The annual Houses Awards have released their shortlist of the most inspired homes around Australia.

This year’s shortlist features more than 150 homes from the country’s most celebrated designers.

Launched in 2010, the awards celebrate projects across 10 categories, including New House (under and over 200 square metres), House Alteration and Addition (under and over 200 square metres), Apartment or Unit, Sustainability, House in a Heritage Context, Emerging Architecture Practice, Australian House of the Year, and the newly created Small Project.

The Small Project award will recognise the innovation and impact in small builds such as granny flats, studios, workshops, pergolas and pool houses.

Foomann Architects for Mornington House. Photo: Willem-Dirk du Toit

This year’s panel of jurors included John Ellway from John Ellway Architect, Polly Harbison, principal of Polly Harbison Design, Dimmity Walker, director of Spaceagency Architects and John Wardle, founder of Wardle.

They are joined by jury chair Alexa Kempton, editor of Houses magazine and Architecture Media, as well as Louise Honman as the heritage advisor and Pippa Soccio as the sustainability advisor.

Kempton said an emerging theme in this year’s shortlist was about “designing smarter, rather than bigger”.

“Increasingly, we see architects telling clients, ‘You don’t need more space – you need better design’,” she said in a statement.

“The jury observed modestly scaled new houses as well as clever interventions to existing homes, and applauded this continued emphasis on responsible residential design.”

Other themes that emerged in this year’s shortlist include a celebration of the iconic beach shack, colourful interiors, unique homes, imaginative responses to existing housing and homes for play.

“Postwar apartments, beach shacks, project homes – these familiar housing types are often ripe for formulaic updates,” Kempton said.

“But in this year’s shortlisted homes, the jury observed something bolder: inventive, out-of-the-box transformations that celebrate Australia’s existing housing stock,” she added.

“These projects prove you don’t need to demolish to make something remarkable from the homes already found in our suburbs.”

The jury found that homes in this year’s shortlist represented innovative design for “the full spectrum of Australian life.”

“The jury saw many homes that respond to the demographic diversity in contemporary Australia, encompassing downsizers, sole occupants and those who want to age in place,” Kempton said.

Winners of the awards will be announced at a gala event at the State Library of NSW on August 1.

New House (under 200 square metres)

Robbie Walker for sawmill treehouse. Photo: Tasha Tylee

Designed by Robbie Walker, sawmill treehouse is a small cabin positioned between gum trees to provide a “place for quiet reflection.”

New House (over 200 square metres)

Lara Maeseele for Nebraska. Photo: Adam Gibson.

Lara Maeseele designed Nebraska as a place “for an extended family to holiday together” on the northern tip of Bruny Island.

House Alteration and Addition (under 200 square metres)

Alexander Symes Architect for Cake House. Photo: Barton Taylor.

Known by locals as ‘Cake House’, Alexander Symes Architect’s project is “a robust beach home for the next generation.”

House Alteration and Addition (over 200 square metres)

Weaver+Co Architects for Yarraville Peak. Photo: Tom Ross

Designed by Weaver+Co Architects, Yarraville Peak is a significant alteration to a Victorian villa that “re-arranges living spaces around a series of gardens.”

Apartment or Unit

Smart Design Studio for Portman Terraces. Photo: Romello Pereira

Portman Terraces by Smart Design Studio consist of seven four-storey residences that “reinterpret the Victorian terrace in a contemporary manner.”

Sustainability

CplusC Architects + Builders for Holocene House. Photo: Renata Dominik

Designed for a young family, Holocene House by CplusC Architects + Builders “prioritises regenerative principles, privacy, and connection to nature.”

House in a Heritage Context

Luigi Rosselli Architects for Hidden: a Cryptic Estate. Photo: Prue Ruscoe.

Originally built in 1889, a Cryptic Estate by Luigi Rosselli Architects for Hidden illustrates a respectful update of a heritage home “while layers of contemporary additions lie concealed in the house’s subterranean depths.”

Emerging Architecture Practice

Victoria Merrett Architects. Photo: Tasha Tylee.

Victoria Merrett Architects aims to “create spaces that inspire mindful living through sustainable, timeless architecture.”

Small Project

Sally Draper Architects for The Apple House. Photo: Trevor Mein.

The Apple House by Sally Draper Architects is a “collector’s repository, study retreat, a library and lure for grandchildren, adventure playground and refuge for the local birdlife.”