A diverse collection of beautiful buildings, ranging from a meditation center in New Mexico to an energy-sustainable tower in Bonn, Germany, make up this year’s 2004 AIA Honor Awards for Architecture. Residential architecture took center stage with five individual houses, a 39-story apartment complex in Chicago, and a series of residence halls on a Boston campus winning accolades this year. Architects for this prestigious group of projects included some first-time winners as well as some of the best known names in architecture. Chicago’s Murphy/Jahn captured three of the awards. Thirteen of the projects are in the U.S., two are in Germany, and one is in Norway.

Bayer, Leverkusen, Germany, by Murphy/Jahn, for Bayer AG
“The buildings appear to look like crystal cases wrapped around occupied floor plates, every element of this building is about glass and the minimization of all other materials,” declared the jury. “Where floors, walls, ceilings, and even ductwork could be glass, they are. It is a testament to the integration of all disciplines that compose architecture, with unparalleled engineering expertise that makes this a stunning building.” This headquarters building accommodates office space for upper management and staff as well as meeting, conference, and dining facilities. The semi-elliptical plan engages the park, forming a court with the company-logo water feature to the south. The entrance hall links the public forecourt with the private park and provides access to the interior of the building. Workspaces maximize natural light, ventilation, and user control while the plan is flexible and reconfigurable. The exterior walls of the office building are naturally ventilated double walls with integral mechanically operated solar shading devices in the interstitial space, thus tempering the air between exterior and interior and greatly reducing both heat gain to and heat loss from the occupied spaces of the office. All glass elements are low iron, which increases the transparency between office and landscape. Photo © Andreas Keller.

Center of Gravity Foundation Hall, Jemez Springs, N.M., by Predock Frane Architects Inc., for Bodhi Manda Zen Center
This building serves as the primary teaching and meditation hall for the existing Zen Buddhist compound located in a high mountain valley in northern New Mexico with abundant geothermal activity beneath the site. Sliding panels along the east side of the building open to reveal a 36-foot-wide aperture with foreground views of a garden and background views toward the reddish mountains beyond. The space continues the center’s 30-year history of serving as a venue for community events as well as a retreat and meeting place for business and religious groups from around the country. Dawn light enters the space through sheets of glass turned on edge, which are sandwiched into the wooden sliding panels. As the sun moves overhead, ambient light from a continuous slot below the roof and through the panels creates an even halo within the building. As the sun sets, recessed lights begin to create an interior glow that produces a “lantern effect” at night. “A floating, folded metal roof, rammed earth, and polycarbonate combine to make a serene and sculptural sanctuary for contemplation. Spare and mysterious, the organic materials and fine detailing melt together the building form and the mission,” commented the jury. They particularly like the east-facing glass slits, which “provide an inspirational and spectacular phenomenon with the early morning sun.” Photo © Jason Predock.

State Street Village, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, by Murphy/Jahn, for the Illinois Institute of Technology Housing Corporation
The site, across the campus from the main quadrangle and Mies’ revered Crown Hall, needed to both define a “wall” for the campus center while allowing movement through the campus to an elevated train on the opposite end. The design solution includes two “sally ports” between u-shaped buildings surrounding courts and, towards the elevated train, large glass screens to block external noise. Stainless-steel panels reinforce the curved, western façade. The housing project offers a clear response to the urban conditions in Chicago with this bold, curved form and the use of obvious industrial materials. “Rather than retreat to designing an innocuous background building, the architect has respectfully acknowledged the revered elder neighbor [Crown Hall] and then moved on with a bold new statement,” said the jury. Photo © Doug Snower.

