ICONIC Design Awards for Excellence in Architecture

Modern Custom Home up to 3,500 SQ FT 
SILVER AWARD
NewWest Design Studio

This custom residence of 3,240 livable sq. ft. was designed for a full-time AZ resident client and their beautiful desert lot. The clients wanted a strong connection to nature for indoor-outdoor living, so patio spaces were created on multiple sides of the house. The central great room is comfortable for family time together and easily accommodates larger groups’ entertaining. The split floor plan works perfectly for this family of four and provides a semi-private guest bedroom/den. This property had an abundance of native trees at the perimeter, creating a feeling of privacy within the front and back yards and from inside the home.

TEAM:
Builder: Full Circle Custom Homes, Lisa Tate.

Modern Custom Home 3,500 to 7,500 SQ FT 
SILVER AWARD
Cosan Studio

This modern estate is situated on a beautiful 12-acre private parcel in Scottsdale. The property is surrounded by housing developments full of stucco boxes with concrete barrel tile roofs, with no context to their environment. The home, which sits above these developments, was conceived as a series of three pods for the main house connected by monolithic stone walls that form canyons to capture the distant mountains, city lights and epic sunsets. The main central pod houses the primary living spaces. The two pods that flank the primary living spaces are connected by glass, allowing the mountain, desert landscape and boulders to cascade through the canyons, giving the owners the sense of walking through nature. One pod contains the owner’s private retreat, complete with a bedroom, bathroom and closet, with views of the distance, beautiful rock formations and the desert beyond.

TEAM

Architect: Cosan Studio, Scott Carson, Adam Kostis, Tom Bell, Erika Tellez.
Builder: AFT Construction, Brad Leavitt, Paul Lundgren.
Interior Designer: Alisha Taylor Interiors.
Photographer: Joshua Caldwell. Windows/Doors: Pella Mountain West.
Landscape: Greey Pickett & Landscape Resources. Pool: Premier Paradise.
RESOURCES: Summit Stone. Summit Automation. Sub-Zero-Wolf. Cove. Burdette Cabinet Co. Alignment Steel.

GOLD AWARD
Tate Studio Architects

Layered walls of exposed concrete block and solar-powered stair lights lead the path to this 4,100 sq. ft. residence. With great appreciation for the property’s unique amenities, the terrain of the lot and native vegetation became the driving force of the design. Nestled gently on the site, the design angles the home to maximize views of the surrounding mountains, city lights and stunning sunsets. The two-story desert modern structure uses a simple palette of stone tile, cast-in-place concrete, precision masonry, stucco, metal and glass, clean architectural lines and a neutral contrasting color palette. Large expanses of glass, clerestory windows and stacked sliding doors frame the distant mountain peaks and desert scenes, letting the homeowners live within the views.

ICONIC AWARD
The Construction Zone

The Cliffback residence is nestled into the red rocks of Camelback Mountain, with expansive panes of glass reflecting the landscape and the patina of its steel skin melding into the cliffs that define this desert site. The exterior of the building is a rhythm of exposed structural columns and custom corrugated cladding mirroring the furrows of the cacti lining the entryway. The steel-clad base of the home blends with the landscape by day and disappears in the evening, leaving the upper glass level as a glowing piece of the mountain. The exterior walls fold into the building, leading up an oak and steel stair to the living spaces above. The interior is a study of materials and their connections. Steel detailing defines the planes of oak, terrazzo, plaster and stone finishes.

Modern Custom Home more than 7,500 SQ FT
SILVER AWARD
Drewett Works

Clean, crisp, simple—few words better sum up the design aesthetic of this modernist retreat with one of the most dramatic front-yard views in Phoenix. To make the most of the front yard, the architect arranged the front of the house vertically, with floor-to-ceiling windows that capture Camelback Mountain from the living room, kitchen and office. By contrast, the architect went horizontal with the architecture in the back to open it up to the sweeping desert scenery. Pocketing doors and numerous sitting areas in front and back enhance the indoor-outdoor experience. This amenity-rich acre home includes a 2,151 sq. ft. detached RV garage with a full bath that can double as guest quarters for overflow visitors.

TEAM

Builder: DRRL Construction.
Interior Design: Ownby Design.

