While the architectural world is often preoccupied with awards that serve to adulate prominent individuals within the profession, Architizer’s A+Awards brings it all back to what matters most: fantastic buildings.
Focusing on the projects themselves helps architecture firms of all shapes and sizes earn global recognition, no matter where they hail from or what typology they specialize in. Unlike the Pritzker Prize, you don’t need to be an internationally known architect to win an A+Award. If you have designed a wonderful building that helps make people’s lives better, your work deserves to be celebrated and seen by the world.
With the submission deadline for the A+Awards fast approaching — get your entries in before Friday, January 29th — we’ve selected some of our favorite projects that made the grade last year. Enjoy this stellar collection of structures, and good luck with your submissions!
Taíde House by Rui Vieira Oliveira + Vasco Manuel Fernandes, Taíde, Portugal
Popular and Jury Winner, Medium Private Houses (1000-3000 sq ft)
Rui Vieira Oliveira and Vasco Manuel Fernandes’ bold rehabilitation of an ancient grape mill attracted votes from both the jury and the public last year, its angular roof structure contrasting beautifully with the old granite walls of the original structure.
Aspen Art Museum by Shigeru Ban Architects and Dean Maltz Architect, Aspen, Colo., United States
Shortlisted, Museums
Shigeru Ban employed his intimate knowledge of Japanese timber construction to great effect in Colorado, weaving a basket-like façade for the Aspen Art Museum that transforms the building into a glowing lantern by night.
Lens House by Alison Brooks Architects Ltd, London, United Kingdom
Jury Winner, Large Private Houses (3000-5000 sq ft)
© Jake Fitzjones
Alison Brook’s dynamic residential project impressed the jurors in 2015, with the firm skillfully supplementing a 19th-century villa with a highly modern addition. The architect likens the dark, geometric volumes of this extension to the folded planes of origami.
BV House by Jacobsen Arquitetura, Porto Feliz, Brazil
Shortlisted, Extra-Large Private Houses (>5000 sq ft)
© Leonardo Finotti
Jacobsen Arquitetura employed a sumptuous material palette of natural stone and timber for this large residential project in Brazil, combining deep verandas, floor-to-ceiling glazing and atmospheric lighting with stunning landscape design.
The Three Cusps Chalet by Tiago do Vale Arquitectos, Braga, Portugal
Popular Winner, Architecture +Preservation
© Joao Morgado - Architecture Photography
Tiago do Vale Arquitectos triumphed in the Architecture +Preservation category with this sensitive restoration of a historic house in Braga, Portugal. The picturesque exterior was returned to its original glory, while the interior was transformed with a dash of modern flair.
Porsgrunn Maritime Museum by COBE and TRANSFORM, Porsgrunn, Norway
Shortlisted, Museums
COBE and TRANSFORM’s striking waterfront museum tells the story of Norway’s shipping history, and it is contained within a shimmering aluminum envelope that evokes sails, icebergs and the surrounding Nordic architecture.
Merchant Square Footbridge by Knight Architects, London, United Kingdom
Shortlisted, Highways & Bridges
© Edmund Sumner
This innovative footbridge in London was designed by Knight Architects as a “kinetic sculpture,” incorporating an elegant opening mechanism that operates like a Japanese hand fan.
Beijing Conrad Hotel by MAD, Beijing, China
Shortlisted, Hotels & Resorts
MAD designed a hotel in the Chinese capital that it says represents “the subtle invasion of nature,” its distorted lattice striking a brilliant contrast with the convention tower blocks of Beijing’s central business district.
School Floating in the Sky by D Environmental Design System Laboratory, Sangkhlaburi, Thailand
Jury Winner, Kindergartens
D Laboratory’s Thai kindergarten was inspired by a children’s drawing of a flying ship and utilizes vernacular techniques including traditional earthbag wall construction and thatched roofing.
Sambade House by Spaceworkers, Penafiel, Portugal
Popular Winner, Extra-Large Private Houses (>5000 sq ft)
Portuguese studio Spaceworkers captured the public vote with this idyllic contemporary residence, creating a pure concrete volume with expansive glazing that connects the interior to the surrounding landscape.