Skybridge at One North Halsted, Chicago, by Perkins & Will, for Moran Associates/Dearborn Development
This 39-story, 237-unit residential project in the west loop of Chicago between the Kennedy Expressway and Halsted, sits in the heart of Chicago’s Greek town, an area that is composed mainly of historic low-rise commercial buildings and residential reuse industrial lofts. To reduce the tower’s scale, the architect introduced transparency through a series of cuts and slots in the rectangular massing. A major vertical cut connected by a series of glazed bridges breaks the tower down into smaller residential components, maximizing corner views of the skyline and variations in unit size and type. “An icon for new urban living in Chicago, the Skybridge is the successful marriage of architect and developer—creating something stronger than each alone could have done,” commented the jury. “This tower becomes a delight on the Chicago skyline. The flexibility afforded residents by intelligent unit planning affords many opportunities for customization of unit size and layout. The large rooftop trellis is visible throughout the city and is a unique and welcome addition to Chicago.” Photo © James Steinkamp, Steinkamp/Ballogg.

Chicken Point Cabin, Hayden Lake, Idaho, by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, for Jeff and Amy Larson
“We all want to stay here! The simplicity and durability of the project materials—concrete floors, concrete block, plywood, steel—are in perfect keeping with its use as a weekend cabin retreat,” enthused the jury. The design concept is basically a simple box made out of concrete block, a plywood insert, and a four-foot-diameter steel fireplace and structural column. In keeping with the notion of a cabin, the materials were all left unfinished to allow them eventually to acquire a beautiful patina that will blend with the wooded setting. Its wide-open interior spaces, which sleep 10, offer a seamless extension to the natural setting nestled among the trees. A 19-foot steel entry door accommodates the movement of skis in and out of the retreat. The 30-foot-tall by 20-foot-wide window wall frames a perfect view of the glass-surface lake and allows lake, forest, and living space to become one and the same. Photo © Benjamin Benschneider.

Deutsche Post Bonn, Germany, by Murphy/Jahn, for Deutsche Post Bauen GmbH
The jury called this project “a highly refined synthesis of architecture and engineering,” adding that the “use of low-iron clear glass with a double-wall, naturally ventilated façade, and individually controlled, mechanically operated solar shades gives this building a wonderful sense of human scale and exterior animation that is both delightful and varied throughout the day.” The 500-foot-tall tower, composed of a split, shifted oval, marks the transition from cityscape to park along the Rhine River. The tower’s platform, which completes the park’s upper terrace, uses grand ramps and stairs to connect to the lower terrace near the water. The complex’s low building houses the cafeteria, meeting rooms, and conference facilities. Employing a modulating skin, the design pays special attention to daylighting, natural ventilation, and solar energy to show future clients and owners that a commercial building can indeed practice sustainability. Photo © Andreas Keller.

DoMa Gallery Baltimore County, Md., by W Architecture and Landscape Architecture, LLC, for Stanley Mazaroff and Nancy Dorman
Two private art collectors wished to transform their historic farm into a space that would allow them to entertain and display their growing collection. The architects report that the existing site formed a charming campus that included a long, winding approach road, gardens, open meadows, a main residence, and a series of outbuildings. The focal point, however, proved to be a near-ruin of a barn with weathered slats sitting on a stone foundation wall. The architects’ main challenge was to maintain the natural character of the complex while infusing “an air of sophistication appropriate to displaying the collection of contemporary art.” The solution turns the barn into a gallery and includes a landscaped courtyard connecting the various elements of the complex. The architects left the barn looking like a ruin. They inserted a glass envelope within, thus highlighting the art collection as well as the surrounding historic structure and opening the building to the landscape beyond. Also within the gallery building, the design allowed for the inclusion of an eat-in kitchen with a fireplace, guest quarters, exercise room, office, and storage space. “A glass room emerging from a time-worn wooden barn is powerful in concept and beautifully executed,” the jury concluded. Photo © Alan Karchmer/ESTO.

