design awards //byline AIA California Staff https://www.youtube.com/embed/cBkuQAyQ-tw?si=fOOcHZ5tIyOA3Kx6 AIA California is impassioned about bringing the power of architecture to communities across the state, and the capacity of California-based members to states across the country. Locally, we can connect neighborhoods with architects committed to supporting their communities through social media and similar channels. On a national basis, this year we will access television viewers through a partnership with ByDesign—along with AIA National and other Chapters. ByDesign is the producer of America ByDesign, a television show that explores design, and features the designers who bring ideas to life. Airing on CBS during primetime, production company also offers deeper dives on its streaming platforms. Initiating in Australia, the brand has a global reach extending to Europe. To deliver architecture that speaks to design excellence, and AIA California values such as sustainability, ByDesign is working with AIA California design award and residential design award winners. We are delighted to announce the first two projects by AIA California members, which ByDesign will tape this spring: Fire County Lookout, Architect: Studio VARA, a 2024 Design Awards Citation recipient, and Boulder Creek Library, Architect: Jayson Architecture, also a 2024 Design Awards Citation recipient. The latter project was realized by a small firm, embodying the capacity of the awards program to increase the profile of smaller firms. Fire County Lookout, Architect: Studio VARA. Photo: Matthew Millman Photography This family retreat west of Healdsburg, CA was developed as a prototype for sustainable dwelling and resilient development in the “post-climate-change” West. The simple form provides optimum orientation for passive ventilation and solar exposure, while shading the outdoor areas against the scorching summer heat. Its concrete base, a wrapper of standing-seam zinc panels envelops the roof and walls, creating a protective outer shell shielding the inner volumes from sun and frequent wildfires. Boulder Creek Library, Architect: Jayson Architecture Photo: David Wakely Photography The renovation of the Boulder Creek Library creatively addresses issues arising from the age and disrepair of the existing building. The non code compliant main entrance, lobby, circulation desk, and restrooms were all demolished, allowing an open and easily navigable central reading room to take form. New ADA compliant restrooms were added, as well as glazed partitions, allowing the community meeting room to operate as its own entity, independent of the library’s hours of operation. New wood paneling in the main reading room provides acoustic control, as well as creating an aesthetic connection to the building’s location among the redwoods. Historic graphics are integrated throughout the library, sourced from the nearby local history museum. In the children’s area the reading room was re-imagined as a playful treehouse, complete with mossy stone floor and fairies hidden in the wall graphics, and with windows looking out on the forest canopy beyond.
AIA California Members in ByDesign, a Primetime TV Program
//byline
AIA California Staff
04.01.25
AIA California is impassioned about bringing the power of architecture to communities across the state, and the capacity of California-based members to states across the country.
Locally, we can connect neighborhoods with architects committed to supporting their communities through social media and similar channels. On a national basis, this year we will access television viewers through a partnership with ByDesign—along with AIA National and other Chapters.
ByDesign is the producer of America ByDesign, a television show that explores design, and features the designers who bring ideas to life. Airing on CBS during primetime, production company also offers deeper dives on its streaming platforms. Initiating in Australia, the brand has a global reach extending to Europe.
To deliver architecture that speaks to design excellence, and AIA California values such as sustainability, ByDesign is working with AIA California design award and residential design award winners.
We are delighted to announce the first two projects by AIA California members, which ByDesign will tape this spring: Fire County Lookout, Architect: Studio VARA, a 2024 Design Awards Citation recipient, and Boulder Creek Library, Architect: Jayson Architecture, also a 2024 Design Awards Citation recipient. The latter project was realized by a small firm, embodying the capacity of the awards program to increase the profile of smaller firms.
Fire County Lookout, Architect: Studio VARA. Photo: Matthew Millman Photography
This family retreat west of Healdsburg, CA was developed as a prototype for sustainable dwelling and resilient development in the “post-climate-change” West. The simple form provides optimum orientation for passive ventilation and solar exposure, while shading the outdoor areas against the scorching summer heat. Its concrete base, a wrapper of standing-seam zinc panels envelops the roof and walls, creating a protective outer shell shielding the inner volumes from sun and frequent wildfires.
Boulder Creek Library, Architect: Jayson Architecture Photo: David Wakely Photography
The renovation of the Boulder Creek Library creatively addresses issues arising from the age and disrepair of the existing building. The non code compliant main entrance, lobby, circulation desk, and restrooms were all demolished, allowing an open and easily navigable central reading room to take form. New ADA compliant restrooms were added, as well as glazed partitions, allowing the community meeting room to operate as its own entity, independent of the library’s hours of operation. New wood paneling in the main reading room provides acoustic control, as well as creating an aesthetic connection to the building’s location among the redwoods. Historic graphics are integrated throughout the library, sourced from the nearby local history museum. In the children’s area the reading room was re-imagined as a playful treehouse, complete with mossy stone floor and fairies hidden in the wall graphics, and with windows looking out on the forest canopy beyond.
AIA CaliforniaRead More
