Building design can tell a story, unite a community, or simply imitate social trends.
The American Institute of Architects named 2019 housing prize winners. The annual Housing Premium Program was established by the AIA 19 years ago. Each year it is awarded to the best projects of new buildings, reconstructions and restorations.
2019 Architecture Prize
Prizes are awarded to winners in four categories: individual residences for one and two families; production houses for one and two families; multi-family housing; specialized housing.
The jury of industry professionals evaluated how successfully each project meets individual requirements along with its sustainability, affordability, social impact, innovation, longevity and the ability to meet specific customer needs. In the photo there are several projects of the winners.
Individual housing
Designed by the Bates Masi Architectural Bureau, this house is divided into three separate zones: private, guest and public. The zones are separated by sliding doors, and are easily combined if necessary. The jury highlighted the color scheme, which "details the design and matches the cosmos."
Mirror Point Cottage is located on a lakefront in Annapolis Royal Nova Scotia. Its architecture resembles a typical fish shed, to which in ancient times, fishermen kept the catch.
The design is sustained in folk traditions, without architectural excesses, but executed, according to the jury, "in an elegant manner."
Bigwin Island Club Cottages are located on an island in Baysville, Ontario.
They are organically integrated into the environment, in perfect harmony with the forest environment. The most noticeable part of the design is the tiled roofs, which, according to the jury at the AIA, "float on the line of the pasture that deer created in the forest."
Multi-family housing
67-apartment house for low-income families and adults with disabilities.
The project uses sustainable development strategies aimed at energy efficiency, air quality, storm water management and reuse of treated water.
The home, which serves affordable housing for residents, was built in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has four courtyards and many different outdoor terraces. Natural materials and bright colors were used for decoration.
The four-story 29-apartment building is located on the Zumbro River and is connected by details and structure to the surrounding landscape.