Top players of the international architectural and design community, from as far as Brazil and Japan, gathered at the Evergreen Brick Works Friday night as AZURE revealed the winners of its fourth annual AZ Awards.

The AZ Awards are one of a kind: the only international, multi-disciplinary design competition in Canada. Representing a global snapshot of the world of architecture and design, submissions were open to designers, architects, firms and manufacturers of all disciplines, as well as students in these fields.

The high-calibre international jury included designer Ron Arad of Ron Arad Associates (London), interior designer Diego Burdi of Burdifilek (Toronto), retailer Jamie Gray of Matter boutique (New York), Patricia Patkau of Patkau Architecture (Vancouver), and landscape architecture chair Charles Waldheim of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (Cambridge, US). In March, the expert panel conferred at Toronto’s Hôtel Le Germain, Maple Leaf Square, narrowing the field from an impressive 652 entries arriving from 36 countries to a shortlist of 49 finalists. From there, they selected the 13 outstanding winners.

During the month of April, the public was also given the chance to vote online for their favourites as the People’s Choice. To view the full list of 13 jury winners and People’s Choice winners, visit azuremagazine.com.

About AZURE

AZURE is Canada’s leading contemporary design magazine and one of a handful of influential design titles worldwide. The independent magazine enjoys a growing subscriber base and can be found on newsstands across Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia. Each issue consistently delivers lively, visually engaging, forward-looking and socially relevant coverage of contemporary design. AZURE profiles designers and architects from around the world; brings its readers breaking news on interior products and trends; showcases smart and paradigm breaking residential and commercial projects; and investigates design issues related to our changing society.

AZURE is an indispensable source of information and ideas for architects and designers as well as design-savvy consumers. The publication continues to garner awards for its overall excellence and high standards for visual and written content.

ARCHITECTURE WINNERS

Best Residential Architecture: MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects: Cliff House, Nova Scotia, Canada

Best Commercial/Institutional Architecture over 1,000 square metres: Marlon Blackwell Architect: Vol Walker Hall and the Steven L. Anderson Design Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.

Best Commercial/Institutional Architecture under 1,000 square metres: Kikuma Watanabe: School Floating in the Sky, Sangkhlaburi, Thailand

Best Landscape Architecture: Stoss Landscape Urbanism: The CityDeck, Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.

Best Temporary/Demonstration Architecture: Matthew Mazzotta: Open House, York, Alabama, U.S.

INTERIORS WINNERS

Best Residential Interiors: i29 Interior Architects: Home 09, Bloemendaal, The Netherlands

Best Commercial/Institutional Interiors: Studio MK27: Cultura bookstore, São Paulo, Brazil

DESIGN WINNERS

Best Furniture Design: Bensen: U Turn Chair, by Niels Bendtsen

Best Lighting: Castor Design: Coil Lamp, by Brian Richer and Kei Ng

Best Interior Product: Interface: Net Effect carpet tile, by David Oakey

CONCEPT WINNERS

Best Concept/Prototype: Line to Line Design: Tangent Clock, by Scott Sullivan

Best Unbuilt Competition Entry: REX Architecture: Media Headquarters Buildings

A+ AWARD WINNER

Student Award: Design/BuildLAB (Virginia Tech): Smith Creek Park, Virginia, U.S.

All winners and Awards of Merit are featured in the Annual Awards Issue, on newsstands today in Canada and July 7 in the U.S.