Tomek Archer wins the 2012 Qantas Spirit of Youth Architecture and Interior Design Award

Monday 08, October 2012 at 3:17 PM by CB

The Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards (SOYA365), the leading initiative for Australia's best emerging artists, designers, and creatives, has announced Tomek Archer as the 2012 recipient of the inaugural SOYA365 Architecture & Interior Design award. The following three talented young designers have also been named as runners up; Samson Tiew, Robert Smith and Michael Ong.

In excess of 100 fantastic young designers submitted their work into the Architecture & Interior Design category this year, putting them in the running to receive the prestigious title as well as $5000 in cash, and a rare 12-month mentorship opportunity with celebrated architect Brian Zulaikha.

Archer will also be sent on a trip-of-a-lifetime to the architecturally rich city of Barcelona in November 2012 to be inspired on the streets where Antoni Gaudi made history.

Archer started Tomahawk Studios in 2003 as a platform for applied research projects in parallel to his architectural studies. The products and projects of this work have been acquired into state and private collections in Australia and Europe and received numerous awards including an Australian DesignMark at the Australian International Design Awards. All Tomahawk Studios products are produced in Tomek's hometown of Sydney, using a combination of traditional craftsmanship and innovative digital production.

For 2012 and into 2013, Archer will be mentored by celebrated architecture Zulaikha, current president of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Zulaikha formed Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (TZG) Architects in 1987 and has expertise in many building types and a leading reputation for design and constructional excellence, reflected in the many major design awards and competitions won by the practice.

TZG's recently completed projects include the Paddington Reservoir Gardens, the Carriageworks Performing Arts Centre in Redfern, the "Glasshouse" Arts, Conference & Entertainment Centre in Port Macquarie, and a major installation of sound walls and a new gateway on a 23km extension of the Hume Freeway in Melbourne.

Zulaikha was incredibly impressed by the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the entrants for the inaugural Architecture and Interior Design award describing Archer's work as, "informed by his wonderful furniture design which he infuses with a real spirit of materiality and construction, he is able to delve into architectural form and space with a surprising maturity. His little office fit out is fresh and robust, where a strong idea overcomes any shortcomings in the constraints of cost and programme."

SOYA has been instrumental in unearthing and nurturing young artists, designers, and creatives, helping them expand their horizons, build up their business and learn the ropes from some of the greatest creative minds in the world. This year the newly rebranded SOYA365 has also introduced four additional categories: Animation, Interactive Content & Gaming, Architecture & Interior Design and The Written Word.

The programs final category for the year, Animation, is now open for submissions with a closing date of 5th October 2012.