Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design Award 2026

Download Application Form

Enter before FRIDAY 25TH OF SEPTEMBER AT MIDNIGHT

Are you an architect, designer, builder, interior designer or landscape designer?

Just answer 3 simple questions and send images.

Your chance to celebrate your uniquely Illawarra home.

Enter Now

Is your home uniquely Illawarra?

An architectural home worth of acclaim?

The Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design Award for 2026 recognises homes that represent the best of the Illawarra. Those homes that reflect the innovative spirit of the Illawarra, while respecting the environmental demands of our region, bound by the ocean and towering bushland escarpment.

Vote now in the two award categories : New Build and Renovation.

Each project must include an architect or designer and a builder. We also encourage you to merit an interior designer and/or landscape designer if they are involved.

Homes must be completed after December 2023. No re-entries from last year, please.

Deadline: Submissions close FRIDAY THE 25th OF SEPTEMBER AT MIDNIGHT

How to apply

Categories

  • Award category 1: New Home
  • Award category 2: Renovations

Who Can Apply

This is a team award. Recipients must at least include an architect/designer and builder. We also welcome inclusion of an interior designer and landscape designer. Homes must be completed after December 2023.

How To Apply

  • Download Application Form (.docx)
  • Answer each of these three questions and email this template to Co-founder of the Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design, Penny Keogh, at: penny@eavescontent.com.au.
  • Photos (max 10) and or videos of the project to be submitted with basic architectural drawings (Please include floor plan).
  • Please ensure approval from photographer/videographer to use these images at the Festival events and on promotional material for no charge. We will ensure they are credited on every occasion.

Cost to Apply

It’s FREE

Award Questions

Word limit: 150 words per question.

Download Application form.

  1. What makes the project unique?
  2. What choices have made this project ‘resilient’? You may like to discuss from an environmental, social, technological and/or financial perspective.
  3. What makes this home unique for the Illawarra? Can discuss from the perspective of build process, client needs, design inspiration and more

Extra information to include

Also included in the word document are some introductory background questions to answer. Questions include:

  • Name of lead architect or designer and business name + contact email, LinkedIn and Instagram
  • Name of lead builder and business name + contact email, LinkedIn, and Instagram
  • Any other names associated with project including interior designer + landscape architect
  • Name of build
  • Suburb of build
  • Category – New Home or Renovation?
  • Photographers name + Instagram handle.

Deadline

Submissions close Sunday 25th of September at midnight.

Benefits of Entering

Recognition

Recognition

Let’s celebrate your achievements as a community to help us all build in ways that inspire. We’ll acknowledge entries and winners on stage at this year’s Festival.

Credibility

Credibility

With a logo for your website and email footer, you can continue to acknowledge your achievements through the year.

Local

Local

It’s about time we recognise that designing here is unique for so many reasons. This respects your thoughtful consideration of what makes our region special.

Charity

charity

All profits from the Awards Celebration Evening at Coledale RSL goes to charity partner, The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre.

Judging

This is a combination of public and expert voting hosted from the IFAD website. Each voter only gets one vote per award category.

Phase 1: Community Voting (PEOPLE’S CHOICE)

  1. Voters visit: www.ifad.net.au/awards from Monday 8 September. There voters will see all applications for both award categories.
  2. Voters will click on the polling button. They will enter personal details, including name and business name.
  3. Voters will click on a poll to nominate their favourite home.
  4. Polling closes Thursday 5 November at 8pm.

Phase 2: Winners announced

The winner for each category is the one with the most votes.

We also have a second category of awards. The CURATORS AWARD. drawing from Curators from this year’s festival. They’ll offer their votes, each person bringing a one vote contribution for each category.

Award winners will be announced on the Coledale RSL Celebration Evening on Saturday 7th of November.

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