The 2009 Orchids & Onions Awards Ceremony was held last night at On Broadway in downtown San Diego. The ceremony was emcee'd by the witty and vivacious Barbarella. Architect Graham Downes served as the commentator, and provided some lively and considered discussion on the winners selected by the jury.

Now for the Onions... click on the link for photos and more information about each - and to let us know what you think (agree? disagree?) by leaving a comment!

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Grand Onion: Vantage Pointe

"Every so often a building comes along that presents a paradoxical image to the city in which it lands. Vantage Pointe to some degree is the usual massive condominium tower with all the architectural distinction that goes with it. Unfortunately, Vantage Pointe provides a severe disservice to the city life where it meets the street."

People’s Choice Onion: Jamul Casino

"A peaceful drive on the 94 takes one past the hustle and bustle of the city and into the countryside where two-story homes are the norm… for now.  On the darker side of this small community, a fierce battle rages on between the citizens who want to maintain their quality of life and the monster of increased traffic they fear to be the inevitable side effect of their potential neighbor."

SDG&E Utility Boxes (Special Jury Mention)

"Like a plague on the city streets, one can never escape the ever present SDG&E Utility Box. Oddly enough, while the utility cans really don’t fit the environment they in which they exist, the public has been trained to accept them into their neighborhoods."

Uptown Interim Height Ordinance (Planning Policies)

"In studying both sides of the argument, the jury felt the swift implementation of this ‘back door’ brokered ordinance was done without planning protocol, proper public hearings or any real research into either the short term or long term consequences of the action. Lets get a proper update of our Community Plan shall we?"

The Plaza UTC Landscape Retrofit (Landscape Architecture)

"Irvine Companies purchased two large blocks in the Golden Triangle area right across from UTC Mall. During these drought conditions they revamped their landscape to have even more grass put in than before! The jury has weighed in: this project’s landscape improvements are viewed as a blatant disregard for good design & water conservation."

Ryan Aeronautics (Historic Preservation)

"This important historic district is a key part of San Diego’s aviation heritage, yet the San Diego Unified Port District has elected to demolish it. T. Claude Ryan constructed the first buildings at Lindbergh Field in 1932 only a few years after he designed and built “The Spirit of St. Louis.” The Port District is failing to incorporate these easily adaptable buildings into future development, preferring to simply tear them down."

Mission Florence (Architecture)

"The bulk and scale of Mission Florence crushes its Washington Street intersection like an 800 pound stucco gorilla. The designers appeared to have thrown in every piece of architectural styrofoam they could find to disguise this clumsy creation."

Grossmont Medical Terrace Parking Structure (Architecture)

"This is an example of “form follows nothing.” The nominator called this new multi‐level
parking structure “a hideous scar on the landscape.” A blogger noted that at night it’s even worse, “exploding into an all encompassing beacon of horror that invades the valley in every direction.”"