“Wow! These are beautiful,” was the unanimous reaction to this year's winning interiors when editors reviewed the selections. They also share a common thread when studied collectively. Like a barometer of the times, each project reflects the pragmatic realities of 21st-century design. In every case, the architects address exacting programs and budgets by syncing divergent styles and eras, in often surprising ways, with innovative materials and technologies. Our picks are modest in scope, yet big on ideas, and include: two futuristic installations—one, a series of bold metal forms, the other, a structural tour de force coated in plaster—juxtaposed with historic icons; plus an exciting mix of commercial enterprises (and one stunning residence) expertly crafted within aging or unremarkable structures. Thoughtful and wonderfully effective, all seven represent the best of interior architecture today.
—Linda Lentz
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