Kerstin Thompson Named Winner of 2023 AIA Gold Medal

The architect behind the Melbourne Holocaust Museum has been awarded the highest honour in Australian architecture.

The Australian Institute of Architects awarded the 2023 Gold Medal to Kerstin Thompson—creative director of Kerstin Thompson architects.

The Gold Medal recognises architects who have produced high level distinction of work.

Other projects by Thompson include the Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge—home to Arthur Boyd’s art collection and a creative learning centre, visitor hub and accommodation—which won a number of accolades including being highly commended in the 2022 World Architecture Festival Completed Buildings: Culture section.

Other notable projects include the Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge; The Stable, the Victorian College of the Arts; and the Broadmeadows Town Hall.

Gold Medal jury chair president Shannon Battisson said Thompson had contributed significantly to architectural discourse throughout her career.

“Spanning varying scales, from large public projects to intricate domestic architecture, Thompson’s sublime work is at once generous, bold and highly nuanced,” Battisson said.

“Her design ethos favours subtle expression and graciousness over force, and her propensity to address some of the biggest issues of our time.

“Taking its cues from the context, it creates a built form that allows the setting to take centre stage.” 

Among many awards, in 2020 Kerstin Thompson Architect practice was awarded the Victorian Architecture Medal, and in 2022 the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture.

The 2022 recipient of the AIA Gold Medal was Sean Godsell.