The architect and designer community awards talents in the design industry at the 34th Annual Interiors Awards

The 34th Annual Interiors Awards 
was served up with a delicious morning breakfast over at Cipriani in NYC. 
Contract magazine's Editor in Chief, 
John Czarnecki, 
honored designers in 13 categories.  

design winner Joey Shimoda for
Steelcase Workcafe in Michigan

See below design firms I am highlighting to show the innovation design
in these chosen projects:
including a NYC restaurant and an Austrian office space:

restaurant award went to 
David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group for
The Untitled restaurant 
at the American Whitney Museum 

 I am smitten with this coffee shop, meets sleek contemporary restaurant which serves up a variety of delicious food in my neighborhood.  The space is stylish, practical, clean yet with an artist bent and a perfect aesthetic to serve up to this sophisticated crowd.

Untitled is a a restaurant by Danny Meyer which offers fresh, local food from the farm-to-table philosophy taking root around the country. Chef Chris Bradley, formerly of Gramercy Tavern, heads up the kitchen.  The space was designed by the Rockwell Group, and is housed in the lower level of the museum.

INNOCAD

awarded for the design of Microsoft's Austrian headquarters.  

photographs Paul Ott for archdaily.com 

innovative design is the key to this unique office space

It is a unique, brightly colored and visually interesting space that seems to inspire creativity.

The architecture team designed the Microsoft headquarters from concept through construction and worked closely with the Microsoft project team through all phases to create a space that blends working and social environments.

One of the highest honors given was to Los Angeles architect and designer Joey Shimoda, who was named the 34th Designer of the Year. His firm, Shimoda Design Group has rightfully earned respect from those in the industry for creating meaningful spaces for clients such as;  Steelcase, TOMS Shoes and J.J. Abrams. Watch the full video presentation on Shimoda here: Watch this video for Shimoda's philosophy and project with Steelcase.

Steelcase Workcafe in Michigan

a stunning space designed by Joey Shimoda

One of the most important awards was given to Michael Graves for his full career of contributions to the industry.  His career has varied from architecture to interior design and product design and branding and he is the only designer to receive both a Designer of the Year Award (in 1981) and the Legend distinction.

photograph courtesy archdaily.com
Graves has become a household name over the span of his lifetime and has his hands in many aspects of design from branding and products to large scale designs.  Since I have a brother who served and suffered in a war, I am particularly touched by his recent work for the Home for Wounded Warriors Project.  This project, which was completed in 2011, is a stand out of excellence.  The  Homes for wounded Warriors in Fort Belvoir, Virginia provides residence for service members returning from active duty to Fort Belvoir.  

The units are single-story but outfitted with five foot wide corridors that permit wheelchair access to manuever comfortably and in conjunction with others with disabilities.  Graves thought long and hard about how these wheelchair bound residents would live and interact, and custom designed the space to fit within these perimeters. Additionally, Graves considered the needs of Veterans possibly suffering from PTSD providing private areas and comforting spaces.  Since Graves was stricken with an infection that left him in a wheelchair, he had the ability to look at the architecture from a personal lens. 

 Bravo to Michael Graves for this innovative design! 
all 13 awards given:
Large Office Microsoft Vienna by INNOCAD
Small Office: XAL Competence Center in Graz, Austria by INNOCAD
Hotel: Grand Hyatt New York by Bentel & Bentel Planners/Architects
Restaurant: Untitled in New York by the Rockwell Group
Healthcare: Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon by ZGF Architects
Education: Cranbrook Art Museum Renovation and Collections Wing in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan by SmithGroupJJR
Public Space: Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum in Minneapolis by HGA
Showroom: Chongqing Mountain & City Sales Office in Chongqing, China by One Plus Partnership 
Entertainment: Wuhan Pixel Box Cinema in Wuhan, China by One Plus Partnership
Adaptive Reuse: Confidential Multimedia Entertainment Company in New York by FXFOWLE Architects 
Retail: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Museum Store in Bentonville, Arkansas by Marlon Blackwell Architect 
Sustainable: 22squared in Atlanta by Gensler 
Student: Play Lab by Nicole Germano 

Happy Nesting XO

please see recent product advertisements, which I have chosen based upon the story above.  Advertisements are a relatively new project here on Nest, and I am trying them out to see if they add to the blog and of course bring in some revenue, but I do not want to influence the integrity of my editorials. 

I have either used these products recently and enjoyed them or plan to use them soon.  

I have owned this camera for two years:  it's great in a pinch and fits nicely in my bag for quick blogging photos

it's not as great for super close ups but easy to use and good quality photographs.  Easy to use video too.