This past February, the Vancouver Playhouse was home to the 26th annual Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia Awards of Excellence. More than 300 people attended the “sparkling” affair (the theme this year was Shine!), including out-of-town guests from Calgary, Toronto, San Francisco and New York.
In all, 32 projects in eight categories were awarded; among the winning entries were nine Gold awards, 13 Silver and 10 Bronze.
Best of Show went to a store called Salari Fine Carpets Collection, which also won Gold (Retail) for Splyce Design/Build Inc. Anything but conventional, its centrepiece is a 35-foot-long raised platform that serves as the “stage” where individual hanging rugs slide out from their holding positions and “animate the white backdrop with a vivid display of ever-changing colour and texture.” Splyce also won two other awards: Gold and Bronze for a pair of private residences (Residential).
Stantec Architecture Ltd. took home the most awards of the evening, an impressive five: Silver and Bronze for two separate Harley-Davidson outlets (Retail); Bronze for the YVR West Chevron Expansion (Institutional & Educational Spaces); Bronze for the Arbutus Club Spa (Hospitality); and Gold for Noam Gagnon’s Wellness Centre: Beyond Pilates (Healthcare + Personal Services). In the latter, studio equipment — dramatic in both character and colour — is the centrepiece of a crisp, clean design.
Among other firms awarded Gold was Battersby Howat, for Aritzia Studios (Workplace Total). The robust design for this open-plan office interior (for a youthful clothing company) focuses on a white enamelled steel screen framework that “literally and conceptually envelops the overall office.” Busby Perkins + Will Architects won Gold for the Telus House Atrium (Workplace Partial). The airy interior space of the atrium features two glass and steel access bridges, and is punctuated by a dramatic folded-plate stairway that connects levels three through six. Also taking home a Gold was mcfarlane | green | biggar Architecture + Design, for the Millenium Group (Multi-residential). At the heart of this office/presentation centre for the 2010 Olympic Village development is a bold 20-foot-high living wall.
The three remaining Golds went to Mitchell Freedland Design for a private residence (Residential); Gittins & Co. for Omni World Group (Workplace Partial); and Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning for the International Terminal Building Expansion YVR (Institutional & Educational Spaces).
For a full list of award winners, visit www.idibc.org.
