Members of Toronto’s design and architecture community gathered at the terrace of Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre to learn which of the 600 submissions from 25 countries were picked as winners of the first annual AZ Awards. Thanking all who entered the awards, as well as its sponsors – Audi, Caesarstone and Keilhauer – Azure’s publisher, Sergio Sgaramella, turned the microphone over to editor Nelda Rodger, who announced the winners.
They range from a stunning all-glass Valcucine kitchen that disassembles for recycling (winner in the Best Furniture Systems category) and an ingenious portable prayer mat (the A+ student award prize), to an oceanside artist residence on Newfoundland’s Fogo Island by Todd Saunders of Norway (Best Commercial Building), and a mind-expanding concept for a vertical amusement park, dreamt up by Ju-Hyun Kim of New York. Kim’s multi-storey park, which features a skyhigh ferris wheel and spiralling water shoot, was winner of both the jury-selected Best Unrealized Concept award, and the People’s Choice.
Montreal’s Saucier + Perrotte was the biggest winner of the night, taking two top prizes: one for its exquisite urban spa in downtown Montreal, Scandinave Les Bains (Best Commercial Space), and for an expansion plan for Quebec City’s Musée National des Beaux Arts du Quebec (Best Competiton Scheme).
The 14 winners were selected by our international jury, comprised of landscape architect Claude Cormier, industrial designer Patty Johnson, architect Craig Dykers of Snøhetta, interior designer Glenn Pushelberg of Yabu Pushelberg, and designer Eero Koivisto, of Stockholm’s Claesson Koivisto Rune.
Here is the entire list of jury-selected winners, along with the 14 People’s Choice Award winners and the 38 finalists. Congratulations to everyone. Check out our July/August issue featuring all the winners and finalists, and hitting newsstands June 27 (July 7, in the U.S.).
Best Furniture Design
Winner of the jury award and the People’s Choice award: Ply Shelves designed by Matter Design and manufactured by C. W. Keller
Finalists: Prostheses and Grafts by Studio MK27, Softseating by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen for Molo Design, and Suita Sofa designed by Antonio Citterio and manufactured by Vitra
Best Furniture Systems Design
Winner and People’s Choice: Invitrum kitchen designed by Gabriele Centazzo and manufactured by Valcucine
Finalist: Softwall and Softblock by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen for Molo Design
Best Lighting Design
Winner: Softlight by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen for Molo Design
People’s Choice: Canopy by United Visual Artists
Finalist: Series 28 by Bocci
Best Interior Products Design
Winner and People’s Choice: SensoWash Starck designed by Philippe Starck and manufactured by Duravit
Finalists: Classic Fjord Teapot & Accessories designed by Paul Thonis and manufactured by Lenox, and Image-In designed by Jean Lacroix and manufactured by Wetstyle
Best Residential Architecture
Winner: Linear House by Patkau Architects
People’s Choice: 60 Richmond East Housing Co-op by Teeple Architects
Finalists: Porchdog by Marlon Blackwell Architect, Punta House by Studio MK27, Refugium of a Forester by Petra Gipp Arkitektur, and Weekend House by Julie Snow Architects
Best Commercial Architecture
Winner and People’s Choice: Long Studio by Saunders Arkitektur
Finalists: Garoa Store by Una Arquitetos, and Spiralab by KINO Architects
Best Landscape Architecture
Winner: Ballast Point Park by McGregor Coxall
People’s Choice: Trinity College Quadrangle by gh3
Finalist: Old Post Office Plaza by Baird Sampson Neuert Architects
Best Temporary Architecture
Winner: Dunhill Installation by Campaign Design Studio
People’s Choice: 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics’ Ontario Pavilion by Hariri Pontarini Architects
Finalists: Denis Gagnon Shows All by Saucier + Perrotte Architectes, Eda by Emmanuelle Moureaux Architecture + Design, and Flockr by SO-IL
Best Residential Interior
Winner: Strelein Warehouse by Ian Moore Architects
People’s Choice: Crosstown Loft by Campos Leckie Studio
Finalists: Canadian Olympian Inspired Suite by Kodu Design, and Record House Revisted by David Jameson Architect
Best Commercial Interior
Winner: Scandinave les Bains by Saucier + Perrotte Architectes
People’s Choice: DRU Cultural Factory by M + R Interior Architecture
Finalists: Avenue Road Showroom by Yabu Pushelberg, Bar Agricole by Aidlin Darling Design, Kirk Originals Store by Campaign Design Studio, and Michel Brisson Menswear by Saucier + Perrotte Architectes
Best Unbuilt Competition Scheme
Winner: Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec by Saucier + Perrotte Architectes
People’s Choice: Openair by JET Architecture, CXT Architects, and Archasia Design Group
Best Unrealized Concept
Winner and People’s Choice: Metropolitan Vertical Amusement Park by Ju-Hyun Kim
Finalists: Urbaneering Brooklyn, NY 2110 by Terreform ONE, and Water Proving Ground by LTL Architects
A+ Award for best student project
Winner: Temporary Mosque by Alexander Josephson (University of Waterloo, Ontario)
People’s Choice: Visions of Settlement by Katherine Kovalcik (University of Waterloo, Ontario)
Finalists: The Cave by Gonzalo Vaíllo Martínez, and Subterranean Apertures by Stephen Kaye (Ets Arquitectura Y Geodésia, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid)
Jury Award
Winner: Hydroelectric Lamp by Hierve Diseñería
People’s Choice: OMS Stage by 5468796 Architecture
Finalists: Composting Shed by Groves-Raines Architects, and The Spiritree by URBANA Arquitectura