a peek into world architecture festival's 2023 edition — this time, in singapore
CategoriesArchitecture

a peek into world architecture festival’s 2023 edition in singapore

previewing world architecture festival 2023 in singapore

 

Landing in Singapore after almost a decade, the annual World Architecture Festival (WAF) is launching its 2023 edition at the city’s Marina Bay Sands between November 29 and December 1, 2023. This year’s program, themed as Catalyst, encompasses the prestigious WAF live award judging, inspirational talks and keynotes led by 76 renowned speakers, as well as fringe events around Singapore — including a Mario Cucinella exhibition and a Wes Anderson-inspired film. Overall, this highly anticipated three-day festival invites experts and the public to uncover the latest debates and concepts put forth by the architectural community, which designboom has packaged into a comprehensive preview right here. Read on to discover the highlights of WAF 2023. 

a peek into world architecture festival's 2023 edition — this time, in singapore
Marina Bay Sands | image © Ravish Maqsood

 

 

outlining the main stage program

 

The World Architecture Festival 2023 program breaks down into five categories: keynotes and talks, live awards judging, gala dinner, exhibitions and networking at The Festival Hall, and Fringe events. Following this year’s theme, Catalyst, the keynotes and talks will unpack how architecture and design catalyze beneficial change for the environment, individuals, and institutions. In three days, 76 international speakers will lead these discussions on the Main stage and in The Festival Hall. Highlights include Charu Kokate from Safdie Architects; Mario Cucinella, Sir Peter Cook; OBMI‘s Islam El Mashtooly; Verform‘s Mouaz Abouzaid; and Herzog de Meuron‘s Wim Walschap. Running in parallel is Inside, the World Festival of Interiors that the likes of English RIBA architect Nigel Coates will headline. You can see the complete list of speakers here. Complementing the speaker event is the live WAF awards judging, where 495 shortlisted projects will compete in front of a jury across 17 crit rooms. Categories are Completed Buildings, Future Buildings, and Landscape — with projects ranging from hospitality and mixed-use to education, religion, and sport. Discover all the 2023 finalists on the festival website

a peek into world architecture festival's 2023 edition — this time, in singapore
Gardens by the Bay | image courtesy WAF

 

 

WAF’s fringe events — from guided tours to short film 

 

World Architecture Festival 2023 completes with a series of Fringe events: (1) Seven guided architectural tours, (2) the Architecture Drawing Prize exhibition, (3) Mario Cucinella Architects’ The Future is a Journey to the Past exhibition, and a Wes Anderson-inspired short film. To begin, the tours will allow WAF attendees to discover local landmarks and previous award-winning projects from the festival. All tours will be guided by qualified architects and, in some cases, the lead architect on the project itself. Landmarks include Heatherwick Studio‘s Learning Hub building, Wilkinson Eyre‘s Gardens by the Bay, W Architects | M Moser‘s St James Power Station, and Safdie Architects’ Jewel at Changi Airport. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The complete tour guide program is available here

a peek into world architecture festival's 2023 edition — this time, in singapore
Esplanade Theatres on the Bay | image courtesy WAF

 

 

Up next is the seventh edition of the Architecture Drawing Prize exhibition, which continues to celebrate the art of drawing in three categories: hand-drawn, digital, and hybrid. Sponsored by Iris Ceramica Group, the Prize has attracted a record number of entries with nearly 250 drawings from around the world. This year’s winners are: ‘Grundtvig’ by Ben Johnson in the hand-drawn category, ‘The Archatographic Map of the Incomplete Landscape on Pedra Branca’ by Eugene Tan in the digital category, and ‘(Re)membering the See Monster’ by Eldry John Infante in the hybrid category. Sir John Soane’s Museum in London will exhibit both the winning and shortlisted drawings from 31 January to 3 March 2024. WAF will host a second exhibition curated and designed by Mario Cucinella Architects. Titled The Future is a Journey to the Past, this showcase explores the past and present of sustainable thinking — focusing the narrative around a timeline that traces the evolution of environmental awareness and activism from prehistory to today.

a peek into world architecture festival's 2023 edition — this time, in singapore
Experimental Shortlist 2023 – Absorbent Sand Storm Skyscraper by Kalbod Studio | image courtesy WAF

 

 

Last but not least, the WAF Fringe event features a wrap-up of a three-year architectural adventure documenting the built environment in Singapore by architectural photographer and content creator from Singapore Kevin Siyuan. The short film — dubbed A Wes Anderson-ish Singapore Vol.2 — is inspired by the cinematography of American movie director Wes Anderson (‘Asteroid City’ & ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’). It captures the many different aspects of urban land use, paying tribute to signature Wes Anderson aesthetics and infusing the style with Kevin’s own personal touch of cinematographic adaptations and localizations in the local context.

a peek into world architecture festival's 2023 edition — this time, in singapore
Singapore Pavilion 2023 | image © Chiara Becattini

a peek into world architecture festival's 2023 edition — this time, in singapore
The Future is a Journey to the Past by Mario Cucinella Architects | image courtesy WAF

a peek into world architecture festival's 2023 edition — this time, in singapore
Sir Peter Cook at WAF 2022, joining this year’s edition as speaker | image courtesy WAF



Reference

100+ Top Tech Tools for Architects and Designers
CategoriesArchitecture

100+ Top Tech Tools for Architects and Designers

If there is one thing architects love almost as much as designing buildings, it’s the technology they use to do it! Throughout the past decade, of all the thousands of articles Architizer has published, those related to tech have garnered many millions of views, and the number shoots up daily. Whether it’s SketchUp plugins, AI tools, design-foward laptops, or any number of rendering tutorials, architects and designers have shown an insatiable appetite to learn about technology that can augment their workflow and help realize their client’s perfect project.

It makes perfect sense then, for Architizer to provide a permanent home for these tools — a place where architects and designers can research and learn about the ever-evolving landscape of AEC technology and keep ahead of the curve.

To this end, we are thrilled to announce the launch of Architizer’s Tech Directory, a database of tech tools that benefit all those involved in architecture, from concept to construction.

The directory features the latest generative design and AI (artificial intelligence) software, as well as listings for rendering and visualization, 3D modeling, project management and many more. Explore the complete library of categories here.

Without further ado, check out the first 100+ tools to make the platform:

Explore Top Tech Tools for Architects

Screen recording of Architizer Tech Directory for Architects

Review Your Favorite Architectural Tools — and Get Featured!

A key element of the Tech Directory is the ability for users to write reviews. Architizer is a community-based site, and there is incredible potential for architects and designers to share knowledge and gain insights on the latest AEC technology through this platform.

If you have a tech tool that you love and rely on to do your best work, we encourage you to search for it in the Tech Directory and leave a review for others to read! We’ll include select quotes from the most insightful reviews in upcoming editorial features, offering you the chance to become a thought leader in AEC technology.

Write a Tech Review

Writing a review is quick and easy: Simply go to the Tech Directory, click ‘Sign In‘ in the top right corner, and create your Tech Directory user profile (this is distinct from your Architizer profile, if you have one). Then, search for and select the tool you’d like to leave a review for and click ‘Write a Review‘. You can give the tool a star rating (from 1 to 5) and write your thoughts about the tool.

Try to include as much detail as possible: What are the best features of the tool and why? What differentiates the tool from its competitors? Does the tool have any missing features or drawbacks?

Comprehensive, authentic reviews will help grow the utility of the Tech Directory, and provide the brands that make these tools with valuable insights they can use to improve their products in future. We’ll share more on how to create a good review in an upcoming editorial feature, so stay tuned!

Make Architectural Software or Hardware? Add Your Listing for Free

The Tech Directory launches with just over 100 tools, but this is just the beginning: We invite all makers of architectural software and hardware to create their own listings, and help us grow this database into a comprehensive home for architectural technology.

A basic listing is free to create, and you can get started here (all listings are subject to approval from Architizer’s editorial team before they go live). Architizer’s editorial team can help you perfect your profile and guide you on how to best promote your listing. (Hint: Start by inviting your super fans and power users to leave an insightful review about your tool!)

