The Australian Institute of Architects presents Sean Godsell with the country's top honor, the 2022 Gold Medal

The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA)has announced Sean Godsell as this year's winner of their prestigious Gold Medal Award.

Godsell has been a leading figure in architecture in his native country since beginning his small Melbourne-based practice in 1994. His prolific output includes the Vatican Chapel for the 2018 Venice Biennale, the Design Hub for his alma mater Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), the Woodleigh School Science Faculty, and several other award-winning residential projects spread throughout the country.

Godsell is particularly astute to his designs' ability to translate the hard-to-grasp landscape of Australia into the international conversation about design, aesthetics, and locality-responsive architecture. His work has been featured in several publications, including his monograph Sean Godsell – Tough Subtlety, published by El Croquis in 2013. Godsell was also a visiting professor at the IUAV WAVE workshop in Venice and has delivered several lectures for UNESCO, The Architectural League of New York, and Yale School of Architecture. The award-winning architect has received several nominations and awards, including the 2003 Citation from the President of the American Institute of Architects for his work with the homeless, the 2016 DETAIL Prize for the 2014 M Pavilion, and the Papal Silver Medal for his Venice contribution in 2018 to name a few.

The AIA stated, "Sean's architecture probes, challenges, and reflects a synopsis of an Australian architect responding to a highly deep moral and territorial ethos. It is unwavering as it is singular." This year's Gold Medal Jury was composed of Tony Giannone (Chair), Alice Hampson, David Karotkin, Camilla Block, and John Denton. Previous recipients of the award include Glenn Murcutt, Jørn Utzon, Brit Andresen, Harry Seidler, and Robin Boyd.

Below is a selection of Godsell's award-winning projects.