2022 AIA|LA Residential Architecture Award Winners
Announced by the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles
Recipients include dazzling single-family residential design and new contributions to affordable and sustainable housing.

May 20, 2022 (Los Angeles, CA)–The AIA Los Angeles (AIA|LA) is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2022 AIA|LA Residential Architecture Awards: 28 residential projects that range in typology from single-family residences to temporary shelters, climate-addressing projects, and alternative housing–designs that change established norms.

+ 2022 Residential Architecture Award Winning Images

(For a complete list of winners plus jury notes, scroll down.)

The suite of winners demonstrates design excellence for all residential types, coupled with an ongoing commitment by Los Angeles-based architects to alleviating the housing crisis through new shelter that expands possibilities for those who have lived without. Amongst these works are HOPE ON LAFAYETTE (Los Angeles, CA) designed by DeMaria Design; and Hilda L. Solis Care First Village (Los Angeles, CA) designed by NAC. Awarded projects also reflected new ideas for homes in the region, such as Monterey Co-Living (Los Angeles, CA) designed by Warren Techentin Architecture [WTARCH].

In keeping with these notions of global responsibility, the Climate Positive Award returned for its second year, with 2022 awards recognizing Jigsaw Small Lot Net Zero Townhomes (Culver City, CA) designed by Kendall Architecture Planning + Design and Flor 401 Lofts (Los Angeles, CA) designed by KoningEizenberg Architecture. The latter of which the jury noted: “exemplifies how climate-sensitive design is inseparable from a truly equitable housing solution.”

Firms composed entirely of partners who are women, such as Design, Bitches and Shin Shin, were amongst winning firms in 2022.

Shin Shin also represents a wave of newcomers to the Residential Architecture Awards making their presence felt. Amongst this collection of talent is Design Opera with a project realized in Tijuana, Baja California, LMD Architecture Studio working in a coastal Southern California city, RO | ROCKETT DESIGN contributing a renovation/historic preservation category winner, and Space International.

The honing of craft by well-established firms on the residential design scene continued to be rewarded. Chu-Gooding, Kevin Daly Architects, Woods + Dangaran, and 2021 AIA|LA Gold Medal Recipient Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects [LOHA] expanded their repertoire varying typologies from single-family residential to multi-family and affordable housing work.

Deciding the award recipients was a jury composed of: Flora Lee – Associate Partner, MAD Architects; Gisela Loehlein – Head of Architecture Department, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University; and Stacy Williams – Bunche Center Librarian, UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies. The jury awarded projects as Honor, Merit, and Citation awards, with Honor representing the highest level award.

The winners were announced at a cocktail party graciously hosted by MASS Beverly honoring both this year’s 2022 AIA|LA Residential Architecture Awards and the AIA|LA Architectural Photography Awards.

Additions and Accessory Dwelling Units

Merit
Project Name: SMS ADU
Firm: Bunch Design
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @bunch_design
Photographer Name: Ye Rin Mok

The house has a quirky way of playing with the notion of a house in a playful tectonic manner. | Very impressive and bold design moves that the jury thought stood out and make a very memorable residential design.

Merit
Project Name: Peach Pit
Firm: Shin Shin Architecture
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @shinshinarch
Photographer Name: Eric Staudenmaier

The partial curve of the front porch encased in a warm peach tone blends well into its environment. The warmth of that color extending to the sunroom provides a nice combination of natural light and shade. | The Peach Pit conversion played with color, texture, and shape in rehabbing the original dwelling.

Affordable Housing

Merit
Project Name: Magnolia Villas
Firm: DE Architects AIA
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Instagram: @dearchitectsaia
Photographer Name: Adam Latham

By staggering volumes, outdoor spaces are closely integrated to each living unit and help to break the scale of building

Merit
Project Name: Gramercy Senior Housing
Firm: kevin daly Architects
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @kevindalyarchitects
Photographer Name: Joshua White

Playful architectural residential design for elderly and former homeless that is playful in facade and community ground floor development allowing aging in style.

Merit
Project Name: Flor 401 Lofts
Firm: KoningEizenberg Architecture
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @koningeizenberg
Photographer Name: Eric Staudenmaier

Fun play of color and the open courtyard creates a welcoming and bright environment.

