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Official Orchids of 2009
The 2009 Orchids & Onions Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at On Broadway Event Center 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 Orchids... 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!
We want to hear from you!
Grand Orchid: The Station
"Flawless! Perhaps an odd thing to say when we’re talking about a small building that aims to be a good dive bar, but in The Station it’s possible to see how history can be respected and strategies can be created that are nimble enough to make architecture on a small budget and without predetermined forms."
People's Choice Orchid: ResMed
"Every once in a while you have to look beyond the immediate noise of the city to find a gem in the rough. Well, the people have searched through our nominations and found that gem in the San Diego business parks between Montgomery Field and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Behold ResMed, the new, state‐of‐the‐art, North American headquarters for the Sleep Apnea Company."
New Roots Community Farm (Special Jury Mention)
"Located on a small 2.5 acre lot in City Heights, a grass roots effort has finally taken hold to create San Diego’s first community farm. One juror noted “Kudos to the groups’ collective perseverance in spending three years and over $50K in City of San Diego required permits and processing to get this project out of the ground”."
MXD830 (Architecture)
"Mike Burnett’s MXD830 carries forward the San Diego?centric architect/developer paradigm with economy, sensitivity and pizzazz. Wrote one juror, “It shows a sophisticated use of materials and of references to historic architectural moments,” while another simply wrote, “This is modern urbanism at its best.”
Starlite (Interior Design)
"Starlite, designed by Bells & Whistles, is one of San Diego's most custom interiors with the designers/ builders having their hand in all aspects of creating the space. Passing through a hexagonal Ipe slatted tunnel, patrons are presented with a concert of contrasting materials in play with each other."
Art Produce (Public Art)
"While it generated spirited debate over what, exactly, defines the “public” aspect in public art, the jury found that owner/artist Lynn Susholtz and ArtProduce made crucial contributions to the visual and social quality of life in the North Park neighborhood. Another commented, “Art Produce does much more than a sculpture sitting in the middle of a plaza ... It’s a provocation: to think about art in the community.”"
Hamilton Children's Garden (Landscape Architecture)
"Just having opened on June 13th this year, the Hamilton Children’s garden explodes with interpretive activities that keep kids’ imaginations roaring in high gear. This team of incredibly creative and talented designers have really gone above and beyond and re‐defined what a children’s garden should be."
Point Loma Marina at America's Cup Harbor (Architecture)
"Imagine strolling America’s Cup Harbor promenade, enjoying the warm sun, cool breeze, and the shimmering waters of the bay and encountering this newest development. The architecture gracefully embraces the water’s edge and provides an opportunity to marvel the architect’s great attention to detail."
Gateway Intermodal Transportation Center (Planning Policies)
"While the concept of an intermodal transportation center adjacent to the airport has been floated before, this year’s jury felt it was very essential to remind the Port Authority of the critical need for such a project. One jury member put it simply “This is BIG THINKING that San Diego needs.”"
1906 Lodge Coronado (Historic Preservation)
"This Irving Gill and William Hebbard designed boarding house has been brought back to life as a 17 room boutique hotel. The jury was pleased to see this commitment to preservation, showing “how past and present can co‐exist.”"
Woodbury School of Design (Architecture)
"Rinehart-Herbst took a vacany building once considered a blight on the neighborhood of Barrio Logan and transformed it into a vibrant urban campus. They say location is everything; Woodbury is a standout in the budding revitalization of Barrio Logan. It is a statement of thoughtful, understated design both complimentary to and enhanced by the cultural charm of the area."
Euclid Tower – City Heights (Historic Preservation)
"Originally constructed in 1932 as part of a drive-in soda fountain, the Art Deco Euclid Tower had become City Heights' most regognizable landmark. A 1995 community driven public art project added multicultural colors and designs, but the 80-foot tall tower was structurally unsound and much to the community's dismay, city inspectors ordered it torn down in 1999. The jury felt that bringing the tower back was important both historically and culturally for the City Heights Community."
Bacon Street Offices (Sustainable Design)
"This former auto‐repair shop turned architects office proves good things do come in small packages. Located in the eclectic neighborhood of Ocean Beach, this project designed and owned by Architects Hanna Gabriel Wells has shown the community that you can give back to the earth and still thrive as a business."Robert Paine Scripps Forum (Architecture)
"Located south of the pier at the Scripps Institute for Oceanography, this state of the art teaching and conference center is an unimposing and relaxed retreat where the brightest minds can gather to tackle our planet’s greatest scientific challenges. Despite multiple rounds of “value‐engineering” and nearly ten years in planning and construction, this privately funded and LEED certified project is an admirable addition to the Scripps campus."
High Tech High Chula Vista (Sustainable Design)
"Awarding an orchid to High Tech High in the Sustainability category posed an agonizing quandary for jurors. The building itself is exemplary: abundant daylighting, photovoltaic solar energy, optimized energy systems, and an anticipated LEED Gold Rating are just a few of the school’s distinctions. Yet the jurors found its suburban fringe location underscored the inherently unsustainable land‐use pattern of suburban, car‐dependent transportation. In granting this particular orchid, jurors decided that the good architecture and sustainable design trumped old-fashioned land use policies."
