Two Seattle firms were honored with Merit Awards at the American
Institute of Architects first-time multiregional and international
conference, AIA Summit 2000, held in late September. The AIA Western
International Design Awards competition drew 98 entries from the
western United States, Canada and Mexico.
Mayer Residence
Designed by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, the Mayer
residence is a single-family home in downtown Denver, Colo., that
combines both gallery and residential functions. Jurors praised this
project as "a very civilized urban infill -- appropriately scaled -- in
context with its neighbors, successfully addressing the streetscape."
Jim Olson was the lead designer.
Bobo Residence
Olson Sundberg received a second Merit Award for the Bobo residence in
Seattle. Tom Kundig was the lead designer for this dual-purpose home
and photography studio. Jurors commented that the home was "medieval
and modern ... a skillful and restrained exercise in the choice and
detailing of simple materials, and a contemporary example of the arts
and crafts movement."
Bellevue Regional Library
The Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, which has local offices in
Seattle and Portland, won a Merit Award for the Bellevue Regional
Library, which jurors called "an inventive interpretation of Northwest
style in its whimsical tent-like roof forms -- fastidiously detailed."
Bob Frasca and Ev Ruffcorn were the lead designers.