A few weeks ago, I took a look at some of our past CUSTOM HOME Design Awards issues to see if trends or tastes had changed over the years, at least based on winning projects. I had to chuckle when I ran across my Editor’s Page from the March/April 1998 CHDA issue—its headline was “In With the Old.” That would never do for this CHDA issue. A better headline this year might be “Out with the Old.”
Eight years ago, most of the winning projects looked back to classic American house styles. There were dignified Georgian colonials, rambling Pennsylvania stone country houses, various interpretations of rural farmhouses, and splendid Shingle-style mansions. There’s not much of that this year. As you will see inside this issue, 2006 is the year to exalt a more recent American classic—the Modern house.
Our independent panel of four judges (two residential architects and two custom home builders) cited 24 projects to receive awards from a record 487 entrees this year, and nearly every one of those winners has a Modernist bent. While these beautiful award-winning projects certainly represent the sensibilities of the judges, they also mark a growing interest in mid-20th-century design among consumers and building pros.
It’s really not surprising, because Modern houses are a perfect fit for modern lifestyles and aspirations. Their open floor plans, walls of glass, and easy indoor/outdoor relationships suit the more casual way Americans now live and entertain at home. Home buyers at the top of the housing chain especially value the natural materials that are an important part of the Modern look. They can find in Modern design’s clean lines and sympathetic connection with the site a welcome respite from the visual clutter and confusion of much of the built world. And, perhaps as important, a Modern house makes a statement that resonates with many custom buyers: This is not a cookie-cutter production house; it’s a highly designed, one-of-a-kind home.
You’ll understand why Modern houses have gained a growing following as you look through the 2006 Custom Home Design Awards feature. You’ll find designs that celebrate metal, stone, concrete, and especially glass; houses that dance with their sites; plans that both soar and shelter. Even if you’re a committed traditionalist, you’ll find much to admire and be inspired by in these Modern American classics.
