The 2018 New York IDA Winners: Architecture

The firm created a spacious Upper East Side duplex by combining four apartments and giving the new abode loads of personality. A partition wall hides the kitchen from the dining area while simultaneously concealing structural columns, and a graffiti installation in the gym features the client’s favorite sports and inspirational quotations. “This project is so sophisticated,” declares judge Lori Weitzner, “and the open plan is great for entertaining.”

A chair swing suspended from the ceiling in the open-plan living area keeps things casual and family-friendly.

The firm was inspired by shingle-style architecture for the design of this ground-up residence in Rye. Traditional elements include a widow’s walk and gables on the exterior and mahogany paneling, shiplap, and herringbone wood detailing inside. “This is an instant classic,” states judge Harry Heissmann. “It looks like it has always been there.” Weitzner calls it “the perfect blend of traditional and modern.”

A peripatetic couple craving a space to display their extensive art collection and entertain family and friends commissioned Wadia Associates to overhaul their three-bedroom pied-à-terre on Central Park West. The firm employed moldings, ample doorways, and a muted palette to create an elegant setting for the clients’ treasures. “This timeless backdrop works with any type of decor,” says judge Alex Papachristidis, while judge Analisse Taft-Gersten deems the project “very open and inviting.”