archibooweb awards

2017

The Archiboo Web Awards highlight and celebrate the creative use of technology to communicate great architecture. Judged by a panel of 28 experts from tech, media, cultural institutions, academia, property and engineering, as well as past winners, prizes were awarded in 10 categories, including Best Use of Social Media and Best Use of Video.

The awards not only recognise websites that are pushing the boundaries with the latest technologies such as VR and 3D animations, but also those which use strong visual design and written content to help change the way we look at architecture.

Reviewing this years’ winners, two things were clear. Firstly architects are investing more time and money in their websites. And although it’s fair to say more energy still goes into photography and digital imagery, there is an increasing understanding of today’s digital world, for example in the need for responsive layouts and consistency across all devices and platforms.

Secondly our awards are better known therefore more talented firms have entered them. Sixty firms entered from as far afield as Canada and the US and we had over 250 entries. Finally, while the awards have gone to the practice or studio, we also want to congratulate the designers, film makers, writers and photographers whose contribution is essential to a great website. So well done to all who entered and we hope to see you again next year.

White Collar Factory hosted the 2017 Archiboo Web Awards

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V&A Exhibwition Road Quarter Architect: AL A

Afroditi KrassaAfroditi is the Creative Director of AfroditiKrassa.

Courtney LutkitschCourtney is founder and principal at Gotham PR.

Paul RafteryPaul is an architectural photographer.

WinnerGillespies

The judges said Gillespies homepage ticked all the boxes because it gives a “clear and consistent message on the scale of the studio and its area of expertise, is well delivered, balanced and user friendly”. They added that if they were voting for the strongest homepage moving into 2018, “this would win on all fronts.”

Best HomepageCategory descriptionJudges were looking for creative homepages with intuitive navigation that make a visual impact and encourage people to explore further.

Winner Gillespies

ShortlistIF_DO, Gillespies, Waugh Thistleton, Dallas-Pierce-Quintero, Studio Munge, KHBT

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WinnerDavid Miller Architects

David Miller Architects shows excellent BIM representation of projects with animations, sections and elevations of buildings. “This is a great step forward for BIM and, specifically how easy it is for the wider industry to engage with and benefit from BIM. The technology is technologically advanced, intuitive with a clean layout and a great collection of projects”, said the judges.

Del HossainDel is MD of the Adrem Group.

Radek KaminskiRadek is BDP’s website and intranet manager.

Thomas TelfordTom is Managing Director and Co-Founder of 3WhiteHats

Best Use of TechnologyCategory descriptionAll successful websites require a creative but robust approach to technology. For this category judges were looking for technology that is relevant to the audience and conducive to their experience.

Winner David Miller Architects

ShortlistDavid Miller Architects, Adam Knibb Architects, Amos Goldreich Architecture, Conran and Partners, Studio Munge

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WinnerCousins & Cousins

Cousins & Cousins have created an experience that was “colourful, fun and healthy” and was well documented through social media. The architect’s support for bike brand Vélosophy’s ‘one-for-one’ promise “makes the point that through collaboration and partners you can achieve something meaningful that has the potential to change lives’, said the judges.

Carl TurnerCarl is Founding Director of Carl Turner Architects.

Kate MacTiernanKate is Creative Director and co-founder of the Shuffle festival.

Stella IoannouStella is Co-director of Sculpture in the City.

Best Offline ExperienceCategory descriptionCreating offline experiences for an audience can make online relationships stronger by giving them deeper roots that exist beyond a screen. Judges were looking for an experience that has strengthened online communities and boosted social media presence.

Winner Cousins & Cousins

ShortlistFeilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Cousins & Cousins, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, Hoskins Architects, Archio

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WinnerWitherford Watson Mann

The judges described the winning film as “absolutely gripping” saying it was “moving and full of humanity that led them to want to find out more about the community and buildings. While the architects, Witherford Watson Mann, are background characters, their compassion is quietly driven home. This felt like something genuinely informative and enduringly useful for the sector”, they said.

Phineas HarperPhineas is deputy director of the Architecture Foundation.

Enfys DickinsonEnfys is an award-winning producer.

Kyle BergmanKyle founded the annual Architecture & Design Film Festival

Best Use of Video

Category descriptionWhether it’s 3 minutes or 30 judges wanted to see online films or videos that tell a story, enhance the user experience and keep relevant viewers engaged.

Winner Witherford Watson Mann

ShortlistWitherford Watson Mann, BDP, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Jason Bruges, Mae

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Winner Ackroyd Lowrie

The winner, Ackroyd Lowrie showed a creative and practical use of a technology that is “often relegated to a simple marketing gimmick”.

“Being the first architectural practice to implement VR sign off on every project they undertake is a great claim to make. This feels like the future and given this is the underlying characteristic of anything that qualifies to be innovative, this is the entry that stood out”.

