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When searching for Home of the Year, the judges were hoping to find a solution that could inspire others with ideas that could be applicable to overall housing design, and this home more than succeeds.

Beginning with an innovative floor plan and continuing throughout the entire home site, this home is filled with creative ideas and thoughtful execution. By using an “upside-down” concept, the home takes full advantage of the site and surrounding desert views. Multiple outdoor activity areas, including the garage roof, give the resident of this home maximum flexibility.

This “Home of the Year” should be applauded and serves as a standard for all as an example of not compromising design. Incorporating elements normally found in custom design, this “production” home deserves all the accolades for not giving up, but showing what is and should be possible in housing today. Great job!

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The judges awarded this project for its sensitivity to the historic character and natural environment, sophisticated attention to detail and functional symmetry. The Davis Estates Winery offers a unique tasting experience in a new facility that overlooks the Napa Valley that was inspired by a historic barn on the property that was built in 1916 and is now listed on the California Register of Historical Resources. The project is an elegant balance between old and new. The project features fun historic touches like two restored mid-century tractors, state of the art wine production systems that can be monitored and controlled using an iPad or cellphone, stone veneer harvested on site and 11,000 square feet of underground tunnels and domed wine caves providing temperature-controlled storage all together designed and built to provide a unique hospitality experience.

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The Bus Stop at Eastmark is a fun approach for a community clubhouse and one the judges felt is a great model that achieves the goal of bringing families and friends together in a fun environment.

The center piece of this clubhouse is an authentic school bus that was re-purposed to hold booths with games, puzzles and a kids’ area with access to the driver’s cab. Pool tables, ping pong, air hockey, skeet ball, shuffle board a giant magnetic word game board and casual seating areas fill the interior space and provide fun for the whole family. The garage doors of this clubhouse open to connect this recreational space with the community swimming pool, event lawn and water-jet play fountain. The final touch on this clubhouse was hand-painted maps on the exterior of the building of all the fun places to visit. This whimsy clubhouse will be a draw for all and create a community where friendships and memories will last for a lifetime.

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When this project’s designers took on the renovation of a historic Washington, D.C. hotspot, they knew they needed to work carefully to breathe new life into this celebrated, social gathering space while meeting the guidelines of the site, which is connected to a National Historic Landmark.

With Dirty Habit, they accomplished just that with a revamped, contemporary design that features plenty of cozy pockets for lounging and social interaction. The team’s decision to encase the lounge in dynamic glass allows for maximum transparency, as well as an unobstructed and respectful connection to the landmark building.

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This project was the transformation of an all but forgotten street corner, located in the center of the "Little Italy" district of San Diego, into a lively coffee bar that provides a "heartbeat" and becomes one with the surrounding fabric of this urban neighborhood.

This design transforms the "less than inviting" personality of the existing structure into architecture that embraces its surroundings and implies an open invitation to all passersby. A major element fundamental to this design is the implementation of stacking, corner door systems on both "street-facing" sides of the building, which openly greet the neighborhood and create a welcoming atmosphere. Contemporary exterior forms and the use of industrial materials provide a unifying bridge within the architectural context of the adjacent buildings.

The judges commend this development with its open, inviting design, which worked well with the existing context of the adjacent buildings and neighborhood and for transforming the area into a vibrant gathering place for all to enjoy.

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Through its elegant massing and restrained palette, Pistachio Grove fits right into the agricultural community on which it’s sited. The judges appreciated that the team curtailed decorative finishes in favor of simple design details that embrace the beauty of the natural site and keep in-line with the client’s budget, such as aligning each room to maximize the views between the pistachio trees.

Energy and resource-saving details such as low-flow faucets, high-efficacy lighting, and dual-pane glass windows further its respectful connection to its lush surroundings. Simple yet characterizing forms—such as the small steep gables that contain each of the children’s bedrooms—add a playful expression to a project that’s uniquely executed and instantly memorable.

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The judges favored this home’s earthy palette that seamlessly integrates its grandeur with Arizona’s desert landscape. The plan’s stacked, multi-level arrangement creates a series of balconies with copper-clad roofs. Intricately patterned, perforated metal panels offer shade from the region’s arid climate—making the indoor-outdoor retreat enjoyable year-round—and each room offers personal respite with its own courtyard.

