Selections of the AIA's 2013 small project awards have been announced, revealing a broad range of projects, varying in scale, program and function that bring attention to the value of architectural practice no matter the size or scope of the project. The ten projects were selected on the basis of four categories: small project construction up to $150,000; small project construction up to $1,500,000; up to 5,000 SF project in which the architect played a significant role in construction and or fabrication; and an inbuilt workhorse up to 5,000 SF. Among the recipients are MIN | DAY, Kariouk Associates, Johnsen Schmaling Architects, Lawrence Architects, Cooper Joseph Studio, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, WRNS Studio, and Edward Ogosta Architecture.
Join us after the break for more information on the ten recipients and the projects that earned the AIA's recognition for the 2013 small project awards.
Three projects were selected for Category One: Projects Under $150,000
Bemis Info Shop in Omaha by MIN | DAY
This project for a contemporary art center introduces a reception area that redefines the function of the entrance into the gallery. The 24 foot desk functions for both reception and can be transformed into a full bar. A system of custom designed CNC-milled panels create a wall that follows the form and aesthetic of the new desk. Additional panels and boxes are mounted on the existing brick wall for pamphlets and information. The new space created by the reception desk caters to spontaneous interactions for patrons and employees of the art center. See more work from MIN | DAY on ArchDaily here.
Cemetery Marker in South Canaan, PA by Kariouk Associates
The Cemetery Marker by Kariouk Associates is the dying wish of a woman who requested that her gravesite be turned into a garden. The architects designed a modest site on which five cast bronze plates are spread out rising to various heights, permitting grass to grow between them. As time passes, the plates will oxidize and "age" as the garden grows on the site and will eventually blend into the landscape. See more work from Kariouk Associates on ArchDaily here.
Studio for a Composer; Spring Prairie, WI by Johnsen Schmaling Architects
The intimate studio, designed for a musician, is carved into a slope site of a natural landscape. The studio rests on a concrete plinth, which provides storage and supports the volume. The exterior is finished with weathered steel along the long ends, leaving the short ends as glazed openings that frame views of the landscape. The steel envelope weathers with time, blends with the surrounding woods and is designed to change over time.
Three projects were selected for Category Two: Project under $1,500,000
Nexus House; Madison, WI by Johnsen Schmaling Architects
The Nexus House is composed of two building blocks in a two-story residence, partially embedded in a sloping site. The exterior materials, cedar panels and brick play off one another, creating a sleek and rhythmic finish. Steel is also used along the exterior for a canopy that marks the joint between the two components. Interiors are simple and use a neutral palette to compose the elements of the vestibule, fire place, chimney, and wood canopy of the main living hall. See more work from Johnsen Schmaling Architects on ArchDaily here.
Pavilion at Cotillion Park; Dallas Mell by Lawrence Architects
This structure, designed for the Dallas Parks Department is composed of steel members that abstract and mimic surrounding trees producing a dappled shading affect over a 1200 square foot surface. The Pavilion is animated by the movement of sun, creating a play of shadows over the ground over the course of the day. Concrete benches flank either side of the pavilion and continue under the surround trees, expanding the programmed space of the pavilion. The materials were selected to weather over time - the steel will oxidize and the fly-ash concrete will weather. A solid poly-carbonate roof protects against the sun's UV rays and blocks rain. A weathervane is hung overhead in the middle of the pavilion.
Webb Chapel Park Pavilion; Mission, TX by Cooper Joseph Studio
This pavilion by Cooper Joseph Studio raises the visually heavy board-formed concrete over a shaded area that is both a playground and soccer field. From within, the massive volume is carved out in pyramidal shapes and painted in bright yellow. The ceiling acts as a natural ventilation system that allows hot air to rise and escape from within the structure. Seating is embedded in the sloped site, which maintains a cool temperature in the hot climate. See more work from Cooper Joseph Studio on ArchDaily here.
Three Projects were selected for Category 3: Under 5,000 SF
308 Mulberry; Lewes, DE by Robert M. Gurney, FAIA
308 Mulberry is a redesign project of an early nineteenth-century house in the historical district of Lewes, DE. The original exterior of the structure is maintained and restored and four new one-story pavilions are added to the house, juxtaposed in their modern design against the original design. The additions are designed around a new swimming pool and Deodor Cedar tree at the rear of the property. The design consists of cedar walls that are punctuated with glazing set in black steel frames, red brick chimneys, landscape walls and horizontal elements.
Nevis Pool and Garden Pavilion ; Bethesda, MD by Robert M. Gurney, FAIA
The Nevis Pool and Garden pavilion is a year-round house that serves as a threshold between the "structured landscape and adjacent woodland". The design features a low pitched, stainless steel roof, dry-stacked slate wall and mahogany wall paneling. The small interior components of the living space are anchored by the fireplace and include materials that exude warmth and mimic the natural landscape beyond. Frameless glass walls and steel framed glass doors enclose the space, providing maximum transparency between the residents and the outdoors. See more work from Robert M. Gurney on ArchDaily here.
Tahoe City Transit Center; Tahoe City, CA by WRNS Studio
The Tahoe City Transit Center (TCTC) takes a sustainable approach to designing a transportation hub for the city with a low-lying structure that is situated among existing vegetation, and local materials to develop a simple design that addresses the needs of the transportation system and its users. The main materials are Sierra granite and western red cedar which blend with the environment. The building has a narrow footprint on the sight, thermally massive walls for efficient head retention and cooling, high performance glazing and broad eaves to shade from the sun. See more work from WRNS Studio on Archdaily here.
One project selected for Category 4: Unbuilt Work Under 5,000 SF
Four Eyes House; Coachella Valley, CA by Edward Ogosta Architecture
The four towers are aimed at creating four different viewing experiences in four directions: sunrise in the east, mountain range in the south, evening city lights in the west and night time stars at the zenith. Each tower has a bedroom at the top floor, big enough for only one bed, with a small viewing aperture that directs the viewer to a distinct vantage point. The ground floors contain common spaces that loosely connect the towers and transition out into the landscape. See more work from Edward Ogosta Architecture on ArchDaily here.
See more on AIA's announcement of the 2013 Small Projects Awards here.
