The winners of the 2017 AZ Awards proved their prowess through stunning and innovative projects that represent a snapshot of the leading work in global architecture and design today – from a curious, castle-like observatory in New Hampshire that maximizes stargazing to a bicycle-powered canopy that can unfurl anywhere an event space is needed to a 31.3-hectare park that preserves delicate wetlands in China. Flos and Rimadesio are the proud proponents of Made in Italy.
To mark their achievement, they were each awarded a one-of-a-kind trophy, the creation of Canadian-born, international design phenomenon, Philippe Malouin.
2017 AZ Awards submissions reached an impressive 813 from 41 countries, setting a formidable task for our jury of renowned experts.
Gathering in March to narrow down the hundreds of submissions to a shortlist of 70 finalists were: planner and landscape ecologist Nina-Marie Lister, interior designer Alessandro Munge, industrial designer Theo Richardson, architect Nader Tehrani and multidisciplinary designer Michael Vanderbyl.
Best Residential Architecture Multi-Unit
Tatsumi Apartment House
With Tatsumi Apartment House, Hiroyuki Ito Architects have reinterpreted traditional Japanese architectural features as elegant solutions for living small.
Best Architecture Over 1,000m²
Audain Art Museum
Hidden amongst the evergreens, near the resort village of Whistler, Patkau Architects‘ sublime Audain Art Museum is both abstract and restrained.
Best Architecture Under 1,000m²
Gemma Observatory
The Gemma Observatory meets the stringent requirements of a celestial viewing facility, but with a high-design form that looks anything but scientific.
Best Recreational Architecture
Five Fields Play Structure
With its timber construction, colourful graphics and irregular form, Five Fields Play Structure takes recreational architecture to new heights.
Best Temporary & Demonstration Architecture
People’s Canopy
Nothing short of brilliant, People’s Canopy is an ultra flexible, ultra portable piece of infrastructure that transforms any public space into one for gathering by People’s Architecture Office.
Best Landscape Architecture
Quzhou Luming Park
To protect land under threat of development in Quzhou City, China, local firm Turenscape devised a sustainable and captivating solution.
Best Unbuilt Concepts
A Church for the Local Community
For a Polish community with a postmodern interpretation of religion, Adamiczka Consulting has imagined an “un-church.”
Best Residential Interiors
Photographer’s Loft
Desai Chia Architecture‘s penchant for masterly minimalism is put on display in the Photographer’s Loft, a gorgeous home-gallery hybrid in NYC
Best Institutional and Commercial Interiors
The HUB Performance and Exhibition Center
Neri&Hu‘s design of the HUB Performance and Exhibition Center in Shanghai has given the performances that happen inside a lot to live up to.
Best Furniture Design
Pair Chair
It took more than 30 prototypes to get Pair Chair (by Republic of Fritz Hansen) exactly right, but all that reiteration paid off, with a seat that could very well be a new classic.
Best Furniture Systems
Hangout Collection
Keilhauer’s Hangout Collection successfully meets the demands that an open work environment be comfortable, attractive and conducive to work.
Best Lighting Fixtures
Infra-Structure
Designed by Vincent Van Duysen for Flos, Infra-Structure is a highly versatile lighting system that can go anywhere and do anything
Best Lighting Installations
Chum Passerelle
Chum Passerelle, a collaboration between Cannon Design and NEUF Architect(e)s proves that infrastructure need not be boring.
A+ Student Award
Preston Outdoor Education Station
At a YMCA facility near the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, architecture students from Kansas State University created the Preston Outdoor Education Station – an inspiring backdrop for outdoor education lessons.
Best Environmental Leadership
T3 Minneapolis
With his T3 timber building in Minneapolis, architect Michael Green has thrust the material back into the limelight as an attractive alternative to steel and concrete
Best Architectural Products
Soho Doors
Soho Doors by Rimadesio are an ultra delicate-looking room divider that, despite their appearance, are virtually shatterproof.
Best Residential Architecture, Single Family
Fahouse
Jean Verville’s Fahouse is a restrained take on an A-frame, with fun flourishes that offset its minimalism
Best Interior Products
Pulled Plaster Panels
Architect Bryan Young has given traditional plasterwork an untraditional new expression – and a new lease on life.
Best Experiential Graphic Design
Bloomberg SF Tech Hub
For the Bloomberg SF Tech Hub, Volume created environmental graphics that prompt employees to expand their minds and think beyond the confines of the office
Best Social Good
Extraction
Pierre Bélanger’s Extraction exhibit at the 2016 Venice Biennale delivered hard-hitting commentary about Canada’s history of appropriation, in an unusual format
For more information on the winners and about the 2017 AZ Awards visit http://awards.azuremagazine.com/cms/2017-2/