Celebrate the architects and designers behind our city’s public spaces by voting for one of these finalists. And you just may take home a prize too!

The City of Adelaide Prize is one of the categories in this year’s prestigious South Australian Architecture Awards Program.

Sponsored by City of Adelaide, this publicly voted for prize recognises innovative projects that enliven the City’s public spaces and engage with the community.

Everyone who votes is entered into the draw for two adult entry tickets to Monarto Safari Park (valued at $90).

To help you decide who to vote for, we checked in once again with this year’s finalists to learn more about their projects.

Photo: Andre C

POWER PEOPLE INSTALLATION
By Studio Tristan Kerr
Tristan Kerr, Artist

What makes a city’s public realm feel welcoming and alive?

I think stimulating the senses with colour, light, sound and even smell all plays a huge part in creating a welcoming and stimulating sense of place. I see beauty and authenticity in the ever-changing face of the urban environment through the disregarded surfaces of urban life. I find that I walk between these two worlds, finding rich layers of inspiration, meaning and history.

What does this project give to Adelaide and the people who live here?

The alleyways surrounding the installation are thriving with restaurants, bars and hotels. I wanted to provide a contemporary abstract artwork that allowed people to stop and consider the urban environment, whilst also providing opportunity at night-time to illuminate the precinct with the pop neon colours. The artwork between day and night becomes multi-dimensional.

Vote for Power People Installation here.

Photo: Saul Steed

FRIDA & DIEGO: LOVE & REVOLUTION EXHIBITION
By Grieve Gillett Architects
Paul Gillett, Director

What makes a city’s public realm feel welcoming and alive?

Architectural form should be community-focussed, reflecting and reinforcing the identity of all the city’s people and ensuring inclusive and welcoming spaces for all.

Successful public realm spaces provide a meaningful sense of place, taking into account the site, context, history and culture that connect people to place. It means creating forms that resonate with distinctive features of the locality, reinforcing the sense of ownership and the perception that the built form is unique to that place.

What does this project give to Adelaide and the people who live here?

With no Australian gallery owning works by either Frida Kahlo or Diego Rivera, this momentous exhibition offered Australian audiences access for the first time to such a comprehensive collection of paintings, photographs, clothing and illustrations by Frida, Diego and other Mexican modernists.

A testament to Frida’s enduring legacy and the inspired curation and exhibition design, the exhibition appealed to a broad range of the community and has engaged audiences outside regular Gallery visitors, including 26% of visitors coming from interstate or overseas.

Vote for Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution Exhibition here.

Photo: Peter Clarke

60 KING WILLIAM STREET
By COX Architecture
Adam Hannon, Director

What makes a city’s public realm feel welcoming and alive?

The success of a city’s public realm is almost always attributed to buildings and spaces that are welcoming, safe, connected and most importantly reflect the values and character of its immediate context. The profile of Adelaide’s public space has undergone significant change in recent years and ultimately the quality of public space provided will be critical to Adelaide’s continued future growth and standing both nationally and internationally.

What does this project give to Adelaide and the people who live here?

The 60 King William Street Redevelopment has re-energised a crucial part of Adelaide’s CBD providing high-quality public spaces and amenity, a mix of retail offerings and a best-in-class workplace. The use of sandstone, brickwork and restoration of the heritage Sands & McDougall Building reflect a strong sense of place and further contribute to Adelaide’s premium commercial boulevard.

Vote for 60 King William Street here.

JAMFACTORY TARNANTHI: ERNABELLA ARTS EXHIBITION
By Grieve Gillett Architects
Paul Gillett, Director

What does this project give to Adelaide and the people who live here?

Ernabella Arts: Ceramic Warka Wiru 20 Year-kutu (20 years of Creating Ceramics) features the work of the Aṉangu people of the Pukatja community, showcasing their signature sgrafitto clay carving technique amongst the diverse collection of pottery and an iconic piece of car bonnet signage.

The continuum of exhibiting works from the APY Lands provides a retrospective of Ernabella works and the continuing artistic and cultural development.

Set against a backdrop of the dramatic landscape, the ceramic pieces rest on a bed of ochre-coloured dirt, brought in from Pukatja, giving visitors a sense of being transported to Country. A commissioned video with artist interviews, along with a 20-year timeline wall graphic, adds context for deeper understanding.

Vote for JamFactory Tarnanthi: Ernabella Arts Exhibition here.