Announcing the Winners of the 2017 AZ Awards

Winners and finalists flew in from as far away as Poland and China to attend the celebration at Toronto’s iconic Evergreen Brick Works, where the results of Azure’s seventh annual AZ Awards competition were announced on June 23 in the presence of top talents from the local and international architecture and design communities.

By Flos, Fritz Hansen, Neri & Hu Design and Research Office and

AZ Awards

July 2, 2017 | 10:00 pm CUT

Best Architecture Under 1,000 sq m. : Anmahian Winton Architects: Gemma Observatory, Central New Hampshire, U.S.

The 20 winners of the 2017 AZ Awards proved their prowess through stunning and innovative projects that represent a snapshot of the leading work in global architecture and design today – from a curious, castle-like observatory in New Hampshire that maximizes stargazing to a bicycle-powered canopy that can unfurl anywhere an event space is needed to a 31.3-hectare park that preserves delicate wetlands in China. To mark their achievement, they were each awarded a one-of-a-kind trophy, the creation of Canadian-born, international design phenomenon, Philippe Malouin.

This year’s submissions reached a staggering 813 from 41 countries, setting a formidable task for our jury of renowned experts. Gathering in March to narrow down the hundreds of submissions to a shortlist of 70 finalists were: planner and landscape ecologist Nina-Marie Lister, interior designer Alessandro Munge, industrial designer Theo Richardson, architect Nader Tehrani and multidisciplinary designer Michael Vanderbyl. The jurors met at Toronto’s Drake Hotel – itself a historic landmark – where through debate and discussion they made their final selection of the best of the best – the 20 exceptional winners who were honoured tonight, and who are featured below.