ICONIC AWARD
The Construction Zone

Perched between two mountain peaks, the Upper Ridge Residence is an exquisite 8,000 sq. ft custom home designed and built by the team. The house is a modern steel and glass pavilion with the industry’s highest level of fit and finish. The home’s double-height entry is flooded with natural light from the overhead skylights, highlighting the finished materials and housing the handcrafted steel and glass staircase leading up to the main level. The primary spaces occupy the upper level, clad almost entirely in glass, offering panoramic views of the Valley. The lower level of the exterior is clad in rusticated limestone, giving a sense of solidity and grounding the house into the rocky site. Sliding glass walls open to maximize the space’s indoor-outdoor livability. The primary bedroom has two separate walk-in closets with lighted cabinets and bronze mirrors. The two primary bathrooms include custom floating vanities.

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Transitional Custom Home 3,500 to 7,500 SQ FT
SILVER AWARD
Cosan Studio

Located in the Northern Arizona Mountains on a sloping lot with dense Ponderosa Pine Trees, the home is designed to take advantage of three critical elements—the sloping terrain, avoiding as many pine trees as possible and allowing views of the golf course from every room. On the main lower-level patio, a thoughtful carved out boulder became a gas fire pit. The main level of the home includes an office, a primary bedroom, and a guest bedroom, along with the kitchen and great room, which opens out to a large patio with a fire pit and covered dining area. Off the primary bedroom is a cantilevered, private deck allowing owners to sit and relax among the tree canopy. The mountain home was conceived as a simple gable massing with earthy stone and wood elements that ground it to its place.

TEAM

Architect: Cosan Studio, Scott Carson, Adam Kostis, Tom Bell.
Builder: Stilley Tulloss Design Group.
Interior Designer: Kimberly Parker Design.
Landscape: Kaibab Landscaping.
Civil Engineer: Summit Civil Group.
Photographer: Joshua Johnson Photography & Timber Creek Imagery.

Transitional Custom Home more than 7,500 SQ FT
SILVER AWARD
Cosan Studio

The 5.39-acre site boasts a soaring McDowell Mountain with incredible mountain views. The estate is designed to fulfill the client’s needs of a home—to entertain and allow their grown children to visit; an office for a very busy executive separate from the home; and a place to train for triathlons and promote overall wellness. The steep site had a great area to place the sprawling oasis that would allow for a large yard, necessary for the 75-ft. long lap pool and the pool used for everyday swimming. Next to the lap pool is a full two-level gym/aerobics studio, hot and cold plunges, and a sauna. The detached office sits at the highest point, looking over the home and yard. Thoughtfully placed boulders and desert landscape are used as retaining walls and erosion control to softly flow down the mountainside with the boulders going into the pool.

TEAM

Architect: Cosan Studio, Scott Carson, Tom Bell.
Builder: Schultz Development Corp, John Schultz.
Interior Designer: Michael Ferguson.
Landscape Architect: Greey Pickett, Russ Greey.
Civil Engineer: Land Development Group.
Photographer: Reagan Taylor.

GOLD AWARD
Candelaria Design Associates

This 8,300 sq. ft. custom home on a five-acre parcel in Paradise Valley was designed and built for a young couple to enjoy friends and their animals. The overall style is Spanish Colonial Revival with a modernized Moroccan/Andalusian influence but with inspiration from Santa Barbara estates. The home has traditional clean lines with a red clay tile roof and simple black iron details inspired by the classic homes of Santa Barbara architect George Washington Smith.The kitchen features a two-story volume with a vaulted, brick boveda ceiling design and a skylit cupola. A pair of balconies open to a second-story game lounge. The circular staircase contains a hidden wine room underneath. Between the stairs and kitchen is a Moroccan-inspired, glass-door encased dining room that completely opens to the outdoor front courtyard, which features a see-through fireplace.

TEAM

Architects: Mark Candelaria & Meredith Thomson.
Builder: Schultz Development.
Civil: Nick Prodanov.
Interiors: Wendy Black Rodgers.

ICONIC AWARD
Candelaria Design Associates

The clients wanted a home inspired by the formal villas of Italy but with a modern-day aesthetic. All the rooms have the grand scale and proportion seen in classic palatial villas but are simplified in color, light, and textures to create the desired, more modern style. Modern metal and glass materials are mixed with paneled walls and embossed, coved and crowned ceilings. The lower level features a full two-lane bowling alley, a speakeasy bar with a bowling-pin ceiling and a bowling lane bar top. The entire home is arranged around a series of cross axes containing separate symmetrical spatial components that combine to form this 19,000 sq. ft. home. The house is arranged in thin wings that allow natural light to flow into the rooms, many from three sides.

TEAM

Builder: Linthicum Home Builders.
Interior Design: Vallone Interiors.

