{"id":21056,"date":"2016-09-21T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/architizer.wpengine.com\/the-a-story\/"},"modified":"2022-05-31T08:18:40","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T12:18:40","slug":"the-a-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/industry\/the-a-story\/","title":{"rendered":"How Architecture Broke Out of the Echo Chamber"},"content":{"rendered":"

Architizer is excited to announce that the 5th annual A+Awards will open for entries in late September! For more information on the program, CLICK HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Architizer\u2019s A+Awards<\/a> \u2014 a worldwide program designed to recognize the globe\u2019s best architecture and products \u2014 was born in 2012 on the back of one key belief: that great architecture is for everyone. For too long, discussions about architecture were stuck in an echo chamber occupied by architects, architectural critics and academics who would exchange thoughts on the built environment while 99 percent of those who inhabit it every day remained on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

It was crucial, then, to create an awards program that would engage the public like never before. Using the power of the internet, social media and a wealth of other platforms, the A+Awards was designed to bring architecture to the masses in this modern digital age while getting the best designers on the planet the recognition they truly deserve.<\/p>\n

In its inaugural year, the awards program sparked the imagination of design enthusiasts across the globe. Since then, it has become the world\u2019s largest awards program for architecture, with over 100 categories and media impressions of over 300 million for every winning project.<\/p>\n

As Architizer looks forward to a huge fifth season for the A+Awards, we take a look back at how far this pioneering program has come and the exciting road it is headed on this year. Hold on to your hats \u2014 this is the epic tale of how great design grabbed the spotlight \u2026<\/p>\n

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2013 A+ winners from left to right: SUPERKILEN<\/a> by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group<\/a>, Topotek 1<\/a> and Superflex<\/a>; Loft Gardens<\/a> by Tabanlioglu Architects<\/a>; Daeyang Gallery and House<\/a> by Steven Holl Architects<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

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The A+Awards red carpet gala<\/i><\/p>\n

2012 \u2013 13: The Big Launch<\/h2>\n

On October 9, 2012, Architizer founder Marc Kushner announced a different kind of competition, declaring: \u201cEnough with that echo chamber where architects<\/i> tell other architects<\/i> which architects<\/i> they like. The industry needs to break out, and the A+Awards are designed to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collaborating with the smart people behind the Webby Awards<\/a> \u2014 the ultimate annual internet awards \u2014 the A+Awards was launched with over 200 jurors from the world of architecture, design, technology and development. More than 50 categories were chosen for their relevancy to modern design, and a striking contemporary trophy was crafted by experimental studio Snarkitecture<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The A+Award Trophy by Snarkitecture<\/i><\/p>\n

The diverse jury included top names from the world of architecture \u2014 Steven Holl<\/a>, Bjarke Ingels<\/a> and Charles Renfro<\/a>, to name just a few \u2014 but it also included cultural leaders and business luminaries who understand the power of great architecture and the positive impact it has on all that they do. These people included John Edelman of Design Within Reach, Jason Millhouse of the Ritz Carlton, Roy Kim of Extell Development, Charles Adler of Kickstarter and Barry Bergdoll of MoMA.<\/p>\n

In May 2013, the first red carpet gala was a roaring success, with 87 big winners announced to a host of attendees including hugely significant cultural figures from President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia to fashion designer Thom Browne. The event proved that great design matters to everyone, not only architects, and the projects themselves were granted the spotlight, garnering fantastic press coverage with over 100 million media impressions in total.<\/p>\n

Architecture was officially out of the echo chamber, and this was only the beginning!<\/p>\n

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2014 A+ winners from left to right: <\/i>Seljord Watchtower<\/a> by Rintala Eggertsson Architects<\/a>; Bao\u2019an International Airport, Shenzhen<\/a> by Studio Fuksas<\/a> and Knippers Helbig<\/a>;Two Hulls House<\/a> by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

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Bjarke Ingels celebrating at the A+Awards Gala in 2014<\/i><\/p>\n

2013 \u2013 14: Presenting Products<\/h2>\n

One of the most significant highlights for 2013 was the introduction of products to the awards program. Given the importance of building products and interior design in the creation of great buildings, it was only right that the creative pioneers within these realms were given recognition in the same way that architects are. Further award categories were added in architecture, too, keeping up with emerging technological innovations and new urban typologies.<\/p>\n

Continuing in its mission to expand the celebration of the world\u2019s best architecture beyond the boundaries of the profession, the A+Awards also confirmed a huge new partner: The Wall Street Journal<\/i> and WSJ Magazine<\/i> joined the program, its huge sphere of influence promising to thrust innovative architecture even further into the public consciousness.<\/p>\n

New jurors for the second annual A+Awards included Harry Macklowe, who is building the world\u2019s tallest residential building, and architectural luminaries such as Denise Scott Brown and Liz Diller<\/a>. The A+Awards would also take on fresh relevance with the addition of new partners including global design consultants 2×4 and top technology website Gizmodo, reflecting the emerging ways that people now consume art, design, media and architecture.<\/p>\n

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2015 A+ winners from left to right: <\/i>The Aria<\/i><\/a> by MHN Design Union<\/a>; Tiantai No.2 Primary School<\/a> by LYCS Architecture<\/a>; Wild Turkey Bourbon Visitor Center<\/a> by De Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

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The Phaidon A+ Book \u2026<\/i><\/p>\n

2014 \u2013 15: Books and Billboards<\/h2>\n

The opportunities for architects\u2019 seminal works to be recognized around the globe took a huge leap in 2014. Architizer partnered with Phaidon \u2014 the premier publisher for the creative arts, with over 1,500 titles in print \u2014 to craft a stunning, full-color, hardbound book<\/a> containing A+Award-winning projects by architects from over 100 countries around the world. This beautiful hardbound edition continues to be sold today, online and in design bookstores worldwide.<\/p>\n

Then, in May 2015, architecture was given its most exciting platform yet: Thanks to a partnership with PVBLIC, winning projects were displayed on one of Times Square\u2019s iconic billboards, giving architects\u2019 best works exposure on a huge, eight-story display for the whole world to see. The A+Awards had arrived at \u201cThe Crossroads of the World,\u201d providing the general public with a gargantuan free exhibition of wonderful projects together with some incredible publicity for the architects behind them!<\/p>\n

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\u2026 and the A+ Times Square Billboard<\/i><\/p>\n

Another groundbreaking initiative was born from collaboration with creative analysts PSFK, who worked with Architizer to compile a definitive guide to global trends in architecture \u2014 using the A+Award winners as the benchmark. The report, entitled \u201cBuilding Tomorrow: Trends Driving the Future of Design<\/a>,\u201d acts as a guide to the best buildings in the world today and promises to form an invaluable resource for architects and developers looking to learn what really makes the public tick when it comes to the built environment.<\/p>\n

Yet more eminent figures from many disciplines joined the jury panel, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art\u2019s Beatrice Galilee, Airbnb founder Joe Gebbia, architect Sou Fujimoto<\/a> and Pentagram partner Michael Bierut. Meanwhile, total media impressions for winning projects topped 300 million fueled by special features on the Architizer homepage and an audience of millions on social media. This number continues to grow at an amazing rate, and the potential for further expansion in the digital era is incredibly exciting for architects, their clients and everyone with a passion for great design.<\/p>\n