The second annual Ammodo Architecture Award has recognized 26 outstanding projects from 168 entries across more than 60 countries, celebrating exemplary contributions to socially and ecologically responsible architecture. Among the winners in the Social Engagement category, NMBW Architecture Studio received recognition for their innovative transformation of a Melbourne factory into a sustainable co-working space.
The award-winning project, Sanders Place, showcases the adaptive reuse of a two-story brick factory building that was converted into a modern co-working hub for developer Tripple. The renovation demonstrates how architects can breathe new life into industrial structures while prioritizing environmental sustainability and community engagement.
According to the awards advisory committee, the project successfully transformed a closed industrial building into an open, welcoming space that reconnects people with nature and community. The committee praised the architects for "skillfully reimagining an existing factory through acts of careful subtraction and reuse." The renovation introduced five courtyards throughout the building, including a central garden where trees grow directly through the floor, bringing natural light, fresh air, and greenery into the workspace.
The sustainable features of Sanders Place include rooftop solar panels, heat recovery ventilation systems, and extensive material reuse from the original structure. The advisory committee noted that the project "exemplifies how sustainability and human wellbeing can be integrated with beauty and restraint." They emphasized that it demonstrates how architects can create meaningful, ecological, and socially engaging architecture even within highly regulated urban environments.
As part of the recognition, NMBW Architecture Studio received a $50,000 grant to support the further development of their architectural practice. According to a media release, the firm plans to use this funding for a design-research initiative that explores how architecture in Melbourne and Sydney can be revitalized through decolonizing design principles, adaptive reuse strategies, and multi-sensory engagement approaches.
The research initiative will focus specifically on disused colonial-era buildings that are often located on sites of significant Indigenous importance. NMBW will investigate innovative methods to transform these historical structures into inclusive, vibrant public spaces that serve contemporary community needs while honoring cultural heritage.
The prestigious Ammodo Architecture Award advisory committee was chaired by Joumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of the World Press Photo Foundation in Amsterdam. The committee included distinguished members from around the world: Andrés Jaque, architect, dean and professor at Columbia University GSAPP in New York; Anupama Kundoo, architect and professor at TU Berlin; Floris Alkemade, architect and former Chief Government Architect of the Netherlands; Mariam Issoufou, architect and professor at ETH Zurich; and Loreta Castro Reguera, architect and professor at UNAM Mexico City.
To ensure comprehensive global representation in the selection process, projects were sourced through a carefully organized invitation system managed by regional ambassadors from different continents. This approach allowed the award to recognize innovative architectural solutions from diverse cultural contexts and geographic regions, highlighting the universal importance of responsible design practices in addressing contemporary social and environmental challenges.