Single-Family Home in a Community up to 3,500 SQ FT
ICONIC AWARD
Camelot Homes & The Ranch Mine

Paradigm embodies a shift in luxury living, prioritizing intimacy and connection over opulence and excess. Restricted by a smaller footprint in this infill mountainside community, the award-winning architecture firm The Ranch Mine was forced to get creative with the home designs. At 3,400 sq. ft., the four-bedroom, 3.5-bath plus plan implements innovative design solutions such as floor-to-ceiling class, an open floor plan and minimalist aesthetics to create a sense of spaciousness that complements the expansive views beyond. A lighter, more muted pallet of brick, wood and stucco was chosen for the exterior and provides a sophisticated, clean and cohesive resort-like aesthetic.

TEAM

Builder: Camelot Homes.
Architecture: The Ranch Mine.
Interior Design: Studio Dwell.
Landscape: Creative Environments.

Single Family Home in a Community 3,500 to 7,500 SQ FT
GOLD AWARD
Drewett Works

With Camelback Mountain as its backdrop to the west and the Four Peaks Mountain Range to the east, Part and Counterpart is located in Cameldate Estates. The residence is one of 11 custom contemporary homes designed by the architect. Taking an unorthodox approach to the layout of the house and its wellness pavilion, the architect created two “L’s” that overlap. Limestone, glass and plaster are the primary materials in this black-and-white house. A glassed-in entry atrium looks directly to the pool and connects the guest quarters on the left and the main living spaces to the right. Outdoors, a negative-edge pool is set between the house and a two-story wellness pavilion. The structure offers seating and fire features on both levels and an exercise room under a glass-bottom spa on the second story.

TEAM

Builder: Bedbrock Developers.
Interior Design: Ownby Design.

ICONIC AWARD
Drewett Works

Configured at a diagonal on a corner lot, White Box No. 5 is an unexpectedly beautiful contradiction to its neighboring homes and a brilliant solution to a hot environment. Capturing the magnificent views of nearby Camelback Mountain was of primary importance in this speculative design, followed closely by considerations of a desert climate. Due to its positioning, White Box No. 5 is designed to minimize heat gain during the hottest months and maximize it during the coldest. Because most rooms are recessed and protected from the blazing sun by deep overhangs, the interiors stay comfortable, and the views stay intact. The undulating architecture is evident on the home’s exterior, where thick travertine massing walls define and separate the interior spaces. Gorgeous hemlock ceilings and zinc fascia are standout design elements.

TEAM

Builder: Bedbrock Developers.
Interior Design: Ownby Design.
Furnishings: Laura Kehoe Design.

SILVER AWARD
Urban Design Associates

Thoughtfully enhancing materials and expanding living spaces, the tean transformed this residence in Desert Mountain. Shifting from golden warmth to a luminous white plaster, the home now exudes a more immense, contemporary aura. The Stone Wash home already had beautiful stone, solid wooden vigas and adobe brick that created a natural feel. The updated fireplaces with new contemporary built-ins extended the organic aesthetic and made spaces like the library room perfect for a quiet afternoon. The built-in bookcases with in-shelf lighting enabled a stunning display of the owner’s extensive collection of American art.

Builder: Randy Arnett with R-Net Custom homes.
Interior Designer: Katherine Mueller Design.

GOLD AWARD
Cameron Custom

Skyeview is the culmination of a visionary transformation. A rundown 1976-era home has been reborn as a 3,000 sq. ft. gem poised majestically atop Camelback Mountain. Inspired by the mesmerizing Arizona skyline and the vibrant energy of the surrounding desert landscape, it embodies a new era of luxury living where art, architecture, and innovation converge. With space at a premium, the idea of how different spaces function was redefined. A garage was converted into a second primary suite featuring a soaking tub in the bedroom. Outside, an abandoned staircase was converted into a waterfall water feature that seems to disappear as it makes its way under the home. Even the pergola concept was reimagined, inspired by the Saguaro.

TEAM

Builder: Cameron Custom.
Interior and Architectural Design: Trent Hancock and Joel Contreras.
Landscape Design: Trent Hancock, Victor Parra, and Steve Vollmer.
Landscape Install: VMP Designs, The Plant Stand.

RESOURCES

Metal Fabrication: S&S Metal Fab. Home Automation: Cyber Group.  Light Fixtures: Hinkley Lighting. Window Treatments: Simply Shading. Sculpture Installations: Jennyfer Stratman. Furnishings: Space Bazaar. Artwork: Trimper Art Gallery. Fireplaces: Infiniti Fire.