Citation
Project Name: PATH Villas at South Gate
Firm: Torti Gallas + Partners
Location: South Gate, CA
Instagram: N/A
Photographer Name: Nico Marques

Supportive housing project for homeless veterans that stood out since it integrates into the community seamlessly without standing out, providing residences that allow re integration by subtle architecture that just provides rather than shouts or declares. | Modern, light, fresh design detailing decision that allows one to be. | Unpretentious.

Citation
Project Name: Hope on Alvarado
Firm: KTGY
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @ktgygroup
Photographer Name: John Cole

It’s well documented that affordable housing is desperately needed across the country. In this particular case, Hope on Alvarado, a prototype in modular design, creates an opportunity for housing using contemporary construction methods and materials.

Adaptive Re-Use/Renovation/Historic Preservation

Honor
Project Name: ASPEN-WEST END
Firm: RO | ROCKETT DESIGN
Location: Aspen, CO
Instagram: @rorockettdesign
Photographer Name: Draper White

Incredible addition to a historic house that in its own right has a strong character and design presence. | The addition is connected by materiality and color and offers a modern fresh addition to the complex. | Sensitive detailed design solutions allow a dialogue between the old and the new parts of the residential project.

Honor
Project Name: Veneklasen House
Firm: Chu–Gooding
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @chugoodingarchitects
Photographer Name: Nils Timm

Impressive American interpretation of Yin and Yang in residential design. Interplay of black and white, of solid and void. | An impressive adaptive re-use updating and redefining residential design.

Temporary Housing

Citation
Project Name: Hilda L. Solis Care First Village
Firm: NAC
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @nacarchitecture
Photographer Name: Paul Vu

This development certainly addresses the housing and supportive needs of Angelenos experiencing homelessness. | The repurposing of shipping containers and other prefabricated materials were gathered quickly due to time constraints. | It’s commendable how the design of each unit affords the residences privacy, while the public spaces allow residents to interact with each other and the landscape.

Citation
Project Name: HOPE ON LAFAYETTE
Architect: DeMaria Design
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: N/A
Photographer Name: Peter DeMaria

Homeless project that raises the awareness and personalizes the cause. | Makes one sit up and notice rather than look away. | The cause should be tackled on a wider societal as well as professional level.

Multi-Residential – Small

Honor
Project Name: Monterey Co-Living
Firm: Warren Techentin Architecture [WTARCH]
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @wtarch
Photographer Name: Eric Staudenmaier

Use of unique material and color for the facade adds variety to the cityscape and architectural scene.

Honor
Project Name: FRAME
Firm: Design Opera
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Instagram: @designopera
Photographer Name: Taiyo Watanabe

This post and beam construction in Tijuana creates streamlined sightlines on the exterior and interior spaces. | The large terraces would allow residents to enjoy indoor/outdoor living while living in a high rise. | Visually, I was impressed with the interplay of wood and concrete.

Honor
Project Name: Canyon Drive
Firm: Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects [LOHA]
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @loharchitects
Photographer Name: Paul Vu

A memorable project design resolution that weaves into the community. | Architectural design that provides impressive spatial residential design, providing a Scandinavian flair of design.

Citation
Project Name: Huntley
Firm: Albert Group
Location: West Hollywood, CA
Instagram: @albertgrouparchitects
Photographer Name: Tom Bonner

Using streamlined aesthetics on the exterior and quality materials in the units, the Huntley is a contemporary nod to Irving Gill’s form and creative style.

Multi-Residential – Large
Honor
Project Name: Granville1500
Firm: Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects [LOHA]
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @loharchitects
Photographer Name: Paul Vu

Fun play of volumes that break the scale of the project to respect human scale, while creating integrated outdoor atriums closely to the units.

Citation
Project Name: The Fitz on Fairfax
Firm: OFFICEUNTITLED
Location: West Hollywood, CA
Instagram: @officeuntitled
Photographer Name: Benny Chan

The Fairfax residences create a movement of light and people between buildings. Their use of wood to construct vertical screens of light and the landscaping forms a balance between materiality and nature throughout the complex.

Single Family Residential – Small

Honor
Project Name: HT Residence
Firm: Laney LA
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
Instagram: @LaneyLAinc
Photographer Name: Joe Fletcher

Elegant design, warmth of material, abundant natural light, and a high ceiling create a welcoming and cozy living space.

Merit
Project Name: Sunset Terrace
Firm: Martin Fenlon Architecture
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
Instagram: @martin.fenlon
Photographer Name: John Linden

Residences that stood out due to the spiral staircase that is the feature of the residential design in remembrance of the Scharoun project in Stuttgart Weissenhof. | Impressive modern interpretation as a celebration of materiality and light.

