AIA Committee on Design “Branding the American House” Ideas Competition

The AIA Committee on Design invited architects, students, and allied design professionals to submit sketches to the international 2008 COD Ideas Competition: Branding the American House. Through a sketch design problem, submitters were asked to examine parallels between design professions and the automobile industry.

This year’s jury included : Glen LeRoy, FAIA, Dean, College of Design, Lawrence Technological University; Paul Urbanek, AIA, LEED AP, Vice President of Design, SmithGroup; Wendy Fry, ASLA, The Mannik and Smith Group; Tanya Sepell, Design Institute Group, Design Director Detroit, Michigan; and Tom Buresh, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor and Chair of Architecture, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan.

Please click here to view all of the submitted projects.

The jury selected 3 projects to receive recognition.

1st place
REACHOME
Submitter: Daniel Scully
Firm: Daniel V. Scully/Architects

Jury Comments: “The jury appreciates that the car is a central feature of the home and the life-style of the subject family. This solution correctly comprehends the transportation, recreation, and travel priorities of the competition and the family. It provides for multi-modal transportation and recreation interests—from the car to the bike to the kayak, which were all accommodated in the “car room.” The solution represents a modest, energy efficient (LEED) house that is very much in keeping with the family’s income profile.

2nd place
Modulation
Submitter: James Leach
Firm: Leo A Daly

Jury Comments: “The jury believes this house expresses a simple and affordable lifestyle that is consistent with the subject family and the intent of the program statement. The house is elegantly designed and detailed with a simple palate of materials.”

3rd place
Extended Stay
Submitter: Christine Mondor
Firm: evolve environment::architecture

Jury Comments: “The jury feels that this house represents an innovative concept that clearly addresses an “alternative fuel lifestyle,” as well as the creation of alternative energy. The house ties conceptually into advanced behavioral and biofeedback systems; and the electric car is fundamental to the design concept.”



Honorable Mention:

Eco-Icon Residence
Submitter: Will Shepphird
Firm: Shepphird Associates

Nautilia House
Submitter: Fernando Gonzalez Diaz
Firm: Urban Venture Group Architects


An exhibition of the winning entries and a conference session devoted to the competition will be held at the AIA/COD “Design Parallels” conference in Detroit, April 3-5, 2008 (please see the full agenda online at: http://www.aia.org/cod). Winning entries will also be displayed at the 2008 AIA National Convention and Expo, in Boston from May 15-17, 2008. If you plan to attend the AIA Convention, we encourage you to view this exhibition in the Expo hall.