Create a Listing

Beyond the free listings, there are Professional and Enterprise Plans for those looking to enhance the visibility of their brand and provide prospective clients with more insights into their tools. Those on the Professional Plan can upload more images, enabling them to add additional screenshots, case studies and product shots. They can also add an email contact to their profile, and will see their listing prioritized in the featured section of the Architizer Tech homepage.

In addition to these features, Enterprise members can add videos to their listing, enabling them to include showreels, demos, and tutorials as desired. They can also add a contact phone number and additional details to their listing — click here to see a full list of subscription benefits.

Architizer Tech Directory Categories InfographicWe hope you enjoy exploring the Tech Directory and find it useful when doing your research into the latest architectural technology. As noted, this is just the beginning: We plan to develop this platform into a comprehensive directory that will benefit everyone in the construction industry.

Ultimately though, the success of the directory will come down to you: The people that use these tools every day. Reviewing your favorite applications will give your go-to brands priceless insights and feedback that they can then use to improve their products, creating a virtuous cycle of technological innovation. As mentioned, your review might just get you featured in our next editorial!

With this in mind, we look forward to seeing your thoughts on the top tech tools for architects — head this way to get started!

Reference

Architectural Drawings: Lithuania Reimagines Home Design in Plan
CategoriesArchitecture

Architectural Drawings: Lithuania Reimagines Home Design in Plan

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.

Lithuania is home to breathtaking landscapes. From iconic sand dunes along the Curonian Spit to vast wetlands and primeval forests, the country is known for its beautiful and diverse countryside. Conscious of this context, Lithuania’s residential projects are designed to capture views and open up to the outdoors. Today, architects and designers are imagining new home designs in the “land of endless forests” for both rural and urban dwellings alike.

Exploring Lithuania’s inventive residential designs, the following projects showcase new approaches through plan drawings. Each house has a unique take on circulation and bringing people together, with residences found everywhere from the ancient forests of the Moletai region to Kaunas, Trakai and Vilnius. Reinventing traditional construction techniques and vernacular buildings traditions, these elegant homes make space for contemporary life and celebrate the beauty of Lithuania.


Villa The Lake

By Devyni architektai, Molėtai, Lithuania

This residence was designed so that clients could enjoy the crystal-clear waters of a lake surrounded by ancient forests in the Moletai region of Lithuania. The villa consists of 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and an open-concept dining area connected to the living room. Rectangular in plan, the dwelling has cutouts and sloped roofs that combine in a sculptural way. This layout prioritizes connection to the landscape and indoor-outdoor living.

Large windows and sliding doors connect the house’s rooms with concrete terrace, grassy property and the dock. As seen in plan, a series of frames and a simple layout direct the focus towards the lake. The building was also designed with materials that echo the region’s agrarian typologies. Three primary materials were used for the building: wood, which forms many of the walls; slate tiles, which are used in the exposed roof; and concrete for the terrace.


An Autograph Among The Pine Trees

By ARCHISPEKTRAS, Kaunas, Lithuania

Situated on the river shore, this home was made of glass and rusted steel planes mounted in vertical segments. The plan is organized around this, opening up to the surroundings. For the materials, the idea is to have a metaphorical relation with the growing pine trees on the site. The rough concrete texture left by the formwork is the main interior expression. In addition, transparent and smooth glass surfaces ae widely used, making the interior feel visibly closer to nature.

Made as a counterbalance to the factory-like interior, natural wood elements were abundantly used. Solid oak appears throughout and is seen in the monumental kitchen on the ground floor, as well as stairwell walls, floors, ceilings, cabinets and doors. It extends to cabinets which, like solid wood boxes, are designed without handles, hinges or other elements in order to completely keep a minimalist style. Attention is focused on the beauty of natural materials.


House in Trakai

By Aketuri Architektai, Trakai, Lithuania

The House in Trakai was a study in clear geometry and vertical space. In Lithuania, there are clear depictions and traditions of the country-house. A vernacular idea, the design team wanted to make their own fresh take on this classic. In plan, this takes the shape of a rectangular footprint set on a deck, while the section is an extruded “house” profile with a steep roof pitch. “Everything that a family might need to relax in the natural surroundings fits into a modest archetypical volume with no sacrifice of comfort.”

For the team, the project is all about connecting with nature — the limit between the forest and the house disappears due to sliding translucent panels. For the materials, thermowood and shale require as little maintenance as possible, giving the residents more time to connect with their surroundings.


The L house

By PAO Architects, Vilnius, Lithuania

True to its name, the L House is directly tied to its shape in plan. The residence was built for a private client based in Vilnius, Lithuania. When the team started the project, the architects were inspired by the beauty of the site and its relationship with nature. The central concept and guiding principle was the desire to maintain a delicate balance between nature. The result is the subtle volume of the building, a single story house.

The design team used only natural finishes, bricks and wood to keep a contemporary and sustainable approach. Large windows keep a relationship between the environment and indoor spaces. Site volume and terraces above provide a unique expression of the entire building. The L-shaped structure of the house forms a functional connection between the building and landscape. In turn, the building is oriented such that the living room, kitchen and hall windows face the south, which is formed by a large courtyard.


Residential House in Palanga

By Architectural bureau G.Natkevicius and partners, Palanga, Lithuania

For this four-member family house, the project was located in the seaside resort town of Palanga. It features a slope and is framed by a forest wall on top of the hill. All living spaces are lifted above the street level and focused on the forest, while the utilitarian spaces are positioned on the lower level. The scheme was divided into three separate volumes corresponding with three functional zones.

Children rooms with a dedicated bathroom and washroom are situated firmly on the ground, while the parents’ zone — a master bedroom with ensuite facilities — is lifted on a tower leg, which serves as a storage space. The central zone houses a stairway, the main living areas on the first floor and a garage, an entrance hall and technical spaces on the ground floor. This dismantling of the scheme allowed for delicate adjustments of orientation across the residential plan.


Valley Villa

By arches, Vilnius, Lithuania

Valley Villa is an iconic home in Lithuania. Just a few hundred meters from an active city street, the home is located on a sunny slope near the outskirts of town. It is designed in place of a former farmstead. A key goal was to maintain the existing slope on site and to preserve as many trees as possible The idea of the building was to “hang” it over the valley and open the building up with continuous windows. Due to the black shale finish, the ground floor seemingly disappears in shadow.

With implications in plan, the design reinterprets the silhouette of a traditional sloped house. The divided volume, varying forms, human scale proportions, glass and wood all come together to create the impression of lightness. Interior spaces follow the forms of the volume, while a natural wood finish for the façades and roof creates the impression of solidity. By dividing the volume, micro-spaces and courtyards are created.


Birdhouse

By YCL studio, Vilnius, Lithuania

YCL’s Birdhouse residence is located among a dense block of private houses in Vilnius. The key wish from the clients was to have a big common space not divided by stairs in any way. So the team chose to move the stairs out of the main perimeter of the house, a guiding idea in plan. This creates a shape that looks different when walking around the house. The north part of the house with the stairs has just one round window, like a birdhouse that waits for its dwellers.

Mirrored details across the house were an illusion to reflect the changing surroundings. The dark wood façade also creates a color change to form a dialog with the surroundings. The garage volume formed a private separation from the neighboring plot, but at the same time it was not attractive to have that volume in a private yard. So the team mirrored it, and through another kind of illusion, extended the yard.


House in Kaunas

By Architectural bureau G.Natkevicius and partners, Kaunas, Lithuania

Understanding the potential of vertical living and monumental expression, this two-story home with a basement is located in the picturesque central district of Kaunas. The composition of the house keeps the spirit of Kaunas modernism alive as the circular windows in the concrete planes give the impression of modernism. At the same time, the two-volume reinforced house further highlights and accentuates the slope of the plot.

The volume of the building is divided into three floors. The first level is an access to the basement of the house, where a luxury garage for eight cars was designed. The staircase from the partially open basement leads to the first floor of the building and the inner space of the plot. Once entering the building the upper level and inner space opens – the inner yard and the terrace further enhance the impression of the levitating volume. The terrace is also designed with a rectangular concrete support with a circular opening that echoes the façade.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.