Official Onions of 2009
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!
We want to hear from you!
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.”"
Escondido Police & Fire Building (Architecture)
"The Escondido Police and Fire Headquarters is presented here as another missed attempt at using architecture to engage a community. Instead the building decided to present another blank wall in what can be described as conduct unbecoming of an officer."
Official Orchids of 2008
The 2008 Orchids & Onions Awards Ceremony was held last night in the Hall of Champions at Balboa Park. The ceremony was emcee'd by the witty and entertaining Troy Johnson, Sr. Editor of Riviera Magazine. Architect Ted Smith served as the SDAF's own appointed contrarian, and provided another perspective to many of the projects that were selected as Onions by the jury. Ted gathered a soup urn chock full of Onions last night, and we appreciated hearing from what may (or may not) be the other side of the story. That is, after all, what it's all about!
Now for the Orchids... click on the link for more information about each - and to let us know what you think (agree? disagree?) by leaving a comment! More photos for each project will be posted shortly.
We want to hear from you!
Grand Orchid: Lux Art Institute
“'Lux'-uriously executed from top to bottom and more than just a gallery, Lux is a place that invites visitors to 'see art happen' in a combined artist residence, studio and exhibition space.”People's Choice Orchid Award: Kaiser Hospital Rainforest Project
This received 29 percent of more than 250 votes cast online. Runner's up included Good Earth Plants' green roof in Kearny Mesa with 18 percent and and Second Street Studios in Encinitas with 11 percent.“A joyous and uplifting makeover to a previously drab and unfriendly interior.” Said one online voter: “This art is not only beautiful, it's functional. It brings smiles, joy and wonder into a place that is too often filled with sadness. This is indeed what art should do.”
R-3 (Architecture)
“An audacious and supremely successful antidote to its unforgiving surroundings.”UCSD Moores Cancer Center (Architecture)
“This could have been a behemoth of a building, but the architects took care to break down the scale and create an environment that nurtures.”San Ysidro Department of Motor Vehicles office (Architecture)
“One couldn't ask for more out of a government-commissioned building.”Oceanside Museum of Art – Central Pavilion (Architecture)
“This slick, cool addition to a museum dedicated to regional artists is very straightforward with a minimalist approach that speaks of a refinement and economy of means one of the most sophisticated buildings in North County.”Tweet Street at Cortez Hill Park (Planning policies)
“(An) urban gem that steals back an unused Caltrans right of way to create a much-needed shady green space Bravo! We need a hundred more of these!”Point Loma Nazarene University's “green” policies (Sustainable design)
“Point Loma Nazarene University is living up to one of their core values. They are inspiring and educating their students, faculty and staff to be stewards of our natural resources.”The Sprinter light-rail line (Sustainable design)
“The pièce de résistance is the revitalization and reuse of an existing 100-year-old rail corridor. Now that's recycling from the past to build the future.”New Children's Museum Park (Landscape architecture)
“The park enriches the lives of our children, adds beauty and interest to our environment, and is at home with the growing sophistication of our downtown.”Chollas Creek restoration (Landscape architecture)
“This project is a great example of recent efforts to return our concrete drainage ways to the self-sustaining systems that our creeks were meant to be!”Los Agaves Jardin (Landscape architecture)
“This project deserved special recognition as a 'guerrilla community demonstration garden.'”Pearl Hotel (Interior design)
“Every finely textured square inch reflects a thoughtfulness for scale, color, light and mood We do, however, miss the atomic-age motel sign.”Our Mother of Confidence Church (Interior design)
“Our Mother got a makeover! The original building was modest and dutifully served the congregation since 1978. Despite the challenges, a dynamic and vibrant worship space has emerged. One juror remarked 'With a name like this, it would be a sin not to award it an Orchid!'”Cowboy Star restaurant (Interior design)
“Saddle up everyone! This is a 1950s Hollywood Western colliding with modern/industrial sophistication – and it might just knock the spurs off your boots.”Balboa Theatre (Historic preservation)
“This is a civic gem that could have easily been lost.”Stephen and Mary Birch North Park Theatre (Historic preservation)
“The rehabilitation of the North Park Theatre is an excellent example of how a building can transform a community.”Ballpark district warehouse buildings (Urban design)
“The Save Our Heritage Organisation, National Trust for Historic Preservation, city of San Diego and the Padres and the various developers deserve to be congratulated for injecting new life into the grand old warehouses of East Village.”The Lofts at 655 Sixth (Public art)
“This building would feel naked without its art!”“Landsailers” (Public art)
“An exemplary exhibit of 10 fanciful air, land and sea vehicles that create a coastal art trail, which unifies several La Jolla and Pacific Beach neighborhoods.”Winners Announced!
Last night at the Hall of Champions the 2008 list of Orchid & Onion winners was unveiled. We are feverishly working to list them all on our website. But for now here is a link to the Union-Tribune's list of winners.
Read Roger Showley's coverage here.
Take a look and let us know what you think of the selections!
