Victorian firm Austin Maynard Architects is a finalist in the awards for the Empire house in Forrest, in the category recognising additions or alterations to an existing home.

The architects say they went "against the current Australian trend - to build large, fast and cheaply" to instead created a "relatively small, hand-crafted home".

"As architects we felt a sense of responsibility to stop demolishing. Here was important built heritage we felt the need to protect, preserve and contribute to," Austin Maynard said.

Also a finalist in the awards, in the multiple housing category, is Cox Architecture for the Edgeworth Apartments in Turner.

Edgeworth had been "designed to maximise residents' access to light and views, and offer natural cross ventilation to all apartments", the architects said.

At this year's ACT Architecture Awards, Cox Architecture's work on the Edgeworth Apartments also won the Sydney Ancher Award for residential architecture - multiple housing.

Almost one in four projects shortlisted for the Australian Institute of Architects' coveted National Architecture Awards are located outside the country's major cities.

A total of 78 entries have been shortlisted across 14 categories by the national jury for the November 7 awards ceremony in Brisbane.

The national jury, led by immediate past president Clare Cousins, was encouraged by the volume and strength of projects in regional and remote locations across the country.

The jury was "particularly impressed by the creativity, integrity and accomplishment demonstrated by both established and emerging architects".

Empire House in Forrest has already won the HIA Project of the Year, the Canberra Medallion from the Australian Institute of Architects and the Gene Willsford Award from the Australian Institute of Architects.

"The owners of Empire house owned a modest, inter-war style bungalow and wanted it to become their permanent base. They asked for 'a long-term family home that catches the sun'," the architects said.

"The aim was to retain as much of the existing character as possible. The result was two added pavilions, sympathetic to the existing house, but distinctly contemporary in detail.

"Empire house is a relatively small, hand-crafted home, unapologetic in its architectural detail and craftsmanship, as this is what the area deserves."

Cox Architecture, meanwhile, gave the Edgeworth Apartments the term "flip-flop" apartments.

They had many of the benefits of a detached house such as natural cross ventilation and light from multiple directions coupled with the advantages of apartment living including proximity to services.

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