Reference

a petal in the urban oasis 2
CategoriesArchitecture

epiphany architects’ public installation in chengdu undulates like a petal

A Petal in the Urban Oasis by epiphany architects in chengdu

 

Sited in Chengdu‘s Luxezone Plaza, A Petal in the Urban Oasis is a new public installation completed by Chinese studio Epiphany Architects. The wooden design gracefully flows and undulates amid the lush urban greenery, creating playful light and shadow effects for visitors to enjoy. ‘Through interaction with the surrounding environment, it flexibly adjusts its shape to present itself in the most suitable way. This petal welcomes every resident and visitor with open arms,’ shares the studio. At its center, a circular void offers a uniform height to create a comfortable social space. At the same time, its outer, undulating body reveals different heights that lead to a more lively and dynamic appeal and more opportunities for interaction — namely playing, sitting, leaning, gathering, and resting. The children’s engagement brings a particularly more interesting dimension to the dynamics. 

a petal in the urban oasis 2
A Petal in the Urban Oasis | all images courtesy Epiphany Architects

 

 

using 300 wooden pieces of varying lengths

 

Supporting the installation by Epiphany Architects (see more here) are six mirror bases cleverly designed to align with six points where the petal ‘drops’. This design visually integrates the bases with the petals, echoing its image of lightness and buoyancy. In addition to the bases, the installation utilizes curved steel trusses to support the entire form. These trusses are connected to the lightbox using a snap-fit method, ensuring the overall structure’s stability while effectively concealing the trusses between the wood and stainless steel lightboxes. This unique petal is meticulously composed of 300 wooden elements of varying lengths and stainless steel light boxes. Each lightbox has a different angle of connection with the trusses, resulting in 600 other forms of connectors. In the production process, the sequence of node design, data output, data organization, CNC machine input and output, and overall assembly showcases the perfect integration of technology and art.

a petal in the urban oasis 1
creating varying light and shadow effects

a petal in the urban oasis 4
the undulating wooden installation mimics the movement of a petal

a petal in the urban oasis 6
children exploring the structure by Epiphany Architects

a petal in the urban oasis 7
climbing to the top

a petal in the urban oasis 8
a continuous wave-like surface

Reference

Concrete Calais port lookout office tower by Atelier 9.81
CategoriesArchitecture

Atelier 9.81 models Calais port tower on stack of pebbles

French architecture studio Atelier 9.81 has designed a tower of staggered concrete blocks for a harbour master’s office and lookout building on the Calais coastline.

Forming part of the Calais Port 2015 expansion plan, the 38-metre-tall tower comprises four stacked white-concrete boxes with decorative surfaces.

The blocks are designed by Atelier 9.81 to resemble balancing pebbles and visually separate the functions of spaces inside.

Concrete Calais port lookout office tower by Atelier 9.81
The staggered concrete boxes feature patterned surfaces

Situated at the junction between the existing port and its planned extension, the building is intended as a distinctive entry point to Calais that is visible from the sea, surrounding beaches and the nearby city.

“We have opted for a visual fragmentation of the program,” Atelier 9.81 associate architect Cédric Michel told Dezeen.

“Like pebbles balanced on top of each other, this work is erected by accumulation, by stratification of stories contained in simple geometric shapes.”

View from the lookout tower at Calais' harbour master's office
It forms part of the Calais port’s wider expansion

The harbour master’s office is built in white concrete to withstand harsh coastal weather and cement the image of a cairn – a man-made pile of stones.

“From this idea of ​​the cairn, it seemed important to us to use only one material,” explained Michel. “Also, with the extreme climatic conditions of the coast, the question of sustainability played a role in our choice.”

The base of the building is a square four-storey volume that was cast in situ. It contains offices, meeting rooms, a control station for locks and movable bridges, and a roof terrace.

Prefabricated concrete was used to construct the rest of the tower, including the central structural core.

View of the sea from inside Calais' harbour master's office by Atelier 9.81
The base volume was cast in situ

The middle two volumes in the tower act as a structural void, clad in the precast concrete panels.

These panels feature light bas-relief, including crossing lines and a sandblasted geometric pattern depicting the Strait of Dover, or the Pas de Calais in French, which is the narrow water passage separating England and France.

View of the sea from the terrace at Calais' harbour master's office by Atelier 9.81
Terraces overlook the port

Concrete cladding stamped with circular patterns wraps the volume at the top of the building, which contains the facilities and equipment for monitoring and managing the port.

This two-level volume has breakout space and living quarters on the lower section, and a glazed lookout with an outdoor panoramic terrace on the upper level.

Other concrete buildings with boxy silhouettes featured on Dezeen include a power station control centre in Austria and an apartment block in Tokyo that staggers to create a series of terraces.

The photography is by Nicolas da Silva Lucas.

Reference

© Anekdote Collective
CategoriesArchitecture

25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal

Montréal is considered one of the top cities of Art Deco architecture, a movement that was formed during the Second Industrial Revolution in Paris. Known as the industrial and financial center of Canada for the better half of the 20th century, Montréal has several local districts that carry traces from the city’s “metropolitan” era. Designed as clean geometric shapes with sharp lines, warehouses, mills and refineries found in downtown Montréal are still a reminiscent part of the city’s cultural heritage. Additionally, one notable example of Art Deco architecture is Ernest Cormier’s Université de Montréal.

Following the rapid urbanization of the Quebec province in the 1970s, Montréal became progressively more culturally active, shifting to modernist trends in art and architecture. Habitat 67, an iconic housing complex designed by architect Moshe Safdie for the Expo 67 World’s Fair, is currently one of the most celebrated works of Canadian modernism. Today, Montréal is a cultural medley of architectural works. Home to McGill University, one of the most prestigious architecture schools in the country, the city constantly produces new pieces of architecture that do not fit under any specific trend or movement but rather steadily push the boundaries of contemporary architecture.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Montréal based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

  • The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)
  • The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
  • The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
  • The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
  • The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Montréal architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 25 best architecture firms in Montréal:

25. Anekdote Collective

© Anekdote Collective

© Anekdote Collective

Anekdote’s work is in keeping with the times, pursuing iconographic statements hidden in the subtext.

Some of Anekdote Collective’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Anekdote Collective achieve 25th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 1

24. Architecturama

© James Brittain Photography

© James Brittain Photography

Sylvain Bilodeau and Nicolas Mathieu-Tremblay have been collaborating for several years on creative projects focused on architecture. Inspired by the context, both tangible and intangible, and by the way people occupy and perceive their environment, they manipulate programs, places and ideas to create relevant and sensitive constructions, objects and spaces. Experimentation and research allow them to develop a unique architecture in which matter, geometry and perceptual aspects remain central. Their practice has been recognized many times in Quebec, Canada and internationally.

Some of Architecturama’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Architecturama achieve 24th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 1

23. CATALYSE URBAINE

© ISSADESIGN

© ISSADESIGN

“Cities offer city dwellers an inspiring living environment that allows them to experience nature with little or no impact on the environment. Around the world, societies walk with solar and wind energy, reuse and recycle, and protect the natural habitats of other living species. Thanks to the partnership of states and the business world, humanity now lives in harmony with nature and other living beings. ”

Some of CATALYSE URBAINE’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped CATALYSE URBAINE achieve 23rd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 1

22. Ravi Handa Architect

© AAmp Studio, Ravi Handa Architect

© AAmp Studio, Ravi Handa Architect

RHA is based in Montréal, specializing in residential and commercial design. The practice is dedicated to what physical space makes us feel. The built environment is in large part where our personal stories unfold. RHA believes that the better we articulate that physical framework, the less likely we are to be distracted from the things that matter to us most.

Some of Ravi Handa Architect’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Ravi Handa Architect achieve 22nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 1

21. Jodoin Lamarre Pratte architectes inc.

© Lemay

© Lemay

Jodoin Lamarre Pratte architectes is a leader in architectural design, redevelopment and the construction of diverse, specialized and technically complex institutional buildings, in particular in the fields of health care, education, research, culture, transportation and housing. Recipient of more than 60 awards of excellence in architecture, the firm has demonstrated over and over again its capacity to conceive and carry out projects of high architectural merit.

