Architizer is thrilled to reveal the winners for one of this year’s most inspiring design competitions. The Third Annual “The Best of LaCantina” attracted entries from architecture and design firms around the world, each integrating LaCantina’s stunning doors and windows into their projects in innovative ways. The projects ranged widely in location, building type and scale, but they all share one thing in common: Their use of LaCantina products allows for a seamless connection between inside and out, framed by beautiful, durable materials.
Without further ado, here are the standout designs from this year’s competition, projects that truly encapsulate “The Best of LaCantina”.
High Desert Butterfly by Tozer Design; photography by Kayla McKenzie Photography
The overall, “Best in Show” winner in this year’s competition is Tozer Design’s High Desert Butterfly, a stunning private residence in Bend, Oregon with extraordinary views of the Cascade Mountains. The architects specified multiple iterations of LaCantina’s thermally controlled, aluminum multi-slide doors, culminating in a house defined by natural light and expansive views to the surrounding landscape. The doors integrated perfectly with the architects’ design, which employed passive solar principles and biophilic design to create living spaces that are at one with nature, year-round.
High Desert Butterfly also scooped the title of Best Rural Project for the architects’ considered response to its majestic context in the Pacific Northwest.
Dolores Heights Residence by John Maniscalco Architecture | jmA; photography by Joe Fletcher Photography
In a contrasting setting, the award for Best Urban Project went to Dolores Heights Residence, a cleverly detailed home designed by John Maniscalco Architecture | jmA that makes the most of its sloping site in the heart of San Francisco. A range of LaCantina products were utilized to connect indoors and outdoors, a highlight being the corner multi-slide unit that blends the interior dining space and adjacent terrace to create one huge space for entertaining.
River House by Sellars Lathrop Architects; photography by Matthew Williams
The accolade of Best Suburban Project was won by Sellars Lathrop Architects’ River House in Westport, Connecticut, a brilliant transformation of a 1950s Contemporary house into a modern riverfront retreat. LaCantina’s outswing aluminum thermally controlled custom size panels were specified for the rear of the property, helping to create an elegant wall of glass that opens up to a beautifully manicured lawn.
Russian Hill by MacCracken Architects; photography by Rien van Rijthoven
MacCracken Architects harnessed the potential of LaCantina’s products at a smaller scale, the firm’s Russian Hill residence picking up the award for Best Compact Project. Located in San Francisco, this project involved the adaptive re-use of an old single story garage, converting it into a beautiful home with a stepped façade and external spiral staircase. The architects specified LaCantina’s multi slide doors to create wall-to-wall views to the rear of the property.
Day Wines by Fieldwork Design & Architecture; photography by Jeremy Bittermann Photography
Moving beyond the residential categories, Fieldwork Design & Architecture scooped the award for Best Commercial Project with its striking design for the new Day Wines winery in Dundee, Oregon. Faced with the challenge of transforming a derelict former vitamin factory into a contemporary space for tasting fine wines, the architects opted for LaCantina’s sliding and swing door products to maximize the connection between the interiors and the courtyard. When opened, the space is flooded with natural light, framing a view of the vineyards beyond.
Z-S Addition by Talbot McLanahan Architect; photography by Diana Koenigsberg
The award for Most Innovative Project went to Talbot McLanahan Architect’s Z-S Addition, an unusual two story extension for a single story bungalow in Venice, California. The minimal design of this light and airy double-height addition was aided by the use of LaCantina’s Aluminum Folding Door, which allowed for an unobstructed path between inside and out below a unique trapezoidal window.
Greenwood American Kitchen & Bar by DMAC Architecture; photography by Anthony Tahlier
Finally, a brand new category was introduced for this year’s competition — the award for Best Renovation Project was secured by DMAC Architecture for its transformation of Greenwood American Kitchen & Bar in Highwood, Illinois. The architects aimed to honor the history of the light-industrial structure on this complex site, while giving it new life as a vibrant, contemporary restaurant. Two different LaCantina Folding Door systems were utilized to connect the interior spaces with a terrace and covered patio for al fresco dining.
These seven award-winning projects show just a glimpse of the incredible designs produced by architects with the help of LaCantina’s versatile product range. Members of the overall winning team have been rewarded with a trip to New York City for Archtober, while the honorable mentions will also be published on LaCantinaDoors.com.
All images courtesy of the architects