Gerard Smith Design bagged the top prize – National Building Design of the Year Award – for its project River House in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
The project houses a private residence and garage within two 'crisp barn-like forms' clad in vertical run steel and recycled bricks taken from the devastation caused by the Christchurch earthquakes.
The entrants were invited to create a concept that is relevant to the time and raises questions about what design will be like in the future.
Five winners, selected from the shortlisted entries, will get a chance to go on a free study tour of Tokyo, Paris and London where they will get first-hand experience of some of the best architectural sites and practices.