Renovation 3,500 to 7,500 SQ FT
SILVER AWARD
PHX Architecture

Located in Scottsdale, this beauty was brought back to life by the best artisans in the Valley. The home was initially designed as an Arizona contemporary spec project. However, during the peak of the “Tuscan” style trend, it was sold before completion, and the new owner opted to transform most of the interior to reflect this aesthetic. Years later, the new owners came across the property, knowing the initial involvement of the team, but were puzzled by the interior, which didn’t align with the team’s typical design style. Intrigued by the prospect of restoring the home to its original vision, they reached out to PHX. Their interest and desire to return the house to its intended design inspired them to purchase it and engage the team to oversee its restoration.

TEAM

Builder: AFT Construction.
Interior Designer: Laura Kehoe.
Photographer: Laura Moss.

Sustainable Design
ICONIC AWARD
Boyer Vertical

KARMA is a pioneering collection of 11 smart, modern, single-family homes that exemplify sustainable living and innovative design. The homes feature bold, elegant forms that create a harmonious and visually stunning community, blending seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhoods’ existing small ranch and Mid-Century Modern homes. Windows and operable skylights energize light-filled living spaces, while the compact building footprint is highly insulated, reducing energy use and monthly bills.
The innovative design includes a robust, flexible electrical infrastructure, making KARMA homes future-proof. As the first community in the country to standardize SPAN electrical panels, KARMA homes come equipped with roof-mounted solar, Level-2 EV chargers, whole-home water filtration, home automation and a versatile flex space.

TEAM

Architect, Developer, Builder: Boyer Vertical.
Landscape Architect: Floor & Associates. Electrical and EV charging equipment: Span.io.

Historic Preservation
ICONIC AWARD
Cameron Custom

Nestled within the historic Willo neighborhood of downtown Phoenix, a small Spanish Colonial-style home stood as a testament to the region’s rich architectural heritage. Built with charm and character in the early 20th century, its weathered façade bore witness to decades of history and culture. However, recognizing the potential for transformation and renewal, the team embarked on a journey to return this quaint abode into a modern gem while preserving its timeless allure. Lovingly dubbed the mullet house, we decided to maintain its business-in-front curb appeal and completely reimagined the rear of the home, bringing it fully into the 21st century with a party-in-the-back vibe. Through meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful design, the once humble dwelling has been reborn to accommodate the needs of contemporary living.

Lighting Design
SILVER AWARD
Robert Singer & Associates

This inspired a lighting design that provides an inviting atmosphere, balancing a natural flow between the interior and exterior. An entry courtyard reinforces the home’s symmetry, with the architecture, landscaping and lighting mirrored over the entry path and aligned to a ruled grid that permeates the entire property. Continuous lighting from the exterior to the interior minimizes the transition from one space to another. Gas lanterns and a firepit are a nod to tradition and add warmth to the spaces, with a moonlighting effect in the trees adding a magical quality. To balance the glass walls, downlights accent dark plaster walls with pendants over nightstands used to anchor the bedroom headboards. A spa bath features RGB linear lights to envelop the occupant in a saturated, calming color. White lighting at the vanity and sauna creates a cozy atmosphere. Frosted glass garage doors allow light to diffuse into the parking courtyard.

TEAM

Builder: Brikor Associates.
Photographer: Steve Mundinger Photography.

ICONIC AWARD
Robert Singer & Associates Inc.

Maximizing views and embracing the outdoors are pivotal to the design of this hillside home. Extensive glazing systems provide panoramic views across the valley and immediate views of a reflecting pond and green wall. These architectural features directed the lighting design to respond with continuity and restraint. Creating well-illuminated spaces that harmonize with contemporary architecture is suggested using small apertures and flangeless square downlights that merge into the ceiling. Coordination with the builder’s team ensured the lighting and the architecture complemented one another by keeping the lights aligned with windows and doors. Working solely with built-in architectural lighting ensures the prominence of the architecture and interior finishes.

TEAM 

Architect: McClean Design.
Photographer: Mike Kelley.

SILVER AWARD
Kendle Design Collaborative

The Dancing Light Flex Pavilion emerges as a crystalline companion to its iconic neighbor, a home rooted in the solid opacity of rammed earth. This accessory structure, designed with reverence for the Arizona landscape, offers a dialogue between transparency and solidity, establishing a harmonious architectural duet. The Pavilion is meticulously programmed to accommodate shifting lifestyle demands, featuring a convergence of exercise equipment, lounge seating and a functional kitchenette. A Murphy bed and an array of storage solutions are seamlessly integrated into a millwork partition that also houses a full bath, further ensuring that the space can evolve with its inhabitants’ needs. Material choices are deeply intentional, echoing the natural hues of the surrounding desert while prioritizing sustainability.