Los Angeles Design Center & Cisco Brothers Showroom, Los Angeles, by John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects Inc., for Cisco Brothers
This furniture design center, located in South L.A., opens the first phase of a master plan to revitalize a depressed area that is home to numerous furniture manufacturers. The client, who owns a 13-year-old, well-known furniture company in the neighborhood, recognized the need for a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented showroom district that would enable the many vendors in the area to market and sell their products, spur investment and job growth, and positively change the identity of the neighborhood. In response to the client’s vision, the architect created a four-phase master plan to develop three city blocks, the first being the design-center building, which is a renovation of two large brick warehouses into a showroom and public space. “This is a project that responds to the unique urban context of L.A. and incorporates color, materials, transparency, layering, and discovery into what used to be a very dead site,” noted the jury. “This center could easily start the revitalization of the entire neighborhood. Beautiful in itself, it is potentially the start of something even greater than itself.” Photo © Benny Chan/Fotoworks.

Northeastern University West Campus Residence Halls, Boston, by William Rawn Associates, Architects Inc., for Northeastern University
“The west campus residence halls at Northeastern University are a clear example of architect and owner translating an overarching vision into a transformative space,” said the jury. Over the preceding 100 years, Northeastern University has evolved from a small commuter college into one of the largest schools in Boston. Recently, an enrollment crisis prompted a re-evaluation of its growth and facility strategy. The university recognized the unique potential of its place and recommitted itself as a major driving force to the entire city Boston, as well as its own street, Huntington Avenue, and the four neighborhoods that surround it. With the planning of three new residence halls for 1,000 students, plus the west campus, the university defined a new model for an urban campus combining a strong institutional presence on Boston’s “Avenue of the Arts” with a powerful sense of engagement and openness to the city. “The buildings provide a campus edge that is protective and defining but is not confining,” the jury concluded. Photo © Steve Rosenthal Photography.

Telenor Headquarters, Oslo, Norway, by NBBJ/HUS/PKA, for Telenor
“The variation of special typologies and integration of large-scale public artwork make this a very interesting and enjoyable work setting,” according to the jury. “There is a wonderful informality about the composition that encourages creative thinking and discussion.” The new headquarters for one of Norway’s telecommunications giants offers a powerful expression of the company’s vision to create the foremost creative working environment in Scandinavia. In accordance with the client’s desire to enhance employee well-being, the architecture not only provides inspiration for people to interact with each other and the technology, but also establishes an environment of aesthetic quality. The architects rose to the task of transforming an old airport into highly personalized space for the 7,000 people who work there. The employees don’t have permanent workstations. They are all issued a cell phone and laptop computer, and can plug into any available location in the complex to perform their work. An open floor plan, casual meeting places, and social amenities facilitate the exchange of ideas as employees are able to “unplug” and work in groups anywhere in the building. Photo © Christian Richters.

The Point House, Montana, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, for an anonymous client
Set on a peninsula that extends into a large lake in Montana, this house is part of a year-round family compound, serving the family as both a hub for daytime activities as well as a quiet retreat. The architects report that the site of untouched forest, with wetlands that flank the peninsula, called for delicate intervention that still allows access in a rugged climate with extreme seasons. The house, which extends from a rock spine to the edge of the dense wetlands, uses a long linear wall of Cor-ten steel to slice through the site and organize the various building elements. The living space faces south to the lake and opens onto a wood deck running the length of the house, while two cedar-clad boxes on the north face house the bathrooms and utilities. “This home is superbly sited to establish an intimate dialogue between land and water,” the jury remarked. “A clear planning organization and exquisite detailing of materials combine to produce a project of incredible richness.” Photo © Dan Bibb.

The Seaside Interfaith Chapel, Seaside, Fla., by Merrill and Pastor Architects PA, for Seaside Interfaith Chapel Inc.
The architects say that their design challenge was to draw from three vernaculars—“Old Southern City,” “Old European Cities,” and “Charleston, S.C.”—to create an icon for the 80-acre planned community of Seaside. As you enter, the vestibule is flooded with all natural light and immediately draws your sight deep into the building. Heightening the effect are floors of dark pinewood salvaged from north Florida rivers. “The chapel has transformed the town of Seaside from an experiment of New Urbanism into an amalgamated community, becoming the physical focal point of the town and providing Seaside with a strong sense of place and coherence, as well as an icon of spiritual unity bonding the greater community,” the jury noted. “An elegant example of excellent design and construction detail, the chapel exhibits a sensitivity to form respecting the challenge of incorporating a style and tradition into a modern framework. The chapel is now the focal point of the city—in plan, in vistas, and in the hearts of the residents and surrounding community.” Photo © Casey Sills Photography.

