Kerstin Thompson. Image courtesy Australian Institute of Architects
Noted Australian architect Kerstin Thompson has been announced as the winner of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) 2023 Gold Medal, her country’s highest honor.
The AIA says the Medal was awarded to Thompson for her “contribution to the advancement of architecture and the profession as a whole.” Notable projects included in their citation for the KTA founder included the Victorian College of the Arts, Broadmeadows Town Hall, and the award-winning Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge for Creative Learning in New South Wales.
“Spanning varying scales, from large public projects to intricate domestic architecture, Thompson’s sublime work is at once generous, bold, and highly nuanced,” Jury Chair Shannon Battisson said of the architect’s portfolio. “Taking its cues from the context, it creates a built form that allows the setting to take center stage.”
KTA’s 2021 Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge for Creative Learning in New South Wales. Photo: Zan Wimberley
“Further, she has displayed dedication to the profession through extensive efforts with the Australian Institute of Architects, including ‘captaincy’ at the 2019 National Architecture Conference, creative directorship of the 2005 National Architecture Conference, co-curatorship of Australia’s official contribution to the 2008 Venice Architecture Biennale, and participation in countless design panels and juries — all while leading her practice with a level of skill, consideration, and aesthetic to which many aspire,” Battisson added.
KTA’s Victorian College of the Arts former Mounted Police Stables. Photo: Trevor Mein
Battison and the AIA also commended KTA’s heritage efforts on the soon-to-reopen Melbourne Holocaust Museum project, socially-grounded approach to architecture, and work as an educator outside of her 29-year-old practice, stating: “Her design ethos favors subtle expression and graciousness over force, and her propensity to address some of the biggest issues of our time.”
“Through her work in academia and as a role model for women in the profession,” Battison added finally, “she is an inspiration to the profession as a whole and to future generations of architects.”
KTA’s design for the Statewide Child and Family Centre in Macleod in Melbourne. Image: Victorian Health Building Authority
Thompson will now embark on a country-wide lecture tour, delving into her portfolio and experience in the professional design field.
More information about the Gold Medal can be found here.
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