On Tuesday 13 March, stunning residential development, The Garden House, was awarded with not one, but two top honours by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), Australia's peak representative body for all segments of the urban development industry. 

Announced at the National Awards Gala Dinner at UDIA's National Congress in Perth, The Garden House picked up the ‘National Award for Medium Density Housing'. The project then went on to win the overall ‘President’s Award’ for most Outstanding Development in Australia.

The jury stated that The Garden House was "the best development they have ever seen". Needless to say, client Piccolo Developments is delighted with the result.

"Measurement of specialist sector knowledge is expressed not only by the level of research produced, but by its application to our built project work," said Director Nik Karalis. "The industry knowledge acquired in the deep understanding of the changing marketplace and how inhabitants occupy medium density housing is now impacting into new project commissions all around the world."

Taking four years to complete and just two weeks to sell, The Garden House comprises 49 low-rise apartments and townhouses located in the historical inner-city suburb of Carlton. "We wanted to pick up the language of the Victorian terraces in the area - we also wanted the building to 'read' as a collection of houses," explained project leader Wade Little.

These national awards come off the back of a Victorian State Award for Medium Density Development, proudly accepted on Thursday 1 December 2011.