A Canberra architect has been lauded by her peers, winning the Australian Institute of Architects' prestigious National Emerging Architect Prize.
Sarah Lebner, principal architect at Fyshwick-based Light House Architecture and Science, was announced the winner this week during a livestreaming of the National Architecture Awards.
Sarah was described as a champion of "simplified, sustainable home designs" and commended by the jury for her work to make quality, architect-designed homes more affordable.
Jury chair Alice Hampson said: "Many architects dream of making architecture more accessible; Sarah is actually doing so".
A graduate of the University of Canberra, Sarah has volunteered on construction projects in Kenya and the Solomon Islands and has given back to her profession through industry groups and committees and by sharing her knowledge.
The jury noted she continued to provide invaluable resources to the profession.
That included through her recently self-published book, 101 Things I Didn't Learn in Architecture School, and associated online resource myfirstarchitecturejob.com, which had grown to a community of more than 3000 young architects.
"It is a noble act to share knowledge and maintain an interactive conduit through publishing and establishing an online community," the jury said.
"Sarah's reach via her chosen platforms inspires young architects, arming them with knowledge and demystifying a world that can too often feel overwhelming."
