10th Annual Best of Canada Design Competition
Best of Canada judges (from left): David Oleson,
Colleen Baldwin, Jack
Diamond, Shelly Penner,
Robert Ruscio, Joan Eiley and Mark Muller.
What began as a notion that this country should come together nationally
to celebrate excellence in design is now a major design event marking its 10th
anniversary. The Best of Canada Design Competition has grown in importance and
prestige, and the gala celebrating its winners has been deemed by some (and
we modestly agree) one of the best annual parties for people involved with design.
So there we were at the end of May: a judging panel of seven, plus competition
organizers, charged with whittling down 151 entries into a respectable and reasonable
selection of winners.
Judges were invited for their experience and expertise. We were fortunate
to have regional representation, thanks to Shelley Penner, of Penner Design,
Vancouver, and Robert Ruscio, of Ruscio Studio, Montreal. The other judges that
participated, all based in Toronto, are Colleen Baldwin, principal, business
development/strategic services, Straticom Planning Associates; Jack Diamond,
Diamond and Schmitt Architects; Joan Eiley, Joan Eiley & Associates; Mark Muller,
design director, Nienkämper; and David Oleson, Oleson Worland Architect.
The judges were given broad discretion and limited rules - their role was
simply to choose entries that show excellence and innovation in design. Introduced
this year were two new categories, landscape design and student design. While
these categories and one for lighting application, where lighting is the key
design element, were judged separately, all other project entries were viewed
as one category to succeed or fail on the quality of work presented. Products
were judged independently on their own merits.
Entries were not identified. The judges only learned the names of the winners
when the judging process was completed. If a judge had a conflict of interest,
he or she either left the room or refrained from debate when that entry was
discussed.
While the judging process was tough, the results, we believe, provide a realistic
view of design in Canada today. There are winners from across the country, a
few dual winners, but overall a broad picture of the accomplishments of many
design firms.
Winning entries will be on exhibit at the Design Exchange from Sept. 24 to
Oct. 28. The winners will be feted Sept. 26 at the Design Exchange, with Best
of Show top project and product winners (as determined by the judges) and People's
Choice winners announced at that time. For more on voting for the People's Choice
winners. please see www.canadianinteriors.com.
We salute the winners and acknowledge the excellence of many of the entries
that were not selected this year. Congratulations to everyone who strives to
achieve good design. It is a worthwhile pursuit to help make the world a more
livable and interesting place.
PROJECTS
Pavillons Lassonde de l'École polytechnique
Montréal
Saia Barbarese Topouzanov Architectes; Desnoyers Mercure et Associes; Menkes
Shooner Dagenais Letourneux Architectes - all Montreal
Aquilon Capital Corporation, Toronto
Taylor Smyth Architects, Toronto
Carrefour Desjardins, Montreal
Menkes Shooner Dagenais Letourneux Architectes, Montreal
Kultura, Toronto
Core Architects, Toronto
Cabbagetown Coach House, Toronto
Core Architects, Toronto
Holt Renfrew Flagship Personal Shopping
Suites, Toronto
Burdifilek, Toronto
Charlesbourg Public Library, Quebec
City
Croft Pelletier Architectes, Quebec City
Historic Grist Mill, Ontario
William Bennett Architect, Cambridge; Powell & Bonnell, Toronto
Eko, Toronto
Dialogue 38, Toronto
Deaf Culture Centre, Toronto
Quadrangle Architects Limited, Toronto
Humber School of Spa Management, Toronto
Gow Hastings Architects, Toronto
KidZone, Toronto
3rd Uncle Design, Toronto
Canadian Museum of Inuit Art, Toronto
GH3, Toronto
Lumiere condominiums, Toronto
Munge//Leung Design Associates, Toronto
Microloft Project, Montreal
Volume3, Montreal
LIGHTING
Electronic Arts Canada, Burnaby,
B.C.
MCM Interiors, Vancouver
Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular
and Biomolecular Research, Toronto
GH3, Toronto
Terraced urban courtyard, Toronto
Elias + Associates Landscape Architects, Toronto
LANDSCAPE
Ravine forecourt, Toronto
Plant Architect, Toronto
Sir Daniel Wilson Walk, Toronto
Elias + Associates Landscape Architects, Toronto
PRODUCTS
Scalar lighting
Brave Design, Montreal
Orgafile
JDi Design, Vancouver
MiniAim
Frédéric Galliot and Dirk Zylstra, Montreal, for Axis Lighting, Montreal
Vox Open Office
Mark Muller, Toronto, for Neinkämper, Toronto
Splinter chairs
Matthew Kroeker, Winnipeg
Scaffolding workstation system
Bartlett & Associates, Toronto