At its core, architecture is a product of collaboration. A great building simply can’t be brought to life successfully without smartly designed, well-crafted materials and details. It is no wonder, then, that architects hold the creators of building products in such high regard. They recognize that, in order to make their creative visions a reality, working with high quality manufacturers is essential.
Architizer recognizes this too. That’s why, for the very first time, we are delighted to present every A+Award-winning product in a visually stunning and informative eBook that should form an essential part of every design professional’s library. We present to you “The World’s Best Building Products 2019”, a free-to-download e-publication available today! Hit the “full screen” button below to begin exploring:
“The World’s Best Building Products 2019” provides you with high quality products and materials to inspire your next project. Throughout 128 colorful pages, the industry’s most cutting-edge creations are highlighted, designed by innovative manufacturers around the globe to bring modern architecture to life. Each winner is represented through a series of stunning photographs and an accompanying product overview.
For specifying architects, this digital publication forms the go-to resource for sourcing forward-thinking building-products and pioneering manufacturers for use in projects. A link to the official profile of each A+Award-winning brand is provided, where you can contact manufacturers directly to ask for more information on products, request a sample or schedule an in-person meeting.
Who decides which products are “The World’s Best”?
Each product featured in the eBook won one of two A+Product Awards available for each category — one voted for by Architizer’s community via a free online vote, and one selected by a jury of more than 200 active specifiers and design thinkers. Both of these groups include a large number of architects and designers — professionals who specify tens of millions of dollars each year in building-products and materials.
Just for starters, the A+Awards jury includes:
- Annabelle Selldorf, Principal, Selldorf Architects
- David Rockwell, Founder and President, Rockwell Group
- Neri Oxman, Designer and Professor, MIT Media Lab
- Joan Blumenfeld, Design Principal and Interior Design Director, Perkins+Will
- Carol Ross Barney, Founder, Ross Barney Architects
- Gary Handel, Founding Partner, Handel Architects
- Peter Gluck, Founder and Principal, GLUCK+
- Primo Orpilla, Cofounder and Principal, Studio O+A
- Ben Van Berkel, Founder and Principal, UN Studio
These are just a few of the thought leaders that help decide the A+Award winning projects and products each year.
What makes these products stand out from the rest?
The judging criteria for products entailed a rigorous review of the technical and aesthetic elements of each entry, and were split into three broad categories: Aesthetics, Performance and Integration.
Firstly, Aesthetics encompasses the visible shape and materiality of the product. The jury considered the product’s form, detailing and quality, evaluating its relationship to the architecture it inhabits and the users who experience it.
Secondly, Performance refers to achieving the often complex goals for which a product is intended. The jury were particularly focused on uncovering innovations that utilize new materials, improve existing building practices, or address new needs.
Finally, Integration refers to a product’s potential to become ubiquitous – a design ‘staple’ – in a given category. The jury looked for products with the ability to be successfully implemented, durable, user friendly, brand relevant and applicable to a wide variety of challenges that architects face today.
Based on these criteria, 49 brands came out victorious, with a range of designers, fabricators and collaborators grabbing prestigious accolades in a wide variety of categories. The 2019 A+Product Awards is dedicated to the next great wave of building-product manufacturers, those that will take architecture into 2020 with cutting-edge creative ideas.
How should architects use this eBook?
To get the most out of this eBook, make sure to keep it top-of-mind and use it as a reference point from the very beginning, during the conceptual stages of each project. The earlier you collaborate with manufacturers, the more efficiently they can work with you to help bring your designs to life on the construction site.
The products showcased on these pages all won A+Awards this year, but they are just a starting point for further exploration. Each manufacturer is constantly working to address the evolving needs of architects and their clients. Be sure to reach out to them to learn more about their current product range, and ask what they have in development. Together, creative designers and product manufacturers will shape the future of architecture.
