WAN (World Architecture News) has announced their finalist long list for the 2011 houses of the year awards.

Here is a link to all the entries.

Unfortunately, no Vancouver houses made it to the list. This could due to a sad inventory of modern houses in this beautiful city of ours.
Here are some of my favorites :

Yingst Residence, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan, United States

Architect : Salmela Architect

 

 

 

 

Narrabeen House, Sydney, Australia

Architect : Choi Ropiha Fighera

 

 

 

 

The Ellis Residence, Seattle, United States

Architect : Coates Design Architects

Also check out this house on the Contemporist website,

and on the ArchDaily website.

 

 

 

Ninety7 @ Siglap, Singapore

Architect : aamer architects

I threw this one in just for the great curves this house has and the controlled use of materials.

 

 

 

 

 

Redelco Residence, Studio City, California, United States

Architect : Brooks + Scarpa

Here is a link to ModResDes website with a load of information about this wonderful modern house in California.

 

 

 

 

The Hudson Passive Project, Claverack, New York, United States

Architect : Dennis Wedlick Architect

I couldn’t have a list without including the only PassivHaus that is nominated.

 

 

 

 

Vienna Way Residence, Venice, United States

Architect : Marmol Radziner

An extensive write up on the house with beautiful pictures found on the ArchDaily website.

 

 

 

 

 

Cedarvale Ravine House, Toronto, Canada

Architect : Drew Mandel Architects

Last but most certainly not least, is a house in Canada by a great modernist architect, Drew Mandel.

That cantilever though gives me the heebie jeebies!

I wish all the best to all the award hopefuls, and my vote would go to the Ravine House.

Somehow I do not think that this house will win as these competitions are more like a popularity contest (as all competitions are).

Have a look at this comical view of how architecture competitions work: you tube link

UPDATE:

Here is the link to the shortlist. Not to my surprise, none of my selections made it to the shortlist.