The house appears to “float” above the desert pool on one side and hunker back on the other. A grand, centerpiece saguaro that intersects the site offers a striking visual focus.

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This renovated home bridges the character of mid-century design with 21st Century living to create this stunning mid-century modern home.

A primary goal was to extend the original open-plan concept by maximizing the indoor-outdoor connection which was a hallmark for mid-century design; this was achieved by raising the finish level of the courtyard to align with the house and incorporation of a retracting glass wall. By eliminating the walls that cordoned off the kitchen, a large contiguous activity zone was created by combining living, dining, kitchen and family rooms into one seamless space wrapping around the internal courtyard. The selection of modern furnishings and fixtures throughout the house along with new state-of-the-art HVAC, lighting, security and entertainment systems provides modern comfort which was inspired by mid-century design aesthetics.

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The judges commend the builder for their attention to detail in restoring and renovating this registered historic building back to its original use. Originally, this mixed use building had one-bedroom apartments above the retail, but at some point had been transitioned to offices on the upper floors. This project restored all the apartments to their original one-bedroom configurations.

Many historic features were restored throughout the structure including original ‘birdcage” Otis elevator. The building retained all of the original trim and molding as well as the historic double hung windows and built in bookcases. All crown molding, door casing, window casing, picture rail, and chair rail material was milled to match the original woodwork which allowed the builder to repair and replace any damaged or removed material.

This restoration beautifully restored the charm of the original apartments and blended it with sophisticated luxury.

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This 60-acre coastal, master-planned, mixed-use community located in Honolulu will offer several exceptional residential towers and a carefully curated mix of retail and entertainment experiences set among dynamic public open spaces and walkable streets. The development brings together renowned architects, world-class dining (including Nobu and Merriman’s restaurants), retail, the arts and culture of Hawaii for a one-of-a-kind experience for its residents and visitors.

At completion, Ward Village will introduce more than one million square feet of unique retail experiences and 4,000 high-rise residential residences in an environmentally sustainable (LEED-ND Platinum-Certified), integrated community that honors the distinct history of the land and a testament to sustainable design.

Year after year Hawaii is voted as the happiest state in the country and with the addition of Ward Village, this status is sure to continue. The judges applauded your revolutionary and well-approached strategy and thought it was important we present your Grand Award in person.

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The judges were all very complimentary of this well-executed design and impressed by the unique site planning and architecture. The building types are carefully designed utilizing irregular shapes as a response to the site constraints. The result being the creation of third places and open spaces to encourage social connections and interactions.

The elevations were skillfully crafted with executed massing and layering of materials and details. The use of bold colors and accents brought energy and freshness to this amazing project. A truly outstanding effort, well deserving of this award.

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A successful exercise in placemaking, the design and development teams behind this project delighted the judges with their whimsical solution for updating and preserving an iconic Texaco station with plenty of years left, and making fantastic use of a tight infill site located on a transit corridor.

In the midst of gas stations, strip malls, and outdated apartment buildings, the mixed-use development reinvigorated this humble neighborhood by adding 22 apartments in addition to 5,000 square feet of community-serving commercial space that’s catered to local entrepreneurs. In addition to planned on-site cafes and a barber shop, live/work units with private entry patios, an open air yoga studio, and social gathering spaces that overlook the residential units seamlessly integrate the project’s residential and commercial spaces as well as the indoors and out. Overall, the project reactivated the sleepy corridor that, in the early 1900s, was a rich, residential community without sacrificing the character of its current, industrialized identity.

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This project was clearly a favorite among the judges. Nearly 20 years in the making, this project transforms an urban infill site with creative housing, amenities, retail and open spaces. The triangular site is comprised of 453 modern homes within two distinctive buildings. The “Egg” and the “Wedge” are organized around an adjacent public park; the new heart of the community. A mid-block pedestrian passageway provides access to ground floor community spaces with retail and restaurants.

The judges were especially drawn to the creativity of the exteriors. Each elevation orientation has a unique design. The exterior materials, details and fenestration are masterfully crafted. This perfectly executed project is of the highest level of design and well deserving of this award.