In consortium, the firm recently earned Canadian Architect’s Awards of Excellence for two ongoing projects: the new performance hall in Saint-Jérôme (2014–2016) and the Fifth Pavilion of the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (2013¬–2017). JLP also received the Ordre des architectes du Québec’s Prix d’excellence en architecture in the category of institutional buildings for the Bibliothèque Raymond-Levesque (2013).

Some of Jodoin Lamarre Pratte architectes inc.’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Jodoin Lamarre Pratte architectes inc. achieve 21st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 2

20. Open Form Architecture

© Open Form Architecture

© Open Form Architecture

Open Form Architecture is devoted to a deep and innovative approach to creating contemporary architecture and urbanism; and dedicated to
producing transformative experiences by shaping new paths for architecture, urbanism and public space. The office follows a rigorous thought process that simultaneously questions the representation of buildings, the shape of cites, and the conceptual models and processes through the application of new computational technologies.

For Open Form, digital technologies open up the spectrum of possibilities in architecture and design. Whether it is in the development and application of technologies for the building itself, or in the creation of advanced architecture, technologies generate new contexts, new perceptions, and surprising perspectives between the relationship of creating and producing new architectural forms.

Some of Open Form Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Open Form Architecture achieve 20th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 2

19. Affleck de la Riva Architects

© Marc Cramer

© Marc Cramer

Founded in 1995 by Gavin Affleck and Richard de la Riva and based in Montréal, Canada, Affleck de la Riva Architects believe that quality environmental design is an agent of social change and a key element in fostering citizenship, social equity, and healthy lifestyles. The firm provides services for the design and construction of institutional, commercial and residential projects and has also developed specific expertise in urban design and the restoration of historic structures. For more than twenty years, through a wide range and scale of projects including research, competitions, and built work, Affleck de la Riva has been exploring the potential of history and landscape to generate contemporary architecture.

Some of Affleck de la Riva Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Affleck de la Riva Architects achieve 19th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 3

18. DKA Architectes

© DKA Architectes

© DKA Architectes

DKA is an architectural firm characterized by a collaborative spirit, a multidisciplinary approach and an experienced team. We have an informal work environment where studio work is prized and everyone is encouraged to participate actively in all aspects of architecture. Our company stands out for its creativity, dynamism and team spirit. We are committed to creating and maintaining a pleasant working environment, and we are continually working to perfect our profession.

Some of DKA Architectes’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped DKA Architectes achieve 18th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 5

17. Huma Design + Architecture

© Huma Design + Architecture

© Huma Design + Architecture

HUMÀ is a firm built around the notion of excellence and unconditional customer satisfaction. the architectural team is a a good balance between experience and new, dynamic potential, all of them customer’s devoted. Interior and GraphicDesign teams have been recognized amongst Quebec’s most renowned designers, and have received numerous awards among peers and both national and international audience.

Some of Huma Design + Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

  • SSENSE, Montréal, Canada
  • International Jetty Expansion | Montréal–Trudeau Airport, Montréal, Canada
  • Rockland – The Kitchen, Montréal, Canada
  • SSP Concessions, Montréal airport, Montréal, Canada
  • Tour des Canadiens 2, Montréal, Canada

The following statistics helped Huma Design + Architecture achieve 17th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 16

16. Clairoux

© Julien gne

© Julien gne

Founded in 2009, Clairoux was born out of a genuine desire to transform spaces in order to create environments where people feel truly comfortable. Over the years, our team has built a solid reputation for its creative approach and ability to optimize interiors, whether for a residence, a commercial space or a real estate project.

With a multidisciplinary team of talented and passionate designers, we collaborate with clients from diverse backgrounds to design unique environments that reflect their personality and lifestyle, combining functionality, volumetric design, harmony and elegance. Clairoux believes in working with our clients to understand their needs and create spaces that meet their expectations. We believe that everyone deserves to live in beauty. We are driven by the need to shape, mould and transform interior spaces into great places to live. We fundamentally believe in intelligent design. WE ARE CLAIROUX.

Some of Clairoux’s most prominent projects include:

  • Du tour’s residence, Laval, Canada
  • Conception restaurant Montréal, Montréal, Canada
  • Conception Condo Montréal, Montréal, Canada
  • Conception Condo Montréal, Montréal, Canada
  • Conception Condo Montréal, Montréal, Canada

The following statistics helped Clairoux achieve 16th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 21

15. perraultarchitecture (atelier urban face)

© perraultarchitecture (atelier urban face)

© perraultarchitecture (atelier urban face)

Perraultarchitecture is first and foremost a think tank whose creations are based on a conceptual approach that is stimulated and oriented towards the idea of the work as an actor in the poetry of the place. Directed by the architect Sylvie Perrault since 2003, she is assisted by a team of professionals and loyal collaborators chosen for their expertise in relation to the commission.

Our training and experience contribute to the development of architectural thinking that takes into account the particular context of the built environment in which the project is inserted. Our practice has been recognized with several national and international awards, notably for the three Beaver Lake kiosks on Mount Royal in Montréal.

Some of perraultarchitecture (atelier urban face)’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped perraultarchitecture (atelier urban face) achieve 15th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 2

14. Blouin Tardif Architectes

photo: Stephane Groleau - © Blouin Tardif Architectes

photo: Stephane Groleau – © Blouin Tardif Architectes

Established in 2004, the firm excels in the design of sustainable buildings developed around the principles of Durability, Performance and Aesthetics. The workshop relies on a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineer, specializing in building science and building energy modeling, sustainable design specialist and LEED Project Manager and technologists in architectural design. All team members are LEED Accredited Professionals. All projects are undertaken using the integrated design method. This strategy is applied to the projects in which we act as project managers.

Some of Blouin Tardif Architectes’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Blouin Tardif Architectes achieve 14th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 3

13. Atelier Moderno

© Atelier Moderno

© Atelier Moderno

Under the guidance of director and president Jean-Guy Chabauty (APDIQ, ADIQ), Atelier Moderno is a full-service design firm, delivering a finished product that incarnates a synthesis of architecture, interior design and industrial design.

Some of Atelier Moderno’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Atelier Moderno achieve 13th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 4

12. Jean Verville Architecte

© Maxime Brouillet

© Maxime Brouillet

The practice of Jean Verville is on the fringe of mainstream architecture. For each proposal, architecture, design, museum installation or object, the architect uses the architectural promenade as material to develop the spatial qualities of his experiments. In addition to its award-winning practice and his significant international publications Jean Verville continues his investigations on architectural design process through a PhD at Université du Québec à Montréal.

Some of Jean Verville Architecte’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Jean Verville Architecte achieve 12th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 2

11. BGLA architecture | urban design

© BGLA architecture | urban design, Agence Spatiale inc.

© BGLA architecture | urban design, Agence Spatiale inc.

BGLA has been specializing for more than 40 years in the fields of architecture, heritage and urban design, and now has three business offices in Montréal, Quebec City and Sept-Îles, with a large team of more than 70 employees. BGLA has a diversified experience on projects of all sizes, mainly in the institutional (teaching and health), cultural and community fields.

BGLA’s architectural approach is sensitive to the protection of the built environment and its historical and social context. Recognized for its interventions that are respectful to both the buildings and their constructive processes, BGLA is concerned with the valorization of the natural and cultural heritage of each place.

Some of BGLA architecture | urban design’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped BGLA architecture | urban design achieve 11th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 4

10. Salem Architecture

© Salem Architecture

© Salem Architecture

Salem architecture was founded in Montréal in 2012 by Jad Salem, architect. graduated from the Université de Montréall in 2002 with a master’s degree in architecture, M.Salem has been a member of the quebec architects’ order since 2007 (ncarb certification) and holds the title of leed green associate. For more than 10 years in major firms, as an architect and project manager, he acquired rich experience on various institutional projects, including working with several school boards on new school projects, school expansion projects as well as a good variety of residential and commercial projects.

The team has several trusting collaborators for several years! Thus, thanks to the diversified and complementary qualities of the members, as well as the predominance of teamwork, we are always looking for the best solutions to an architecture project.

