American Institute of Architects Housing Award Winners

The American Institute of Architects have just granted ten houses a Housing Awards. The recognition is handed out every year to outstanding residential designs. For this year, many houses incorporate eco-fiendly ideas, like solar panels, radiant heating and “daylighting”.

Seen at The Wall Street Journal. All the winners, after the break.

Chuckanut Drive Residence
Bellingham, Wash.
The Miller | Hull Partnership
Designed for a pair of dentists, this 1,400-square-foot main house and guest house is set on a cliff overlooking the San Juan Islands. It incorporates steel, concrete and bamboo, and requires no central heating on air conditioning.
Photograph by: Benjamin Benschneider

House on Hoopers Island
Church Creek, Md.
David Jameson Architect
This home located on an estuary of the Chesapeake Bay is made up of three standalone one-bedroom cabins and a “lodge” with the kitchen, dining and living areas. When there are no guests, the owners, a Washington, D.C., couple can lock up the unused cabins.
Photograph by: Paul Warchol

Laidley Street Residence
San Francisco, Calif.
Zack / de Vito Architecture
Owners Jim Zack and Lise de Vito designed and built this 3,000-square-foot townhouse with a translucent acrylic central staircase that filters light from the skylight to the basement. Most of the home’s frame was fabricated elsewhere and assembled on-site, a process known as panelized construction that can save time and money.
Photograph by: Bruce Damonte

Cinco Camp
Brewster County, Texas
Rhotenberry Wellen Architects
The owner, leading media graphic designer Roger Black, asked for a quick and cheap place to stay on his 3,000-acre West Texas ranch. This house is made from five recycled shipping containers and cost less than $200,000 to transport, construct and outfit.
Photograph by: Hester + Hardaway

Montecito Residence
Montecito, Calif.
Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects
This vacation home in fire-prone Toro Canyon is made almost entirely from metal and other fire-resistant materials.
Photograph by: Tim Bies

Outpost
Bellevue, Idaho
Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects
An artist’s home and studio is made from concrete, an appropiately hardy material for the harsh elements.
Photograph by: Jan Cox

Glade House
Lake Forest, Ill.
Frederick Phillips and Associates
This 3,200-square-foot house outside Chicago mixes traditional features – cedar shingle siding, regularly – spaced vertical windows and gabled roofs – with modern touches such as clerestory windows and an open-plan interior.
Photograph by: Barbara Karant

Low Country Residence
Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Frank Harmon Architect
Overlooking a creek, this home was designed for a Hurricane Hugo survivor. Large shutters (inspired by the classic Charleston louvered shutters) shade the home from heavy sun and can swing shut during a storm.
Photograph by: Richard Leo Johnson

700 Palms Residence
Venice, Calif.
Ehrlich Architects
Architect Steven Ehrlich’s steel and concrete block home uses little electricity, thanks to solar panels, and requires no air conditioning. Massive nylon shades are used to keep the house cool.
Photograph by: Erhard Pfeiffer

House at Sagaponac
Wainscott, N.Y.
Tsao & McKown Architecs
Originally designed with no specific owner in mind, the home’s first floor is below ground level.
Photograph: Michael Moran