Elite players from the international architectural and design community, some from as far away as San Francisco, Belgium and China, came together on Friday, June 17, at Toronto’s historic Evergreen Brick Works as Azure revealed the winners of its sixth annual AZ Awards. Along with the accolades, the established and emerging talents walked away with a stunning trophy designed by Omer Arbel of Vancouver’s Bocci, and member of this year’s distinguished jury.

Now in its sixth year, the AZ Awards — Canada’s only international, multi-disciplinary design competition — is recognized for attracting top players in the fields of architecture and design. Open to designers, architects, firms, manufactures and students, the AZ Awards program cultivates the most innovative, dynamic and thought-provoking projects and products from across the globe. 

The 2016 jury was made up of five international heavy-weights: architect Chris Wilkinson of WiliknsonEyre (London, U.K), interior designer Anna Simone of Cecconi Simone (Toronto, Canada), landscape architect Thomas L. Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (Charlottesville, U.S.); architect John Tong of +tongtong (Toronto, Canada); and designer Omer Arbel of Bocci (Vancouver, Canada). Earlier this spring, the distinguished panel met in Toronto to vet, debate and draft a shortlist of 66 finalists from the 826 contenders. From there, they selected the 18 ultimate winners.

In April, following the announcement of the finalists, the public was invited to vote online for their favourites as the People’s Choice. To view the full list of 18 jury winners, 66 finalists and People’s Choice winners, visit azuremagazine.com.

All winners and finalists are featured in the Annual Awards Issue, on newsstands June 20 in Canada and June 29 in the U.S.

The 2016 AZ AWARDS is presented by Audi, Keilhauer and Rado, and sponsored by Cosentino, Urban Capital, TD Bank Group, George Brown School of Design, Alpi and CRH Canada Group. 

Media Partners: Archello, Archiexpo, Archilovers, Archinect, Archiproducts, Architect’s Newspaper, Architonic, Bustler, core77, Dezeen, World-Architects and v2com.

About Azure: Canada’s leading contemporary design magazine, Azure is one of a handful of influential design titles worldwide. The independent magazine enjoys a growing subscriber base and can be found on newsstands across Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia. Each issue consistently delivers lively, visually engaging, forward-looking and socially relevant coverage of contemporary design. Azure profiles designers and architects from around the world; brings its readers breaking news on interior products and trends; showcases smart paradigm-breaking residential and commercial projects; and investigates design issues related to our changing society.

Azure is an indispensable source of information and ideas for architects and designers as well as design-savvy consumers. The publication continues to garner awards for its overall excellence and high standards for visual and written content.