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This award winning community invigorates historic downtown Ann Arbor. The off campus apartment community connects the past & the future with its industrial modernist design. The dark monochromatic brick, detailed edging and sash-style windows offer a contemporary adaptation of the indigenous historical buildings. The industrial design continues inside with concrete floors & walls, detailed with exposed steel ducts and wood accents.

This community inspires our future leaders with its architecture, interior design, natural light, art, and indoor & outdoor amenities. Even a Buckeye has to acknowledge this off campus apartment community near University of Michigan deserves the Grand Award.

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Situated where the Gramercy and Flatiron neighborhoods meet, it offers diverse layouts, contemporary aesthetics, and a full suite of luxury amenities.

• 133 Residences
• 67 Unique Floor Plans
• 2 Towers

Thoughtful consideration went into the design of the L-shaped site to accommodate two different zoning districts while surrounding an adjacent 12-story structure. The resulting vision has two towers connected at the base through a series of common amenity areas, a lobby, and a courtyard. The offset, angled facade of the geometric design maximize light and space for interior-facing residences, allowing for natural light to reflect and refract to illuminate below-grade levels between the buildings.

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This project reflects the care and respect required in completing a superior affordable housing solution in an urban infill setting. The level of detail and thought taken with both the interiors and exteriors of the building shows a keen awareness by the client and design team. The solution placed a ground-level courtyard area that serves as a connector to the units and street and is designed as a vibrant and open space with multiple uses.

In addition, the judges felt that the use of the rooftop as additional community space and wonderful view corridor was a strong design element for the project. Contextual yet safe, a bright spot for the City of Oakland and the adjacent neighborhood.

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The judges felt this project clearly represented the needs of today’s active senior by blending practical solutions with a fresh, current design palette.

Today’s senior is relevant, and so should the communities that are provided. This design team stepped up with floor plans that were open, flexible, and outdoor connected. Also, the use of desert contemporary architecture for the exteriors shows a desire to provide an overall community that welcomes as well as inspires today’s active senior. Thanks for the fresh solution.

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The Springs at Lake Oswego is a contemporary living community on a challenging sloping site. It includes 216 units comprising of memory care, assisted living and independent living services. This creative solution provides two interlocking 4-story stepping building forms with central courtyards. A host of centralized amenities are conveniently located and gain light and air from adjacent open spaces.

The exterior elevations are well designed using regional vernaculars of wood siding, stone and stucco providing a nice transition from adjacent buildings. The building forms embrace the natural landscape well and provide exterior patios and terraces to connect with nature. Topping all of this off is an expansive roof deck which provides amazing views, amenities and security. Well done!

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This 341-acre, 1,503-unit master-planned community, was applauded for its exceptional design. As a traditional neighborhood, this project drew inspiration from historical and regional influences. This site is adjacent to the Sacramento River and provides a 12.4-acre lake with surrounding trails and wildlife refuge. The site plan provides a strong center spine and loop that connects vehicular traffic, pedestrians, bikes and trial systems to all the amenities, parks and open spaces.

The judges were excited about the fine grain and small neighborhood blocks that provides housing variety and interchangeable housing products. The site was organized around optimal solar orientation and will be one of the first "net-zero" energy communities in the area. This well thought out master-planned community was an exceptional winner.

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The judges felt this home can serve as a prime example of addressing the needs of quality design on a small site.

This corner plan takes full advantage of the opportunities for light and maximizes the existing architecture and detailing on multiple views. So often, the “end unit” is forgotten, but this home uses both the interior plan layout and exterior detailing to skillfully achieve the scale and massing necessary on its important location. The judges especially singled out the third-level bonus room and covered deck as an important design element to the overall solution.

This small-lot home is executed in a thoughtful and compassionate way. Well done to the client and design team.

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The design team set out to create a design that complements the site’s Sonoran desert backdrop and succeeded with this floor plan that the judges applauded for its indoor-outdoor living capabilities, flexibility, and elegance.

Particularly well-designed for empty-nesters, the single-floor design appeals to the community’s mixed buyer profile. High ceilings with plenty of windows and interior courtyards stream in natural light, and the living spaces consistently blend with the surroundings through texture and color.

