Gow Hastings Architects, Henriquez Partners Architects, and II x IV Design have been shortlisted for this year’s Society of British and International Design (SBID) Awards. Based in the U.K. and as one of the most prestigious recognitions of design excellence in the interior design industry, these awards identify, reward and celebrate design excellence from 14 distinct categories.
Gow Hastings Architects were shortlisted in the public space category for their recent project, the Ryerson University Student ServiceHub. This is the second accolade for the ServiceHub this year. In June, the project earned an Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) Award of Excellence.
Ryerson University’s Student ServiceHub is a 13,000 sq.ft. interior renovation that transforms how students experience and engage with the most crucial resources of the Registrar’s Office. The bespoke design solution creatively brings student services to life in a boldly branded environment reminiscent of a technology store or a design-savvy coffee shop, offering an interactive experience that aligns with the social habits of today’s digital native students. What was once an outdated 1970s Brutalist interior now serves multiple-uses as a light-filled animated space where staff and students can meet, study or dine.
Vancouver’s Henriquez Partners Architects were also shortlisted in the public space category for their Telus Garden Lobby & Plaza. The ambitious project, located in downtown Vancouver, brings together developer Westbank, led by Ian Gillespie, and Henriquez Partners Architects, led by Gregory Henriquez, FRAIC.
Telus Garden recently garnered LEED Platinum certification, due in part to its many innovative technological and mechanical systems. These include a district energy system that recovers energy from a neighbouring telecommunications building, Vancouver’s largest solar panel rooftop array, and an incredible integration of passive solar and heating systems, including radiant ceilings. From this perspective, the building speaks to the power of early design-stage systems thinking. Yet, closer examination reveals a building that, at key moments,expresses the contradictions and dichotomies of its team members.
Award-winning, Toronto-based interior design studio II x IV Design was shortlisted in the restaurant, show flats & developments, and visualization categories for their projects Kasa Moto (restaurant), The Residences of 488 University Avenue (show flats & developments), Crystal Bach (visualization), and Lumina Condominium Development (visualization).
Kasa Moto is a contemporary Japanese restaurant that pays homage to the ancient ideals of wabi (transient and stark beauty), sabi (the beauty of natural patina and aging) and yūgen (profound grace and subtlety). Located in the heart of Yorkville, Toronto’s luxury retail district, the two storey, 12,000 sq.ft. space is spread out over multiple rooms including a split level main floor, dining/wine room, sizeable roof top patio, street side terrace and lounge (Bar Moto) on the upper level.
At The Residences of 488 University Avenue, the art of living has been raised to new heights. The Presentation Centre designed by II BY IV DESIGN features inspired kitchen, bath and lifestyle vignettes, as well as a sales area and scaled model of the final building which embody the project’s lofty brand promise…’where extraordinary living becomes everyday life’.
Inspired by the striking, seasonal panoramas of the Rhine River from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Frankfurt in Germany, the Crystal Bach is a modern interpretation of old world charm and luxurious elegance, the pinnacle for contemporary river cruising. A sleek 106 passenger vessel with 53 state rooms and six-star amenities, the Crystal Bach majestically glides under low bridges, past historic villages and lush landscapes offering a unique perspective to European luxury travel.
Lumina Condominium Development is a 655-unit multiphase, mixed-use residential development in the Rincon Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco. Distinguished by striking curves and contrasting angles, the project is comprised of two towers of 42 and 37 stories, and two mid-rise plaza buildings of eight stories each. The residences are a brilliant take on premier living in San Francisco; warm, modern interiors framed by expansive windows with majestic vistas of the City and the Bay.
The public are now invited to cast their votes for their favourite entries at www.sbidawards.com until September 16, 2016, as their votes will be counted towards the overall results. Winners will be announced and awarded with the crystal SBID International Design Awards 2016 trophy at the official ceremony on November 25, 2016.