. Photo: Donald Cant Watts Corke
IN the last hour of parliament on the final sitting day of the year, federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley approved the destruction of the Australian War Memorial’s award-winning exhibition gallery space, Anzac Hall.
It’s a decision which the Australian Institute of Architects’ past president and #handsoffAnzacHall campaign spokesperson, Clare Cousins, says undermines confidence in Australia’s heritage protection framework and the operation of the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
“The expert heritage advice from multiple government-commissioned and independent assessments regarding the adverse impacts knocking down Anzac Hall will have on the site’s heritage values was unanimous and has been ignored by the minister,” Ms Cousins says.