Some of Salem Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Salem Architecture achieve 10th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Winner 1
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 4

9. Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes

© Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes

© Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes

MENKÈS SHOONER DAGENAIS LETOURNEUX Architectes’ mission is to provide a complete range of top-quality architectural services to each of our clients. Our main goal is to obtain their complete satisfaction. To do so, we base our approach on open communication with an emphasis on active listening to ensure we fully comprehend each client’s needs and constraints. We are then motivated by the genuine desire to provide individually tailored, original and practical responses to satisfy needs while respecting the constraints. We are also committed to sustainable design and incorporate sustainable design practices into all the buildings we design, whether a formal certification is required or not.

Some of Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes achieve 9th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 4

8. Smith Vigeant Architects

© Smith Vigeant Architects

© Smith Vigeant Architects

Daniel Smith and Stéphan Vigeant have been working together since 1992 to define an architectural practice that transcends the traditional scope of the profession. Their vision, combined with diverse and extensive professional experience, now extends to a wide range of projects from the residential, institutional, corporate and urban sectors. Their integrated, sustainable approach enables the team to pioneer solid and unique design solutions that effectively incorporate their collective expertise.

With this holistic approach to design, all components of a building are integrated from the initial design phase until completion. The team at Smith Vigeant have built a deep portfolio that includes a broad array of projects varying in scope and complexity, that are cost-effective, energy efficient and have low environmental impact. Smith Vigeant is committed to environmentally responsible architecture as well as the creation of healthy and inspiring spaces that positively impact the people that use them.

Some of Smith Vigeant Architects’s most prominent projects include:

  • Allez Up Rock Climbing Gym, Montréal, Canada
  • Mont-Tremblant Discovery Center, Mont-Tremblant, Canada
  • Notre-Dame de Lourdes College, Montréal, Canada
  • Loft de Seves, Montréal, Canada
  • Pointe-Valaine , Otterburn Park, Canada

The following statistics helped Smith Vigeant Architects achieve 8th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 7

7. Sid Lee Architecture

© Sid Lee Architecture

© Sid Lee Architecture

We believe that the beauty of a city lies in its residents, the driving force behind our designs. Our artisans recognize the social responsibility that comes with our architectural projects and create versatile, customizable spaces that deliver on users’ ever-changing needs. They’re caring, creative, bold and persevering.

Some of Sid Lee Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

  • Espace C2 @ Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montréal, Canada
  • Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montréal, Canada
  • Réseau Sélection Lachenaie, Montréal, Canada
  • Espace Montmorency, Montréal, Canada
  • Place Deslongchamps, Saint-Jacques, Canada

The following statistics helped Sid Lee Architecture achieve 7th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 8

6. Atelier L’Abri

© Raphaël Thibodeau

© Raphaël Thibodeau

L’Abri is an architecture and construction office based in Montréal. Through its design-build approach, L’Abri delivers turn-key projects, from conception to realization. The studio specializes in ecological and sustainable construction. It advocates for innovative architecture solutions, putting forward wellness and the human and social character of our environments. L’Abri’s designs are resolutely contemporary, unique and at the human scale.

Some of Atelier L’Abri’s most prominent projects include:

  • La Pointe, Notre-Dame-du-Laus, Canada
  • Maison Accuracy, Montréal, Canada
  • Saltbox passive house, Bromont, Canada
  • Drolet, Montréal, Canada
  • The Wood Duck, Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, Canada

The following statistics helped Atelier L’Abri achieve 6th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 10

5. Aedifica architecture + design

© Aedifica architecture + design

© Aedifica architecture + design

Ædifica is a unified team of architects, designers, engineers, communications specialists and project managers who share a common desire to create meaningful and long-lasting places. The firm has been in business since 1979 and now has offices in Montréal, St-Louis and Haïti with more than 115 professionals providing an integrated service offer. We are a strategic partner for our clients thanks to our joint efforts to serve them to the best of our expertise, at every opportunity.

The founding principle of Ædifica is to bring the complementary fields of expertise of our multidisciplinary team together under one roof. Ready to tackle the challenges facing large organizations, we use a synergetic approach which enables us to orchestrate our efforts around a shared, holistic vision that ties creativity, achievement, innovation and performance together.

Some of Aedifica architecture + design’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Aedifica architecture + design achieve 5th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Winner 1
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 30

4. Provencher_Roy

© Adrien Williams

© Adrien Williams

Provencher_Roy is an award-winning Canadian architecture practice involved in all forms of the built environment. We champion an integrated approach to design and provide expertise in interior design, urban design, urban planning, landscape architecture, industrial design, and sustainable development.

Some of Provencher_Roy’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Provencher_Roy achieve 4th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Winner 1
A+Awards Finalist 5
Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 15

3. Alain Carle Architecte

© Alain Carle Architecte

© Alain Carle Architecte

Alain Carle has worked in the architecture field in Montréal for twenty years. Based on a pedagogical approach he developed as a teacher and researcher at the School of Architecture of the Université de Montréal, his achievements rely on a critical approach to representation in the design process. The firm’s accomplishments are regularly recognized by the architectural community, especially in the field of residential and commercial architecture.

Some of Alain Carle Architecte’s most prominent projects include:

  • NORM Residence, Baie-D’Urfe, Canada
  • Screenhouse, Wentworth-Nord, Canada
  • The Elves, Morin-Heights, Canada
  • The Wetlands, Wentworth-Nord, Canada
  • Le Phénix, Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson, Canada

The following statistics helped Alain Carle Architecte achieve 3rd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Winner 1
Featured Projects 12
Total Projects 23

2. Lemay

© Lemay

© Lemay

We create space to grow. Since 1957, Lemay has been imagining new ways to create spaces that engage users and bring people together. Over 400 architects, designers, industry leaders, and change-makers work tirelessly to cultivate innovation in their own backyards, as well as in communities around the world. Inspired and strengthened by transdisciplinary creativity, the firm has also developed its very own NET POSITIVE™ approach to guide teams toward sustainable solutions that shape a better future. With the human experience at its heart, Lemay strives to design with empathy and create spaces to grow.

Some of Lemay’s most prominent projects include:

  • Pomerleau Offices, Levis, Canada
  • Lumenpulse, Longueuil, Canada
  • Bellechasse Transport Center, Montréal, Canada
  • Grand Théatre de Québec, Quebec City, Canada
  • Place des Montréalaises, Montréal, Canada
  • Top image: Espace 67, Montréal, Canada via Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau

The following statistics helped Lemay achieve 2nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Winner 3
A+Awards Finalist 5
Featured Projects 10
Total Projects 37

1. ACDF Architecture

© ACDF Architecture

© ACDF Architecture

At ACDF, we have an uncompromising ambition to be both responsible and inventive, both visionary and generous, to ultimately bring beauty to everyone. Good design can capture the imagination, but great design offers something more generous: it stirs the heart. Under the direction of Maxime-Alexis Frappier, Joan Renaud and Etienne Laplante Courchesne, the 95-person studio is deeply rooted in solid know-how and a joie de vivre.

Our mission is to deliver highly tailored, design-savvy projects at any scale across all typologies. In our architectural atelier, we are energized by constraints (budget, site, material) and craft poetry from pragmatism. With its creative energy and its broad expertise, ACDF designs inspiring spaces in which North American pragmatism meets European flamboyance.

Some of ACDF Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

  • Notre-Dame College Gymnasium, Montréal, Canada
  • Lightspeed Offices Phase 3, Montréal, Canada
  • Flighthub, Montréal, Canada
  • Barclay Tower, Vancouver, Canada
  • The Pacific by Grosvenor, Vancouver, Canada

The following statistics helped ACDF Architecture achieve 1st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Montréal:

A+Awards Winner 1
A+Awards Finalist 8
Featured Projects 17
Total Projects 37

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

  • Project completed within the last 3 years
  • A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
  • Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
  • High quality, in focus photographs
  • At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
  • Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
  • Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

 


 

We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.

