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Press Release

DesignNewswire · COMO, Italy ·

Old Yacht Club Private House by Elliott Architects Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Elliott Architects honored for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 19, 2024 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category for Old Yacht Club Private House by Elliott Architects. The recognition forms part of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

What the Bronze A' Design Award Means

The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

More About Old Yacht Club Private House

An abandoned Yacht Club, poised at the edge of the bay, sat derelict for years, all while bearing witness to the relentless coastal climate of Maine. Built in 1919, it endured a series of interventions after the Club relocated in 1946. It would require the right temperament and commitment to restore its historical memory while modernizing the early 20th century structure.

Award Record

This recognition makes Elliott Architects a winner of 1 A' Design Award.

About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award

The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Entries typically include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. Awarded architectural projects are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/architecture

About A' Design Award & Competition

A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project
Old Yacht Club Private House
Function
Private House
Category
Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Discipline
Spatial Design
Industry
Architecture
Colors
Black, Dark Gray, Dark Slate Gray, Gray and Dim Gray
Images
5

The Recognition

Laureate
Elliott Architects
Country
United States of America
Recognition
Bronze A' Design Award
Edition
2023 - 2024
Design ID
#158526

Credits

Team
Corey Papadopoli, NCARB, Matt Elliott, AIA, Buzzy Cyr, Maggie Kirsch and Elise Schellhase
Image Credits
Trent Bell

Design Details

Unique Properties
An abandoned Yacht Club, poised at the edge of the bay, sat derelict for years, all while bearing witness to the relentless coastal climate of Maine. Built in 1919, it endured a series of interventions after the Club relocated in 1946. It would require the right temperament and commitment to restore its historical memory while modernizing the early 20th-century structure.
Inspiration
Two large moves helped transform the Yacht Club into a residence while paying homage to its past. In both instances old and new are distinct. The replacement of a corner of the Club Room with large sliding glass panels coupled with the addition of two glass dormers transformed the otherwise lightless building into a two-way receptacle for light. While admitting sunlight deep into the house throughout the day, at night it is a luminous beacon on the coast, a reminder of memory restored.
Research
The original structure was studied and fully documented. We analyzed the structural systems to determine the best way to maintain as much of the original historic fabric as possible. In the end, the foundation required significant repair and a new structural system was erected so that this project can endure long into the future.
Realization and Technology
Renovation often calls to mind the thought problem of Theseus’ ship. How does one renovate a historic structure and adapt it to a new use without obfuscating past and present? The solution in this case involved developing an architectural language that relates to the old while clearly of the present.
Operation and Interaction
Single-family residence.
Project Duration and Location
The project started design in 2018 and construction started in the spring of 2020 and was completed in the summer of 2023.
Specifications
The original footprint (9.75 m x 13.7 m) was maintained as was the original height. The original stone was repointed and reused on site along with the original framing and wall finish from the Club Room.
Keywords
Renovation, Rehabilitation, Adaptive Reuse, Minimalism, Light

Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

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