TEAM

Contractor: Desert Star.
Landscape Architect: G B Two Landscape Architecture.

SILVER AWARD
Kendle Design Collaborative

Nestled on a gently sloping two-acre parcel abutting the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, the Feline Frontier exemplifies profound respect for its context and the nuances of desert living. The main residence is a sanctuary tailored for the owners and their occasional visiting adult children. It features dual “catios”—secured outdoor spaces that protect the cats from natural predators—merged with an open living area that captures panoramic views. The primary suite extends into an indoor-outdoor bathroom, embracing the desert’s ethos of inside-outside living. Central to the design is the courtyard, a protective enclave that hosts the home’s vibrant outdoor life. It serves as a hub with a pool, spa and safe enclosure for the anticipated dog.

ICONIC AWARD
Stratton Architects

The picturesque site was perched above the North Scottsdale desert floor, 180 degrees north of Cave Creek and beyond. Boulders encompassed all sides of the home and became the natural foundation from which the contemporary architecture resurrects. The landscape was carefully curated to work with the curves and natural terrain, allowing the pool and home to restfully balance on top. The soft materials and clean roof lines create this warm, inviting desert dwelling.

TEAM

Builder: Phil Nichols Company.

Landscape: Greey-Pickett.

Modern On-The-Boards 3,500 to 7,500 SQ FT
SILVER AWARD
Stratton Architects

The majestic volcanic foothills in western Phoenix create a fantastic backdrop for this contemporary desert home. The home is carefully positioned to capture awe-inspiring sunsets to the west while also fracturing around the local bluffs, opening its exposure to the peaks and canyon behind. The linear form is perched delicately above the desert floor, allowing views in all directions while allowing flora to grow under and envelope the architecture.

TEAM

Builder: Banner Built.
Landscape Architect: Greey Pickett.

GOLD AWARD
Kendle Design Collaborative

The Iron Mountain Residence exemplifies architectural integration with its environment, harmonizing form and function while engaging Arizona’s dynamic landscape. Designed with reverence for its context, the residence captures views of Camelback Mountain and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve to the north. Materially, the residence employs ground-faced masonry with a pattern of 4-ft. and 8-ft. tall blocks, echoing the jagged forms of the adjacent mountains. This pattern maximizes material efficiency and visual impact. A wash navigates between the wings, complemented by terraces and a bridge allowing natural water flow observation. Prominent features include floor-to-ceiling glass, a floating terrace for panoramic views, and the innovative “Monsoon Room” to immerse occupants in seasonal monsoons. 

TEAM:
Interior Design: Ownby Design.
Landscape Architect: Berghoff Design Group.
Owner/Advisor: Advocate-RCA.

ICONIC AWARD
Stratton Architects

Amethyst is the crown jewel of Crown Canyon, situated on one of the highest bluffs in all of Metro Phoenix. The site straddles a knoll with 270-degree views from East to West. Situating this estate on this terrain proved difficult, but the cantilever patios and decks create dramatic architectural elements that float above the pristine landscape. Preserving the surrounding serrated bluffs and Saguaro spires that envelop the design was required and set an incredible scene for this modern design. The main level primary living area extends East to West, spanning the gap with terraces and maximizing the indoor-outdoor living areas. Many pools and fire features cascade the terrain, creating a myriad of entertainment spaces. A 10-car show garage that sets the stage for a captivating entry experience.

TEAM

Landscape: The Green Room.
Builder: Bedbrock Developers.

Transitional On-The-Boards more than 7,500 SQ FT
GOLD AWARD
Stratton Architects

This re-envisioned Rural European Estate beautifully integrates the classic charm of Old-World European design with the sleekness of contemporary aesthetics. It features six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and a five-car garage, designed to accommodate modern lifestyles, sprawled across a meticulously planned layout that promotes grandeur and functionality. The design underscores a use of space that encourages indoor-outdoor living, ensuring that rooms transition seamlessly to outdoor spaces. The expansive primary wing boasts a private bedroom with a fireplace and large windows. The bedroom leads to a spa-like bathroom that opens onto a private outdoor garden and includes substantial walk-in closets, ensuite laundry and luggage storage for utmost convenience.

TEAM

Interior Design: Holly Wright Design.
Landscape Architect: Berghoff Landscape Design.
Lighting: Creative Designs in Lighting.
Builder: Arcadia Custom Builders.
Windows: Euroline Steel Windows.