Reference

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
CategoriesArchitecture

electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong

Sim-Plex composes adaptable Meditation Duplex living space

 

The Meditation Duplex by Sim-Plex explores the integration of meditation spaces within compact urban living in Hong Kong. Addressing the desire for tranquility amidst hectic urban life, the project utilizes a transformable electric staircase and a detachable, expandable platform to create a flexible living and meditation space. The design accommodates various scenarios, allowing for a seamless transition between living and meditation modes. The concept particularly focuses on optimizing space and circulation in micro-unit living, often prevalent in densely populated areas. The clients, a young couple with specific lifestyle needs, influenced the project’s direction. Notably, the utilization of high ceilings for creating spacious areas and maintaining privacy became a central design consideration.

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
all images courtesy of Patrick Lam

 

 

Green Plants and Eco-Friendly Materials optimize living setting

 

The duplex incorporates smart technology for remote home management, enhancing energy conservation. The inclusion of green planting, environmentally friendly materials, and natural ventilation adds a touch of nature to the living environment. The detachable and expandable platform, made from E0 grade fine-grained plywood, ensures sustainability and facilitates easy relocation without waste. The design prioritizes high-capacity storage and diverse functionalities to prevent clutter in the open layout. Sim-Plex Studio also integrates sensory control and comprehensive voice control into the smart home features, providing a holistic approach to technology.

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
transformable space achieves a balance between urban life and tranquil atmosphere

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
the project addresses the limitations of micro-units in Hong Kong

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
flexible design utilizes smart technology for a versatile living experience

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
the design integrates meditation zones for contemplation in compact living spaces

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
floating resting area accommodates private spaces within a limited footprint

Reference

Rectilinear house by Stanaćev Granados
CategoriesArchitecture

Stanaćev Granados divides levels of beach house with cargo net floor

Chilean architecture studio Stanaćev Granados has created a seaside house with a concrete and wood-clad exterior and a cargo net in the floor in Chorrillos, Chile.

Known as the Primeriza House, the 2,750-square foot (256-square metre) residence was completed in 2020 in a small clearing in a cypress-filled hill that slopes steeply down to the Pacific Ocean.

Rectilinear house by Stanaćev Granados
Stanaćev Granados perched Primeriza House on a cypress-filled Chilean hill

Stanaćev Granados, a Santiago-based studio run by Nataša Stanaćev and Manu Granados, designed the home to make the most of outdoor living while creating multiple interior environments and nooks within the home.

According to the studio, these dual considerations created “many transitional spaces” within the house.

The home’s concrete base is set firmly into the slope

Two storeys constitute the main body of the home, with the top volume cantilevering over the bottom one at points, all clad in darkly stained wood. The concrete base is set firmly into the slope with a semi-buried garage and storage area.

As the slope drops away, the foundations become retaining walls at the far ends of the plan. A sunken landscape terrace covers the garage as it approaches the main house.

“Thanks to the orientation of the entire volume, the house itself acts as a shield for the southern winds whipping its posterior facade, while the
entire front of the house remains unaffected by them,” said the studio.

Mudroom at Primeriza House
A southside terrace and mudroom are protected from the wind by earth

A pedestrian entrance was “nested” between the exposed concrete wall and the landscaped hill. It was meant to be “camouflaged in the vegetation”.

The entry staircase leads to a southside terrace and mudroom that are protected from the wind by an earthen wall embedded into the space.

Primary open-plan floor with floor-to-ceiling glazing
Stanaćev Granados wrapped the primary open-plan floor in wood

This entry terrace is clad in glass that allows views through the entirety of the ground floor, out to the sea. The studio described this layout and the use of glass as “kaleidoscopic”.

The primary floor – an open plan room with living, dining, and kitchen areas – is wrapped in wood and has floor-to-ceiling windows that open the space to a seaside north terrace.

Open weave cargo netting
Open weave cargo netting serves as an overhead play space

The main floor transitions to the upper level through a double-height space.

Open weave cargo netting divides the volume and serves as an overhead play space.

Primeriza House
The sea-facing house is washed in dark wood

The safety netting appears again as the railing of the staircase.

The ground floor has a similar wood cladding to the exterior, while the upper floor features wood that has been painted white.

All-white bedroom at Primeriza House by Stanaćev Granados
Each room opens to a linear balcony through sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors

“While the first floor absorbs the light that washes its surfaces from all orientations, the second floor reflects the exterior colours – it turns absolute white on misty days, and when the weather is clear, it takes on the bluish tones of the sky and the horizon in the morning hours, and stains orange at sunset,” the studio said.

Upstairs, the primary ensuite is located on the eastern end of the rectangular plan and the children’s rooms and playroom hold the other edge.

Each room opens through sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors to a linear balcony along the house.

A skylight runs down the length of the house bringing light into the white-washed interior.

Green roof on top of the garage
A sun terrace is tucked between the green roof on top of the garage and the living room

About 800 kilometres north of the Primeriza House sits another recent Stanaćev Granados design, a cube-shaped holiday house known as Casa Kuvo.

The photography is by Marcos Zegers.


Project credits:

Architecture: Stanaćev Granados (Nataša Stanaćev & Manu Granados)
Interior and furniture design: Stanaćev Granados
Lighting design: Stanaćev Granados
Landscaping: Vanessa Barrois (Landscaperschile) and Joaquín Lobato
Structural design: Alberto Ramírez
Construction: Claudio Lagos, Florent Dromard

Reference

Common Expansion Joint Field Problems and How to Avoid Them
CategoriesArchitecture

Common Expansion Joint Field Problems and How to Avoid Them

Are you struggling with the aesthetic and functional challenges of expansion joint covers in architecture? These essential components require careful integration and understanding to ensure they meet project needs effectively. This can be quite challenging, which is why many architects don’t like them. However, with the proper guidance, you can transform this challenge into an opportunity for innovative design and effective functionality.

In our recent webinar, we delved into the complexities of expansion joint systems, offering insights and practical solutions for architects and builders. If you missed the live session, don’t worry — the recording is available for you to watch at your convenience.

Register + Access

Exterior waterproofing options via Inpro Corp

Once again, we had the pleasure of hosting Matthew Fisher, the Senior Product Manager for the Expansion Joint Systems division at Inpro. Fisher, with his extensive 25-year experience spanning architecture, construction management and building materials management, brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights. His expertise is particularly invaluable considering his background as a practicing architect and his deep understanding of both the design process and the on-site construction dynamics.During the webinar, Fisher covered a range of critical topics, helping participants to:

  • Examine common floor joint oversights regarding blockouts, concentrated loads and coverplate specification;
  • Discover the types of interior wall expansion joint systems and how to accommodate obstructions, changes in directionand functional requirements;
  • Examine and compare building envelope joints and recognize the importance of proper detailing for transitions;
  • Identify the types of expansion joint fire barriers and the dangers to life safety when seams and intersections installations are not assembled to specifications.

Exterior joint cover types via Inpro Corp

These topics were not just theoretical discussions but were backed by real-world scenarios and practical solutions, making the webinar an insightful learning opportunity for anyone in the field.

Register + Access

Don’t miss this chance to broaden your understanding of expansion joint systems and their critical role in architecture. Access the webinar now and equip yourself with the knowledge to tackle one of the most nuanced aspects of building design.


Kalina Prelikj

Author: Kalina Prelikj

A jack of all trades and a soon-to-be Master of Architecture, Kalina enjoys embracing her creative side and has dabbled in everything from marketing to design to communications. However, her main interest lies in architecture, as she loves to explore how it shapes our communities and transforms our daily experiences. With a deep appreciation for the art of puns, Kalina is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to craft clever wordplay.

Reference

The A+List: Architizer’s Top Architecture and Design Firms to Watch in 2024
CategoriesArchitecture

The A+List: Architizer’s Top Architecture and Design Firms to Watch in 2024

Architizer’s global architectural awards program, the 12th Annual A+Awards, is now accepting submissions, with a Main Entry Deadline of December 15th, 2023. As well as celebrating some of the most innovative, recently completed projects around the globe, the A+Awards also serve as an incredible indicator of which designers will be at the forefront of innovation in the coming year.