Jacob LoftusJacob Loftus is founder and CEO of developer General Projects.

Savvanah de SavraySavannah is the Founder and CEO of Built-ID.

Emily WrightEmily is features and global editor of Estates Gazette.

Best Use of Innovation

Category descriptionJudges were looking for websites that push the boundaries and creative ways companies are using technology. This could be VR, interactive videos, live streaming, drones, or anything else, as long as it sets them apart, and there’s logic behind the big idea.

Winner Ackroyd Lowrie

ShortlistAckroyd Lowrie, David Miller Architects, The Neighbourhood, Deploi, Grimshaw

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WinnerMae

The judges said Mae’s approach to social media “demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of what social media is for, and crucially, what it is not for. In other words, it’s not an add-on, afterthought or a cynical marketing tool”. The winner felt “authentic” and shows a genuine appreciation for social media’s capacity to foster connections between people and ideas”.

Jon SilkJohn is a partner at Bite.

Zeena FeldmanZeena is Lecturer in Digital Culture at King’s College London.

Francesco d’OrazioFrancesco is Co-founder of audience intelligence firm Pulsar.

Best Use of Social Media

Category descriptionJudges wanted to see social media used to communicate, connect and promote work to clients, consumers or stakeholders using creative and visually striking content that fairly represents the tone of the brand.

Winner Mae

ShortlistMae, Archio, Amos Goldreich Architecture, alma-nac, Conran & Partners

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WinnerSarah Wigglesworth Architects

The judges said SWA’s website “showcases beautiful images through storytelling and intuitive navigation and guides the user seamlessly through projects, processes and people and is great on all devices.”

As this was the most hotly contested category it was decided to award the runner-up, IF_DO, praised by judges for its “engaging imagery and confident use of use of colours and type”.

Albert HillAlbert founded estate agency, The Modern House.

Marcus FairsMarcus is founder and editor-in-chief of Dezeen.

Nikki OsborneNikki is a graphic designer.

Best Visual Design

Category descriptionFor the Best Visual Design category judges were looking for websites that communicate a visual experience, where design is high quality, appropriate and relevant for the message it’s supporting.

Winner Sarah Wigglesworth ArchitectsRunner-up - IF_DO

ShortlistIF_DO, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, Waugh Thistletonshedkm, Witherford Watson Mann, Studio Bark

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WinnerIF_DO

The judges said these are “renderings with their own character that are not trying to be photographs but rather closer to an artistic impression of the intention of the project”. They described the imagery as “painterly, sophisticated and subtle with lots of variety”.

Jeremy Till Jeremy head of Central Saint Martins and Pro-Vice Chan-cellor for Research at the University of the Arts London.

Kate GoodwinKate is Head of Architecture and Drue Heinz Curator at the RA.

David BickleDavid is the V&A’s Director of Design.

Best Use of Digital ImageryCategory descriptionJudges were looking for visualisations that immerse the viewer in imagery that is memorable, well composed and technically aware.

Winner IF_DO

ShortlistKjellander Sjöberg, Brisac GonzalezDavid Miller Architects, IF_DO, Brick Visual

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Winner Archio

Archio was praised by the judges for its commitment to the studio blog that came across as “lively and interesting”. The judges commented, ‘we felt we were in good hands”. The project descriptions, especially those that convey a sense of their history and backstory, were “impressive” and the introduction to the practice is “punchy and direct.”

Vicky RichardsonVicky is a writer, curator and consultant.

Juliette MitchellJuliette Mitchell runs architypal.

Hugh PearmanHugh is editor of the RIBA Journal.

Best Written content

Category descriptionJudges were looking for websites with written content that is engaging, original and insightful. There should be a consistent tone to the writing and it must be readable and relevant to the audience.

Winner Archio

ShortlistArchio, Ben Adams Architects , Shade Abdul Architecture, Stiff + Trevillion, Jamie Fobert Architects, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects

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WinnerDavid Miller Architects

The judges said David Miller Architects’ website is “clean, cool and comprehensive” while the use of 3D BIM models on all projects “perfectly demonstrates the approach that this practice takes to design”. They said: “This is a very well organised, concisely designed site with an impressive breadth of information and a nice balance of people and buildings throughout”.

Carolina BartramCarolina is a structural engineer with Arup.

Best Overall

Category descriptionThe prize for Best Overall rewards the website where content, visual design, functionality, interactivity, structure and navigation are excellent across all devices and platforms.

Winner David Miller Architects

ShortlistDavid Miller Architects, IF_DO, Studio Munge, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, Waugh Thistleton

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Albert HillAlbert founded estate agency, The Modern House.

Marcus FairsMarcus is founder and editor-in-chief of Dezeen.

Del HossainDel is MD of the Adrem Group.

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