AIA Houston 2012 Design Awards Celebrate Architecture from the Inside-Out

AIA Houston 2012 Design Awards Celebrate Architecture from the Inside-Out

Several categories in the latest edition of AIA Houston’s Design Awards recognized the kinds of architecture people spend most of their time immediately surrounded by: interiors. From modern, trendy restaurants to early 20th century Spanish Revival libraries, this year’s awards honored architecture designed from the inside-out. Divine Detail Award: The Julia Ideson Library Building in Houston, designed by Gensler. Jury comments: To respect another architect's work and details says a lot about your own work. Image courtesy of Rick Gardener.

Divine Detail Award: REPEAT at the University of Houston College of Architecture, designed by TEX-FAB, with Andrew Vrana and Co-Director Vlad Tenu. Jury comments: [We] appreciate the craft of the technology used. It’s another project that manages complexity with sophistication. Image courtesy of Kevin McClellan.

Divine Detail Award: A Great Workplace in Houston, designed by Planning Design Research. Jury comments: The screen engages passers-by and provokes wonder and curiosity with a playful pattern and use of light and color. Image courtesy of Scott McDonald, Hedrich Blessing Photographers.

More than 50,000 Square Feet Award: Brockman Hall for Physics in Houston, designed by KieranTimberlake. Jury comments: [There is a] high level of quality in details and spatial sequencing of the program on such a narrow footprint. [It’s] respectful of Rice University’s traditional styling, while modernizing it consistently throughout the project. Image courtesy of Michael Moran/OTTO, Peter Aaron/OTTO, Hester + Hardaway, Red Wing Aerials.

More than 50,000 Square Feet Award: The Roy Kelly Multimodal Terminal and Parking Garage in Bryan, Texas, designed by Powers Brown Architecture. Jury comments: [This project] emphasized how to solve the urbanistic issues of transit. Image courtesy of Dror Baldinger, AIA.

More than 50,000 Square Feet Award: The Houston Ballet Center for Dance in Houston, designed by Gensler. Jury comments: [We] appreciated how the specific programming connected people and the interior spaces to one another. Image courtesy of Nic Lehoux.

Less than 50,000 Square Feet Award: The Houston Pavilion in Chongqing, China, designed by Morris Architects + SWA Group. Jury comments: [This project] manages complexity with sophistication. Image courtesy of Morris Architects + SWA Group.

Less than 50,000 Square Feet Award: Fish Camp in Alleyton, Texas, designed by Natalye Appel + Associates Architects. Jury comments: The jurors were all struck by its charm and sophistication. It proves you can still execute a sophisticated project without new technologies. Image courtesy of Paul Hester, Hester and Hardaway.

Interior Architecture: A Great Workplace in Houston, designed by Planning Design Research. Jury comments: The project executes a refined understanding and shows a nice balance of space with collaborative work environments. Image courtesy of Scott McDonald, Hedrich Blessing Photographers.

Interior Architecture: BG Group Houston Office in Houston, designed by Planning Design Research. Jury comments: The generous use of space elicits a sense of calm. It’s a space you'd like to spend time in. Image courtesy of Scott McDonald, Hedrich Blessing Photographers.

Residential Architecture: The 9 Degree House in Houston, designed by Interloop — Architecture. Jury comments: [We] felt that the spatial planning was well worked out. Image courtesy of Benjamin Hill Photography.

Residential Architecture: Yoga Studio and Garden in Houston, designed by Interloop — Architecture. Jury comments: [This house features] thoughtful and poetic use of baffling. Image courtesy of Benjamin Hill Photography.

Renovation and Restoration: The Bellfort Early Childhood Center in Houston, designed by Kirksey Architecture. Jury comments: [We were] impressed with the strategic use of color and graphic design to express a youthful energy without being cartoonish. Image courtesy of Shau Lin.

Renovation and Restoration: Triniti Restaurant in Houston, designed by MC2 ARCHITECTS. Jury comments: The perforated metal skin and color palate created a warm, tactile, cozy experience appropriate for dining. Image courtesy of Steven Gutierrez.

Renovation and Restoration: The Houston Food Bank in Houston, designed by RdlR Architects Inc. Jury comments: Simple additions and color transformed this simple warehouse. Image courtesy of Shau Lin.

Renovation and Restoration: The Julia Ideson Building in Houston, designed by Gensler. Jury comments: The firm did a sensitive job in keeping this gem. [It’s] inspired by work done to save it from demolition. Image courtesy of Rick Gardener.

Conceptual Award: veloCITY in Houston, designed by Peter Muessig. Jury comments: [This project] clearly addresses the issue that transportation via two wheels is not a hardship. Image courtesy of Peter Muessig.

On the Boards: The Information Technology and Media Center in Santa Monica, Calif., designed by Morris Architects. Jury comments: The perforated covering creates such a compelling image from the street it didn't matter what the reason for the perforation pattern was. Image courtesy of Morris Architects.

On the Boards: The Hempstead Garden Research Center in Hempstead, Texas, designed by Interloop — Architecture. Jury comments: [This building is] handsome and quite seamlessly integrates into the landscape. It clearly shows that they found distinct qualities with the site, and worked with it. Image courtesy of Interloop — Architecture.

On the Boards: The InHouse OutHouse in Houston, designed by the Rice Building Workshop. Jury comments: [We] loved how simple and manufacturable the solution was. It could fit into almost any setting. Image courtesy of the Rice Building Workshop.

On the Boards: Botanica at the University of Houston, designed by Logan and Johnson Architecture. Jury comments: Artful character employed in a modular strategy. Image courtesy of Logan and Johnson Architecture.

Back to AIArchitect May 11, 2012

Go to the current issue of AIArchitect