In recognition of this fact, Architizer is delighted to present the much-anticipated fifth edition of the coveted A+List, an annual rundown of every firm that scooped an A+Award and A+Firm Award in the previous season. The A+List forms a comprehensive guide to the world’s best architecture firms and is refreshed each year based on the results of the annual A+Awards program. You can see last season’s A+List here.

The A+List is arranged alphabetically, with more information available by clicking on the link to each firm’s profile. We’ve also curated a selection of featured firms, providing some extra background on their A+Award triumphs.

Get Your Firm On the Next A+List

If you missed entering last season’s program and would like to secure your position on the next A+List, we encourage you to enter your firm’s recent projects in the 12th Annual A+Awards. Every winner features in this definitive directory of high-quality firms, and will also see their work published in a stunning, hardbound compendium on the World’s Best Architecture, as well as gaining continual publicity through our year-round global celebration of design.

Start Submission

Without further ado, explore the work of each of these immensely talented firms below, and good luck with your submissions to this year’s program!

AD ARCHITECTURE
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Art

Adjaye Associates
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – High Rise (16+ Floors)

Aidlin Darling Design
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (S <25,000 sq ft.)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (XL >6000 sq ft)

Alencar Arquitetura
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (S <10 Floors)

all(zone)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Color

Altura Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (S 1000 – 2000 sq ft)

ANT ARCH
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +For Good


Longmenshan Town · Woyun Platform by Archermit, Peng Bai Lu, Peng Zhou Shi, Cheng Du Shi, China | Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Cultural & Expo Centers

Founded in 2015, this Chengdu-based firm has achieved a considerable amount before reaching its first decade milestone. Archermit’s  core concept is to create new multidimensional spatial experiences. This is evident in the poetic environments they create, which break the mold of traditional architectural forms and massing; theirs is an exploration of the contemporary and locality of Chinese architecture. Across their work is an emphasis on reconfiguring the relationship between building users and the surrounding environment. While embracing modern technology, the firm celebrates unique local architectural expression.


Archi-Tectonics
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Innovation

ARCHITECTS 49
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Large Firm (41+ employees)

Arsh 4D Studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors)

ASAS arkitektur AS
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Low Rise (1 – 4 Floors)

ASPECT Studios
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Landscape Design Firm

B² Architecture
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (<25,000 sq ft.)


Komera Leadership Center by BE_Design, Rwanda | 11th Annual A+Awards: Jury Vote Winner in Architecture +For Good; Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner in Architecture +Low Cost Design; Jury Vote Winner in Architecture +Community; Popular Vote Winner in Community Centers

After living in Rwanda for several years, Bruce Engel founded BE_DESIGN in 2016 upon his return to New York. The team comprises Alain Yves Twizeyimana, Emmanuel Havugimana, Aziz Farid Shyaka, and Marie Minerve Dukunde. Together, the five are creating progressive educational and community projects that serve rural and underprivileged areas in Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ghana. The young firm is already garnering awards and recognition for their incredibly intricate fusion of local artistic traditions, talents and techniques with program brief and architectural form. Exemplified in the Komera Leadership Center, which swept at the 11th Annual A+Awards, this firm is one to keep a close eye on.


Beijing AN-Design Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Residential Renovations & Additions
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Urban & Masterplan

Birdseye
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Gallery & Exhibition Spaces

Blue Temple
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best X-Small Firm (1 – 5 employees)

BRAG Arquitectos
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – High Rise (16+ Floors)

Bureau Fraai
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (>3000 sq ft)

CAA
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Sports & Recreation Building

CAZA
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Religious Buildings & Memorials

Cumulus Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Bars & Wineries
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Cultural & Expo Centers

D/DOCK
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Coworking Space


Kia Lab by Davood Boroojeni Office, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran | Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Hospitals & Healthcare Centers

Davood Boroojeni Office’s vast range of experience is evident in one look at the Tehran-based firm’s profile. With over 15 years of professional experience, their team has developed expertise in all areas of architectural production — from preliminary design ideas to schematic design and development, as well as producing submittal packages, visual presentations, construction documents, layouts and details through close dialogue with clients, producers and engineers. This multifaceted approach is evident in projects such as Kia Lab, which take a holistic view of the programmatic brief, embedding the building’s function with the broader urban and cultural environment.

Dedang Design
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Community Centers

Design Workshop
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Landscape Design Firm

Dubuisson
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Gyms & Recreation Centers

DXA studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Residential Firm

ECADI
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sports & Recreation

Edition Office
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Low Rise (1 – 4 Floors)

EHDD
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Sports & Recreation Building


Ghaf Majlis by Etereo Design, Ajman, United Arab Emirates | 11th Annual A+Awards: Popular Vote Winner in Best Young Interior Design Firm; Popular Vote Winner in Mixed Use (S <25,000 sq ft.)

Etereo Design is both a singular studio with a unique output and a cosmopolitan firm of the 21st century, which is to say it draws strength from the intersection of cultures. As the firm puts it, “with an astute understanding of architecture, a vibrant and artistically abundant Italian heritage, dotted with influences from the Middle East and harmoniously brought together with passion, Etereo is born.” From this starting point, the firm creates breathtakingly elegant spaces that exude creative force and revel in an expert selection of materials and finishes, which are honored in the painstaking execution of their project’s finer details.

EYAC Arquitec
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Urban Transformation

Foster + Partners
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Stadium & Arena
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Commercial Building
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

gad
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Spa & Wellness

Gensler
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Masterplan
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Commercial Building

GN Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Small Projects

H Architecture
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Government & Civic Buildings


National Assembly Communication Building by HAEAHN Architecture and H-Architecture, Seoul, South Korea | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Government & Civic Buildings

HAEAHN is the brainwork of over 1,300 employees, spread over offices across the world — from its headquarters in Seoul to new branches in Baghdad, Ho Chi Minh City, Riyadh and Savannah (Georgia) that came about through the firm’s alliance with H Architecture New York in 2011. This radical internationality translates to the broad expanse of the firm’s expertise: employees specialize in a range of fields, from architecture to environmental design to urban planning to interior design and more. Since it was founded in 1990, HAEAHN Architecture, has strove to design ambitious and impactful urban environmental projects, deeply rooted in a spirit of innovation.

HDR
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

Heatherwick Studio
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Shopping Center

HGA
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Higher Education & Research Facilities

HLW
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse

HOK
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transportation Infrastructure

Hooba Design
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Medium Firm (16 – 40 employees)

Inrestudio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Brick
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Office – Low Rise (1 – 4 Floors)

JSPA Design
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Factories & Warehouses

K-Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Stone


Bundanon Art Museum + Bridge by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), Illaroo, Australia | 11th Annual A+Awards: Jury Vote Winner in Architecture +Environment; Jury Vote Winner in Sustainable Cultural/Institutional Building | Photo by Rory Gardiner

The output of Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) configures architecture as an inherently civic endeavor; to do so, each design has strong multidisciplinary foundations. Indeed, the team has forged strong relationships with engineers, emerging technology specialists and landscape and heritage consultants, and their expertise informs the approach to each project, injecting innovation and environmental sensitivity to the specificities of a given project whilst evolving the firm’s design approach for future commissions. The result is an oeuvre of sensitive, site-responsive architecture that synergize form and function with landscape, resulting in highly meaningful and resilient places.

Kosloff Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Libraries
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Learning

LAAB Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Apartment
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Branding

Laguarda.Low Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Office – High Rise (16+ Floors)
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Urban & Masterplan

Landao Design
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Landscape

Laney LA
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (L >3000 sq ft)

Lazor/Office
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Wood


Backcountry Hut Company by Leckie Studio Architecture + Design | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Firm

The Vancouver-based inter-disciplinary design studio was founded on ambition,  with the aim of “pushing the traditional boundaries of architectural practice as a catalyst for cultural change.” Designing across a variety of scales and media, the eighteen person team emphasizes highly collaborative approaches to project development. Impressively, their internal digital visualization lab creates an integrated workflow for testing and developing design ideas. Moreover, the team comprises a variety of specializations including interior design, prefabrication, mass-timber, industrial design, digital fabrication, graphic design and architectural visualization, allowing them to tackle projects of substantial size and complexity.


