Five Contest Judges Tapped Experience To Pare Pile Of Entries

Good residential design requires a variety of skills. Artistic inspiration must be balanced with the sensitivity of a naturalist and the logic of a traffic engineer.

That’s because a well-designed house does more than just look good. It enhances the building site, and helps its occupants feel comfortable.

Likewise, judging good design based on portfolios of photographs, floor plans and brief descriptions requires a variety of skills. That’s why the team assembled to judge The Spokesman-Review’s 1995 Inland Northwest Home Awards reflects a wide range of experiences.

Our jury included:

Seattle home design writer Fred Albert;

David Scott, retired Washington State University architecture professor, consultant, and American Institute of Architects fellow;

Beth Sellars, artist and freelance art curator;

Interior designer Lorinda Silverstein; and

Teresa Brum, historic preservation officer for Spokane city and county.

The jurors met last week to consider all 56 contest entries, including 35 new homes over 1,800 square feet, seven new homes 1,800 feet or smaller, 11 remodels and additions, and three historic restorations.

“One thing we saw,” says Albert, “was architects returning to a more traditional mode. Very few contest entries were overtly contemporary, and I think that reflects the national trend.”

Jurors moved two historic restoration entries into the remodel/ addition category because the projects lacked historic authenticity. By day’s end, they had agreed on 12 outstanding examples of good design.

“There were enough standout entries in each category to make determining a winner fulfilling,” Albert said afterward. “We felt that the people who got awards really deserved them, and in some cases it was a close race.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 8 color photos