Terracotta House wins Excellence in Heritage Award

City of Port Phillip Design & Development Awards 2026

Matyas Architects & Interiors is honoured to announce that our Terracotta House has been awarded the Jury’s Award for Excellence in Heritage at the 2026 City of Port Phillip Design and Development Awards.

The project is a contextual reinterpretation of a long-standing family home within the heritage streetscape of Middle Park, Victoria. Originally renovated by our practice over 25 years ago, this most recent work reflects a considered return to the dwelling, revisiting its material integrity, spatial logic, and relationship to its surrounding architectural context.

Rather than seeking reinvention, the approach was grounded in refinement. The design carefully re-engages with the original structure, honouring its history while elevating its spatial clarity and lived experience. Subtle interventions were guided by restraint, ensuring that new insertions remain deferential to the existing fabric while improving functionality, light, and longevity.

The Jury’s Award for Excellence in Heritage recognises projects that demonstrate innovation and excellence in restoring or reconstructing original building materials, while also contributing to a broader understanding and interpretation of heritage places. We are deeply honoured that the jury saw value in our layered approach - where preservation and contemporary living are not in opposition, but in quiet dialogue.

This recognition from the City of Port Phillip Design and Development Awards affirms the importance of working within existing architectural narratives, particularly in established suburbs such as Middle Park, where the built environment carries both cultural and personal histories.

We extend our thanks to the City of Port Phillip and the Jury for this acknowledgement, and all involved in making it happen.