Merit
Project Name: B+B House
Firm: Design, Bitches
Location: Venice, CA
Instagram: @design_bitches
Photographer Name: Yoshihiro Makino

Clever interplay of rectangular volume and pitched roof form. | Combination of different colors and material creates both warm and playful atmosphere

Single Family Residential – Medium

Honor
Project Name: TrussHaus
Firm: Space International
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @space_intl
Photographer Name: Taiyo Watanabe

Design embraces the unique condition of site cleverly. In addition, exterior material compliments the natural environment. Interiors are kept warm with a selection of natural materials and maximized views

Honor
Project Name: Desert Palisades
Architect: Woods + Dangaran
Location: Palm Springs, CA
Instagram: @woods_dangaran
Photographer Name: Joe Fletcher

Harmonious use of exterior facade material that compliments the surrounding nature. | Curated framing of views helps blur indoor and outdoor. | Outdoor spaces created by cantilevered roofs are a pleasant addition to the house.

Citation
Project Name: 31st Street • Hermosa Beach
Firm: LMD Architecture Studio
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Instagram: @lmdarchitecturestudio
Photographer Name: Manolo Langis

The use of natural materials and the green roof in the design of the 31st Street/Hermosa Beach residence is a seamless interaction between space, light, and landscape. | This space is also a reminder of the possibility of play and color engagement with its yellow kitchen cabinets and the pool that allows swimmers to peek inside the house.

Single Family Residential – Large

Honor
Project Name: Sail House
Firm: Studio of Environmental Architecture
Location: Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Instagram: @davidhertz_studioea
Photographer Name: Kevin Scott

Strong concept and unique design well-executed with attention to details. | Architecture not only complements expansive nature, but celebrates residents’ experience within. | The contrasting expressions of forms culminate into a dynamic, environmentally conscious design. | This small collection of tensile roofs blends well into their surroundings without being overbearing.

Honor
Project Name: Mar Vista
Firm: Woods + Dangaran
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @woods_dangaran
Photographer Name: Joe Fletcher

Appreciate juxtaposition of pure geometry of architecture and organic layout of landscape. | Consistent use of linear pattern and louvers helps to break the scale of building volumes and ties project cohesively. | The Mar Vista residence belies a symmetry of design and materials. | Light, space, materials, and shape all interact to create a functionally modern home.

Merit
Project Name: Twentieth
Firm: Woods + Dangaran
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Instagram: @woods_dangaran
Photographer Name: Joe Fletcher

This residence is a synergy of natural tones and materials, accentuating its high design and expansive spaces that draw in light.

Merit
Project Name: The Tree House
Architect: KAA Design
Location: Southern California
Instagram: @_kaa_design
Photographer Name: Roger Davies

This design is layered in lines, curves, landscape, and materiality. | While the approach in design was modernist minimalist, the spatial organization of indoor and outdoor results are expansive and thoughtful. | The incorporation of an existing tree by creating a curved eave from the second floor terrace and the curvature of the staircase softens the rectilinear volumes.

Climate Positive Award

Project Name: Jigsaw Small Lot Net Zero Townhomes
Firm: Kendall Architecture Planning + Design
Location: Culver City, CA
Instagram: N/A
Photographer Name: Alison Kendall

This project stood out not just for its outstanding net zero energy achievements, all-electric design free from polluting fossil fuels, and its high achievement in third-party sustainability certifications, but also for its replicability. | This project establishes a scalable roadmap for similar development; marrying clean, modern design with carbon neutral strategies in a cost-effective market rate package. | This is precisely the type of development we need more of if the profession is to meet the responsibilities and commitments outlined in the AIA’s Climate Pledge.

Project Name: Flor 401 Lofts
Firm: KoningEizenberg Architecture
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram: @koningeizenberg
Photographer Name: Eric Staudenmaier

Flor 401 Lofts exemplifies how climate-sensitive design is inseparable from a truly equitable housing solution. | This high performance, LEED Platinum project achieved a 58% energy reduction and includes renewable on-site power to keep tenant utility cost burdens low. | The project also placed a high premium on occupant wellness, evidenced by the provision of electric stoves, which promote healthier indoor air quality, access to daylight and quality views, and biophilic elements connecting residents to nature despite the predominantly urban setting.