The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing is an annual national award presented by the Australian Institute of Architects. It recognises outstanding achievements in multi-residential design with an emphasis on design, innovation, sustainability, and community impact. Winners have included private apartment buildings, townhouses, resorts, student and social housing. The award was first presented in 2007 reflecting a change in focus of residential building typology in architecture and better definition of award categories, occurring as cities and towns became more dense and housing preferences evolved. The change also redefined the Robin Boyd Award as being only for new houses.

Background Definition of the award As per the Australian Institute of Architects Policy No.13 on awards, prizes and honours, Category 5: Residential Housing Multiple Housing Projects category submission must be residential in nature, and comprise or include two or more self-contained dwellings (whether or not the structure includes uses for other purposes). The Named Award is the Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing. Secondary awards and recognition are awarded with an Architecture Award: National Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing and commendations receive a National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing.

Naming of the award The award is named after architect Frederick Romberg, born 21 June 1913 in Qingdao and died 12 November 1992 in Melbourne, Australia. A Swiss trained architect—who migrated to Australia in 1938—is best known for the architectural partnership Grounds, Romberg and Boyd (1953–1962), and for mid–century apartment buildings constructed in Melbourne.

Multiple housing awards before 2007 Prior to establishing the award in 2007, multiple housing projects were infrequently awarded across a range of different awards and categories including the Robin Boyd Award, Urban Design Award or occasionally as a special jury award.

The earliest state based award for multiple dwelling architecture was to Grounds, Romberg and Boyd for 'House and Four Apartments' now known as the (Roy Grounds House) which won a Victorian Architecture Medal in 1954.

State awards All state chapters of the Australian Institute of Architects now present annual awards in the multiple housing category. Victoria: Best Overend Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing (started 2007) New South Wales: Aaron Bolot Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing (started 2008) Queensland: Job & Froud Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing (started 2009) Australian Capital Territory: Sydney Ancher Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing South Australia: Newell Platten Award for Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing Western Australia: Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing Tasmania: Ray Heffernan Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing (started 2022) Northern Territory: Ken Frey Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

These state–based awards usually serve as a pathway to the national Frederick Romberg Award presented at the annual awards in October or November of each year.

Recipients Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture — Multiple Housing by yearYearArchitect Project Location State Type Other AIA awards 2025Blok Modular and Vokes and Peters Blok Three Sisters Point Lookout, North Stradbroke IslandQueenslandCoastalResidential Architecture Multiple Housing Award, 2025 (Qld) 2024Six Degrees Architects Ferrars and York 201—209 Ferrars Street, South MelbourneVictoriaInner CityBest Overend Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2024 (Vic) 2023Architecture Architecture, Austin Maynard Architects, Breathe, Clare Cousins Architects, Hayball and Kennedy Nolan Nightingale Village Duckett Street, BrunswickVictoriaInner CityMelbourne Prize, 2023 Architecture Award, Multiple Housing, 2023 (Vic) 2022Studio Bright Quay Quarter Lanes 8 Loftus Street, Circular Quay, SydneyNew South WalesCBD Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2022 Aaron Bolot Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2022 (NSW) Urban Design Award, 2022 (NSW) Lord Mayor's Prize, 2022 (NSW) 2021Kennedy Nolan The Lothian Lothian & Arden Street, North MelbourneVictoriaInner CityArchitecture Award, Multiple Housing, 2021 (Vic) 2020Hill Thalis The Wedge Studio Apartments 12 Dudley Street, Marrickville New South WalesInner CityArchitecture Award, Multiple Housing, 2020 (NSW) 2019Partners Hill with Hogg and Lamb Mermaid Multihouse Mermaid BeachQueenslandCoastalArchitecture Award, New Housing, 2019 (Queensland) 2018Bates Smart 35 Spring Street 35 Spring Street, MelbourneVictoriaCBDArchitecture Award, Multiple Housing, 2018 (Vic) 2017Troppo Architects Tropology for Defence Housing Australia (DHA) DarwinNorthern TerritoryInner CityArchitecture Award, Multiple Housing, 2017 (NT) 2016Spaceagency Architects Knutsford Stage 1 FremantleWestern AustraliaInner CityHarold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2016 (WA) 2015Jackson Clements Burrows Architects Upper House 516 Swanston Street, CarltonVictoriaInner CityBest Overend Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2015 (Vic)2014BreatheThe CommonsFlorence Street, BrunswickVictoriaInner CityBest Overend Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2014 (Vic)2013MGS ArchitectsMcIntyre Drive Social Housing2 McIntyre Drive, AltonaVictoriaSocialBest Overend Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2013 (Vic)2012BVN ArchitectureMonash University Student Housing (now Jackomos Hall and Briggs Hall)44 College Walk, Monash University, ClaytonVictoriaStudent HousingBest Overend Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2012 (Vic) RIBA International Award, 20122011CandelapasWaterloo StreetWaterloo Street, Surry HillsNew South WalesInner CityAaron Bolot Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2011 (NSW)2010Donovan HillSeaspray Resort and Spa28 Cocoanut Point Drive, ZilzieQueenslandCoastalJob & Froud Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2010 (Queensland)2009Wood Marsh Architecture in association with Sunland DesignBalencea Apartments454 St Kilda Road, MelbourneVictoriaInner CityArchitecture Award, Multiple Housing (Vic), 20092008Stanisic AssociatesEDO (Environment, Diversity, Operability)88 Crown Street, Woolloomooloo, SydneyNew South WalesInner CityAaron Bolot Award Award, Multiple Housing (NSW), 20082007Donovan HillCornwall Apartments35 Terrace Street, Newmarket, BrisbaneQueenslandInner City

See also Australian Institute of Architects Awards and Prizes Victorian Architecture Medal

References