Salt Lake City Public Library, Salt Lake City, by Moshe Safdie and Associates Inc., VCBO Architecture in association, for the Salt Lake City Public Library
The architects report that this facility is part of an ambitious program by the library to double its space for collections, establish a landmark in the city’s civic core, and create a lively interactive public space currently missing in the downtown area. The new library features a triangular main building, adjacent rectangular administration building, glass-enclosed “urban room,” and public piazza. Its reading galleries, which replace the traditional formal reading room, accommodate the “community of readers” in intimate spaces that are private yet visually connected to magnificent exterior views. The library’s sloped and curving wall has become an icon for the city, and its roof garden offers spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains. “The library makes a significant symbolic statement for Salt Lake City—proving that it is possible to design contemporary civic landmarks,” said the jury. “This library will help redefine the downtown library for future generations, here and elsewhere. The glass-enclosed ‘urban room’ provides activity and delight.” Photo © Timothy Hursley.

Steelcase Project MAC, Gaines Township, Mich., by Thomas Phifer and Partners, for Steelcase Inc.
“Through wonderful attention to detail and careful selection of materials, the Steelcase Project elegantly proves the affordability and availability of high quality, environmentally sensitive design,” commented the jury. “The structure is also flexible enough to be easily customizable to match different sites and express different company personalities.” This economical office building prototype offers new hope for spec office buildings. Simple, direct, dynamic, and beautifully detailed, the architect’s “expandable” concept combines natural light, indirect lighting, and a dramatic roof profile to create a beautiful space within which to work. “This project shows that it is possible to design a beautiful and elegant speculative office building on a modest budget,” the jury concluded. “As a modular and prototypical building, it is designed to be repeated, adapted, or expanded on other sites.” Photo © Jon Miller, Hedrich Blessing.

Taghkanic House, Hudson, N.Y., by Thomas Phifer and Partners, for an anonymous client
“Wow! This home enjoys minimalist elegance with careful attention to every detail. There is a seamless flow of outside and inside spaces . . . from the skillful integration of the building into the hill, to magnificent corridors that start and end with views; to the skylights that externally merge with the landscaping as accent points and internally bring light to areas of the house that are built into the hill,” said the jury. The house, a simple pavilion of steel and glass set into the side of a hill and nestled into the trees, allows 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. To the south, the site opens wide to an undulating meadow, while to the west the house commands spectacular views across the Hudson River valley and on to the distant mountains. A system of operable exterior sunshades controls sunlight and allows for an ever-changing surface of the pavilion. At dawn and dusk the shades absorb and enhance the naturally dramatic skylight, infusing the entire home with brilliant color. At night, when illuminated from within, the screens transform the building into “a beacon celebrating its site.” Photo © Scott Frances.

The Brain, Seattle, by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, for David Wild and Lulu Gargiulo
“The Brain is a very intimate space that seems to be a seamless extension of the owner’s spirit and personality,” commented the jury. “It’s small and cocoon-like yet open to nature; reserved and spiritual, yet whimsical.” The owners use The Brain as an office retreat, photography studio, and music conservatory. Their small daughter’s art is spread out on her child-size furniture. The family dog has her view window from the loft. The simple form, while unrelated in any way to the adjacent main residence, is scaled to be compatible and not domineering of the unremarkable existing home. The loft is constructed of ½-inch steel plate, each tread of the steel stairs leading to the loft workspace declares the words of the owner’s father: “There will be lots of time to rest when you’re six feet under.” Light, filtered through the forested, gently sloping suburban Seattle site, flows softly through the space. Theatrical curtains provide the owners with lighting options for photographic work and acoustical options for their extensive music collection. Photo © Marc Prozzo.

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