We're excited to announce the opening of nominations for our 2025 Urban Design Awards, a biennial celebration of great new developments that add value to communities and neighbourhoods across the city. 

The Urban Design Awards spotlight and recognise projects that make notable contributions that respect and enhance the diverse and attractive streets that make Boroondara a great place to live and work. 

This year’s submissions will be judged by an independent panel of design and architecture experts drawn from industry and academia. 

The Mayor of Boroondara, Councillor Sophie Torney, expressed her support for the awards and encouraged developers, homeowners and architects to apply. 

“The Urban Design Awards represent Boroondara’s commitment to celebrating and supporting thoughtful, sustainable urban development in suburbs with a wide variety of architectural styles going back more than 150 years. 

These awards highlight the importance of designing buildings and spaces that do not just fit with, but enhance the local environments and streetscapes they are built in. 

Previous award winners represent design excellence, blending modern materials and design principals with the green and leafy streets that make Boroondara such a desirable place to call home."

Nominations for the 2025 Urban Design Awards will open on 14 April and close on 9 June 2025. Winners will be announced at a special event in August 2025 with an esteemed keynote speaker - Jill Garner (AM), the Victorian Government Architect.

Submit a nomination by Monday 9 June 2025 at Your Say Boroondara.

More information:

This year, an esteemed independent jury will select the winners, including:

• Liam Wallis – Founder and Managing Director, HIP v HYPE
• Markus Jung – Course Director, Master of Architecture and Urban Design, Swinburne University of Technology
• Katherine Sundermann – Principal, MGS Architects/Joint President, Urban Design Forum Australia

The public is invited to nominate projects completed within the past five years that have not previously been nominated in the following categories:

1. Residential:
   • Alteration or addition
   • Single dwelling
   • Townhouse
   • Multi-residential
2. Commercial
3. Civic
4. Student (design, not built – associated with Boroondara)

Award nominations will be assessed on their response to the Boroondara Design Excellence Guide principles:

• Considering Context: Projects that are tailored to their location, enhancing the physical, natural, social and economic environment.
• Sustainable Architecture: Emphasis on renewable resources, reducing energy use, waste and operating costs.
• Building Quality: Utilising durable, high-quality materials that contribute positively to the look and feel of the neighbourhood.
• Local Ecology: Projects that foster green, healthy and vibrant neighbourhoods.
• Liveable and Vibrant Places: Designs that connect with public spaces and surrounding streets, making the community safer, more attractive and more accessible.