The Best New Residential Architecture
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Studhorse by Olson Kundig in Winthrop, Washington
Each year the AIA recognizes top new residential projects throughout the country in four distinct categories: one/two family custom housing, multifamily living, specialized housing, and one/two family production housing (although nothing from this category was selected this year). The 2015 finalists offer an aesthetically rich cross section of contemporary American architecture and include one project that should be familiar to AD readers: AD100 firm Olson Kundig’s Studhorse, first featured in our January issue .
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Studhorse by Olson Kundig in Winthrop, Washington
The ranch, nestled in the Cascade mountain range, comprises three steel, barn wood, and glass pavilions centered on a giant boulder. The main pavilion (shown) contains living, dining, and kitchen areas, each enclosed with window walls to optimize views of the surrounding landscape.
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Bridge House by Joeb Moore & Partners in Kent, Connecticut
A 300-foot-long ridge in Connecticut’s Litchfield County plays host to a contemporary home designed by Joeb Moore & Partners. Inspired by the region’s natural topography, the architects connected two concrete structures with a floating wood form—a callout to the area’s famous covered bridges.
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Marlboro Music’s Five Cottages by HGA Architects and Engineers in Marlboro, Vermont
The Vermont institution addressed its need for musician housing by commissioning a series of cottages designed by HGA Architects and Engineers. Riffing on elements of New England architecture, the firm employed local materials to create five geometric dwellings with simple, elegant silhouettes.
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Broadway Affordable Housing by Kevin Daly Architects in Santa Monica, California
Intended for low-income families, Broadway is a 33-unit housing cluster marked by its sustainable design elements, which include a green roof, an underground cistern for rainwater retention, and specialized insulating window hoods.
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Old Briar by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in Lauderdale County, Tennessee
Located on a rural site in West Tennessee, Old Briar is a working farm conceived by a research team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Architecture and Design. The home itself prioritizes seamless indoor-outdoor living with conjoined volumes of exterior and interior space.
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Bayview Hill Gardens by David Baker Architects in San Francisco
A multifamily project situated on the site of a former motel, Bayview provides eco-friendly housing for homeless families and youth aging out of foster care. The 73-unit complex prioritizes community gathering space and local touches such as artwork from a nearby gallery representing developmentally disabled artists.
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The North Parker by Jonathan Segal in San Diego
With 27 affordable housing units and four commercial spaces, the North Parker surrounds an interior courtyard filled with gardens and gathering areas.
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Berklee College of Music’s 160 Massachusetts Avenue by William Rawn Associates, Architects in Boston
Rising 12 stories above Massachusetts Avenue, Berklee College’s newest addition contains residential quarters for 380 students as well a 40-foot-high performance/dining space. The basement, which comprises two floors below street level, holds the largest music recording studio in New England.
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John C. Anderson Apartments by WRT in Philadelphia
An affordable senior housing development, John C. Anderson is the first LGBT-friendly institution of its kind. The brick façade offers a playful take on Philadelphia’s architectural vernacular.
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La Casa Permanent Supportive Housing by Studio Twenty Seven Architecture/Leo A Daly in Washington, D.C.
The first supportive housing development to be constructed for the Department of Human Services, La Casa offers 40 homeless men permanent residence through single-occupancy units. The structure has been lauded as an innovative housing solution for the homeless.