Leehong Kim Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transportation Infrastructure
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Glass

LUO studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Interior Project

MAD Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Cultural Firm
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Concrete

MADO ARCHITECTS
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Institutional

MARS Studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Small Firm (6 – 15 employees)

McGregor Coxall
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Teamwork


SAWA by Mei architects and planners, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sustainable Residential Project

The word “environment” carries many associations, and for Mei architects and planners, the term serves as an anchor for all projects: the history of the location, the current context and future living environment. The Rotterdam-based office is structured around the knowledge divisions of Building Transformation, New Construction and Urban Development. With a dash of courage, the resulting design champion innovative technical applications and user concepts aimed at social and ecological sustainability. With the design and development of SAWA, a fully wooden residential building in Rotterdam, Mei established themselves as pioneers in creating future-proof, nature-inclusive housing.


MESH Architectures
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Multi-Unit Residential Building

Mix Architecture
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Hospitality Building

modus studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Pavilions

Moneo Brock
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Community

Morphosis Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Branding
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Museum

MQ Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Small Firm (6 – 15 employees)


Xinglong Lake CITIC Bookstore by MUDA-Architects, Chengdu, China | Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Firm

MUDA-Architects are an exciting and daring young firm that has dominated the architectural landscape in recent years. The up-and-coming practice is keen to showcase its diverse talent on the global stage, and with a rapidly expanding portfolio of fascinating projects, the young team is already gaining recognition for its creativity and leadership. Initially founded in Boston, the US, in 2015 and currently based in Southwest China, MUDA-Architects occupies offices in Beijing and Chengdu. Their work in the public realm ranges from bookshops to hotels and is united by their dedication to finding the right solution without compromising aesthetics.


Multistudio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Libraries

Multitude Of Sins
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Interior Project

MVRDV
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Facades

NAPUR Architect
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Museum
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Facades

NEWSUBSTANCE
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Pop-Ups & Temporary

NICOLEHOLLIS
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)

NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transport Interiors
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Primary & High Schools

NOA
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Spa & Wellness

Noxon Giffen
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Teamwork

Office AIO
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Interior Design Firm


8899 Beverly Boulevard by Olson Kundig, West Hollywood, California | 11th Annual A+Awards: Jury Vote Winner in Best Large Firm (41+ employees); Jury Vote Winner in Gallery & Exhibition Spaces; 

The portfolio of Olson Kundig is vast, varied and captivating. The Seattle-based firm’s completed works read as a long list of distinctive projects that span more than fifteen countries across five continents. Founded by Jim Olson in 1966, the studio began its life exploring the relationship between dwelling and landscape — a provenance that remains at the heart of the company’s ethos that has since evolved, morphing in productive new directions as applied to a range of typologies and across dense urban and expansive rural settings. Every finished project manifests a “macro to micro” level of attention, from the big ideas to the smallest details.


Omar Gandhi Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (M 2000 – 4000 sq ft)
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (L >1000 sq ft)

Orange Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Mid Rise (5 – 15 Floors)

PAN Cabins
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Metal

Park + Associates
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Apartment
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

Perkins&Will
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

PPAG architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (L >1000 sq ft)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Hospitality Building

Provencher_Roy
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Hospitals & Healthcare Centers

RAAD Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)


House of Light by Rangr Studio, Berkeley, CA, United States | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best X-Small Firm (1 – 5 employees) | Photo by Joe Fletcher Photography

Since 2004, Rangr Studio has deployed the principles of ancient design with contemporary materials and methods to find poetic and harmonious solutions to a wide variety of design challenges. Rather than imposing a structure on an environment, the studio creates essential architectural forms in harmony with the surrounding landscape — whether rural or urban in setting. Founder Jasmit Singh Rangr grew up on the coasts of India, and in the UK, was educated at Yale, and is currently bi-coastal between California and New York. His life experience and training inform Rangr Studio’s philosophy — an approach that is deeply sensitive to the interaction between climate, landscape, culture, and architecture.


RAU
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sustainable Residential Project

RIOS
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Workspace

RVAD STUDIO
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Models & Rendering

Sasaki
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Landscape/Planning Project


Featured Firm: SAVA

Thavi Cosmetics Showroom by SAVA, Vinh, Vietnam | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Commercial (Also pictured in top image). 

With headquarters in Borneo, Malaysia and Danang, Vietnam, SAVA draws inspiration from mountains and coastlines. Committed to designing spaces for people from every walk of life, the firm consciously designs to harness locally-sourced materials and building techniques with the aim of bringing people closer to nature — especially those in an urban environment. Indeed, the firm draws on its past experience in masterplanning, housing and bamboo architecture in Asia and Europe to produce architecture that goes beyond aesthetics — even if the result is a visually playful array of perforated geometries with openings that create new relationships to the surrounding environment.

Shape Architecture
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sustainable Non-Residential Project

Shejin Space Design
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (<25,000 sq ft.)

SkB Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (>25,000 sq ft.)

Sordo Madaleno
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

SPARK
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Retail


Featured Firm: STARH

Umani Hotel by STARH, Varna, Bulgaria | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Environment Photo by Dian Stanchev 

STARH is an architecture studio with a mission to overcome stereotypes in the architectural environment. The Bulgarian studio has established a name for itself by creating high-quality designs, from both a functional and material standpoint, with a high level of attention to detail and longevity. Through this approach, the firm achieves innovative design solutions with a distinctive signature. STARH’s portfolio covers projects of different scales and complexity that are united by bold and rhythmic geometries resulting forceful formal statements.


STL Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Institutional

Studio FEI
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Cultural

Studio Gang
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors)

studio mk27
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (L 4000 – 6000 sq ft)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Art

StudioPOD
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Transportation Project

Superbloom
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sustainable Non-Residential Project

Superkül
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Educational Interiors

SWA GROUP
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Public Parks & Green Spaces

temporary work
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Models & Rendering


Açucena House by Tetro Arquitectura, Nova Lima, Brazil | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (M 2000 – 4000 sq ft)

Flowing roofs that soar over meandering structures are some of the hallmarks in the remarkable portfolio of this Brazilian firm. Based in Belo Horizonte, the office grounds its work in the careful study of the premises and conditions of the site. This approach is evident in the resulting structures, each highly unique and unrepeatable. In the words  of the firm, “fundamentals such as integration with nature, use of natural materials and exploration of architectural voids are characteristics that permeate every project, from urban scale to furniture design.” This is true across typologies, from museums and venues to commercial, residential and industrial buildings.

TM Light
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Light

tono
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Private House

Turner Arquitectos
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (L >25,000 sq ft.)

UNStudio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Cultural/Institutional Building

West of West
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (S <10 Floors)

WOJR
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (S <3000 sq ft)


Twentieth by WOODS + DANGARAN, Santa Monica, California | Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Medium Firm (16 – 40 employees)

Woods + Dangaran’s portfolio boasts an array of warm, elegant residences that exude a timeless California cool and hinge on opening interiors to the outer world. However, going beyond buildings, this Los Angeles-based firm designs at every scale, and their work even includes custom furnishings.  The team prides itself on building collaborative relationships — whether with clients throughout the design process or tradespeople for working out uncompromising in craftsmanship.


XISUI Design
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Joy

XMArchitect
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Metaverse

ZGF Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Higher Education & Research Facilities

ZZYY Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Commercial
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Transportation


Great architecture comes to fruition through the work of talented teams and collaborators. There are numerous A+Award-winning companies that fall outside of the traditional architectural role, but that deserve recognition for their contributions. They include:

BR+A, L.F. Driscoll and Balfour Beatty (PennFIRST IPD Team)
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

Chongqing Qimo Architectural Design Consulting
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Hotels & Resorts

Deed Studio (photography)
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Photography & Video

feinknopf (photography)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Photography & Video

Shanghai Rail Transit Line 18 Development
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transport Interiors


You can check out previous editions of the A+List here: First Edition, Second Edition, Third Edition, Fourth Edition 

To secure your position on next year’s A+List, make sure to enter the 12th Annual A+Awards before the Main Entry Deadline on December 15th:

Enter the 12th Annual A+Awards

Reference