SFA News – Unbuilt Works

The P/A Awards are our profession’s most prestigious prize for unbuilt works of architecture.   “Unbuilt | Built: The Influence of the Progressive Architecture Awards”  is an exhibit curated by G. Martin Moeller of the National Building Museum. The show is on exhibit from May 14 to August 31 at the AIA Headquarters in DC.  The topic is near and dear to our hearts, as one of our own has been the recipient of this prestigious award in the past.

Summer Cabin by Joseph N. Biondo

In 1996, SFA Design Principal Joseph N. Biondo won a P/A Citation for the Summer Cabin, a theoretical retreat in Adirondack Park, NY. His award was announced in the May 1996 issue of "Architecture".  In that same magazine issue, AIA Fellow Peter Bohlin received an AIA Honor Award for the Ledge House in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, realized with the help of senior architect Joe Biondo.  Joe’s work with Peter Bohlin was highly influential in his career, and his work continues to reflect the lessons he learned at Bohlin, Cywinski, Jackson.

 Ledge House by Bohlin, Cywinski, Jackson

Some perspective on that moment in time and the experience of working with  Peter Bohlin, Biondo states  ”study, refine, tune: these are the guiding words uttered from my mentor and friend Peter Bohlin when sketching over design drawings with a soft pencil while working together at BCJ.  Peter’s built work commands a quiet reverence – it is profoundly meaningful and speaks poetically to its users.  I will be forever grateful for the creative collaboration we have had over the years. Peter has been an inspiration in pushing my architecture beyond style and toward a high degree of tectonic clarity and honest expression.”

Summer Cabin by Joseph N. Biondo

Built or not, the message is clear: human-centered design, regional materials and finely-crafted details can produce an architecture that is timeless, useful, and extraordinarily compelling.

Summer Cabin by Joseph N. Biondo

At Architect magazine, you can read G. Martin Moeller’s thoughts on theory, practice, ideas, and execution, all in relation to the exhibit discussed.  Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did:  http://www.architectmagazine.com/exhibitions/g-martin-moeller-jr.aspx?rssLink=G.+Martin+Moeller+Jr

The AIA Galleries are open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, except for Federal holidays. Please be advised, the AIA Galleries and the Octagon also function as event rental space. AIA reserves the right to close the exhibition areas to the public at any time for a private event.

Image credit: Ledge House -  Bohlin Cywinski,Jackson / Karl Backus