Surface Design Show 2021 - Awards

The Surface Design Awards 2021 held on Thursday 11 February 2021 was for the first time live streamed from London due the current government restrictions for covid-19.

The Surface Design Awards recognise the best use of innovative surface materials in architecture and design from across the globe. Launched 8 years ago, these prestigious Awards keep growing year-on-year and are often seen as a reference for the architecture and design industry. Judged by some of the leading designers in the industry, and entries come from all over the world.

The judging panel was chaired by Nicola Osborn, Basha-Franklin and Steve Webb, Webb Yates Engineers. Their fellow judges were: Joseph Henry, Greater London Authority; Kresse Wesling MBE, Elvis & Kresse; Lee Mainwaring, Architecture Initiative; Nic Fallows, BNF Capital; Sarah Castle, IF_DO and Sofia Steffenoni and Simona Auteri, Matter of Stuff.

The Awards were hosted by author and architectural commentator Aidan Walker.

Twelve category Awards were announced before the Supreme winner was selected. There were two ‘double winners’:

Winner of both the Housing Interior and Exterior categories, Bumpers Oast was designed by ACME for a private client. It is a modern interpretation of a hop-drying kiln. Five tile-clad towers make up this Kent based house.

“A very sensitive design. The use of natural materials makes this a very sustainable project”, commented the judges.

Maggie’s Centres have been regular winners over the 9-year history of the Surface Design Awards. This year Maggie’s Leeds picked up both the Light + Surface Interior and Exterior categories. Designed by Heatherwick Studio for Maggies, the lighting for the project was designed by Light Bureau.

“It's just beautiful and comfortable, which is what it was designed to be,” said the judges. “We love the concept of having just the right amount of light”.

Highly commended for the Supreme Award was London’s Silo Restaurant, the UK’s first zero waste fine dining restaurant. Client Douglas McMaster tasked designer Nina + Co Design to design and source materials of zero waste, either grown to measure or 100% recycled and recyclable for the refurbishment. Smile Plastics, who entered the project, supplied the recycled and recyclable plastic panels. Silo Restaurant was the winner of the Commercial Building Interior category.

“Every surface is a natural sustainable surface from a natural source and reinvented and reworked – that’s incredibly difficult in an interior”, commented the judges.

Express Building (Manchester), designed by Ben Adams Architects, was applauded for its futuristic design that respects the character of this iconic property, and was announced the winner of the ‘Commercial Building Exterior’ category.

Maida Smiles Dental Clinic, a three time finalist, was named winner of the ‘Public Building Interior’ category. The sophisticated clinic was designed by Pedra Silva Architects to reflect a unique and visually engaging design concept, which promotes the personality of the clinic.

The winner of the ‘Public Realm’ award was Sayer Street + The Meadow by Jan Kattein Architects with landscaping by B|D Landscape Architects and lighting design by Michael Grubb Studio.

ASA HQ, based in San Marino and designed by Opensystems Architecture, was applauded for “its efficient use of raw materials and the integration of automated machines”, and was announced the winner of ‘Workspaces Interior’ category, whilst 40 Beak Street, by Stiff+Trevillion Architects won in ‘Workspaces Exterior’ after being admired for “its memorable contemporary design that contributed to the vibrancy and creative appeal of its location in Soho, notwithstanding remaining sensitive to the historic setting”.

This year’s Surface Design Awards attracted 113 entries from some 15 different countries.

Among them, the impressive Symbiosis University Hospital and Research Center in Pune, India by IMK Architects was named the Supreme Winner, as well as being awarded the ‘Public Building Exterior’ award. Captivating the hearts of all judges, Symbiosis University Hospital was praised for innovation and dynamic use of eco-friendly materials. The multi-specialty hospital and research centre incorporates an impressive façade drawn from environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and locally sourced raw materials, which allowed for designing different façade compositions that construct a strong visual identity.

“This is a really beautiful solution using local materials and labour. The façade is meaningful not just decorative, it shades the sun”, said the judges. “It is very much part of their sustainable strategy”.

For a full list of the winners and finalists please CLICK HERE

Sources: Surface Design Show - Awards

Image’s sources: The Surface Design Awards 2021 screenshots