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The judges applauded this project’s excellence in delivering a living space with replicable ideas that can be applied to a broad scope of residential projects, such as its innovative “upside down” floorplan and thoughtful execution that makes this production home feel like a custom project.

The house is designed to complement its Sonoran desert backdrop, and does so with a modern, earthy palette and indoor-outdoor layout that maximizes views and outdoor spaces on each of its floors. The plan’s attractive rooftop with space for al fresco dining and lounging brings urban-style living to a suburban neighborhood.

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The judges found the curves and organic volumes of this project naturally harmonious, and admired the design team’s efforts to blend some of the best qualities of Chinese and contemporary western design.

The continuous, shell-like forms that overlap across the villas’ exteriors meet a warm, wood-toned interior palette for a soft, serene finish. Careful site-planning that creates bike- and pedestrian- friendly paths in Chengdu’s lake-front “suburbs” creates a tree-house-style community with all the creature comforts of a modern home.

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Tailored to the modern generation who desire contemporary living in this tranquil lakefront environment. The residential mixture ranged from townhomes, 10-story midrise, to high-rise towers. The intentional height variation and ample spaces between buildings provide abundant sun light, air flow, unrestrictive views, and landscaped green spaces The unique facade design employs a tangency of solid and void by interspersing rich materials of stone, glass, plaster, and metal. Midrise buildings are comprised of interlocking blocks to create a smaller scale “hilltown” impression and riverbank human scale. High-rise towers with dynamic window pattern and lively aesthetic vocabulary provide an iconic focal point for this master planned district.

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Open space organize the plan and preserve sensitive habitats including a coastal dune habitat and a forest preserve. Neighborhoods are arranged to maximize views of the Atlantic Ocean and provide a range of home types to meet both international and Moroccan market preferences. A Gary Player golf course routing minimized exposure to the prevailing winds and allowed residential and tourist oriented uses (including a Hilton Hotel) to face the beachfront.

The judges especially liked the beachfront multi-use path called the “Coastal Cornish’ and blending time tested community design and development best practices of open space, walkability, preserving the natural character of a site, and respecting cultural design preferences.

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This innovative sports facility is a modern reinvention of the traditional Japanese bathhouse, providing facilities and programs specifically designed to maintain health and foster community through personal sports training, communal bathing and social activities. The six-story, 60,000 square-foot facility serves as the amenity “package” to an adjacent 150-unit condominium development and is also open to membership within the neighborhood. The club functions are separated into sports and social spaces. Each assemblage of spaces is housed separately in white and dark gray concrete volumes which vary in scale related to their function. The 50-meter pool is in the larger volume placed parallel to the highway. Large windows allow both swimmers and passing pedestrians to visually engage each other, blurring the traditional boundary of private and public space. The cafe and lounge are contained in the smaller volume, which is oriented east west to take in the unique tree-top views. This Aqua & Sports Club projects a serene and refined appearance, in sharp contrast to the location next to a frenetic highway.

The judges were impressed with this innovative, refined design, the finessing of the proportions, and the simple, impactful details, which together trigger your emotions so you desire to swim, work out and relax here.

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This composition of 40 homes located adjacent to downtown Palm Springs is as sophisticated as it is artistic. Drawing inspiration from the strong historical context, these homes “break the box” of production housing at a time when creativity is rare. The collection of floor plans produced responds to buyer needs as well as environmental concerns of desert climate and mountain views.

The judges noted that the one of the floor plans was even created with the back yard in front to respond to site conditions. This builder should be applauded for taking the risk and recognizing that great design is an asset. The entire design team, led by a compassionate architect, came together here to achieve something unique and wonderful both inside and out. Congratulations!

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Taking cues from the weathered barns, silos, and ranchers’ cottages of nearby Napa and Sonoma, the judges admired the natural sense of community this development of updated farmhouse-inspired residences facilitates through it pedestrian-friendly site plan that’s punctuated with spaces for gathering, recreating, and socializing within its eight, lush neighborhoods.

Its resident-only clubhouse, dubbed the Kindred House, evokes a resort-style vibe with a 9,100-square-foot space that seamlessly flows onto a terrace framed by light-strung trees, water fountains, and fire pits. The judges commended its relaxed yet sophisticated design that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and appeals to all ages by creating a tranquil enclave for its active residents.