CLOSE AD ×

Meet the winners of our 2020 Best of Products Awards

Best of Products Awards

Meet the winners of our 2020 Best of Products Awards

Sage by David Rockwell for Benchmark, winner in the Residential Furnishings category (Courtesy Rockwell Group)

The 2020 Best of Products Awards are our most robust yet, and we’re thrilled to reveal the winners. With more categories than ever—31 in all—this year’s edition spans nearly every building, interior, and outdoor product category imaginable, from acoustics and fabrics to air barriers and timber cladding. Our discerning jurors brought their wide-ranging expertise to every one of these product types, assessing each on multiple bases, including aesthetics, performance, ease of installation, and value. After all was said and done, they had singled out one winner and up to two honorable mentions per category. The Architect’s Newspaper’s editors’ picks round out the esteemed group.

Unlike in previous years, the 2020 awards do not arrive on the heels of any industry trade show or splashy design week. Perhaps as a result, unifying trends across the hundreds of submissions were slightly less pronounced. Those that did emerge reflected concerns surrounding the ongoing pandemic, such as hygiene and safety. Physical barriers, antigerm hardware, wipeable surfaces, operable apertures, and smart entry systems seek to assuage users’ anxieties (“Should I touch that door handle?” “Am I maintaining the proper distance from others?”) that characterize our current circumstance.

Comfort was another perceptible theme, one connected to the pandemic-induced quarantine of the past few months, when living areas suddenly transformed into full-time workspaces. On this score, new freestanding partitions, sound-minimizing baffles, and desktop dividers were especially appreciated, as were space-delineating solutions like statement-making textiles and easily configurable alcoves. There was no shortage of creative lighting fixtures, to say nothing of the digital skylight systems that promise to bring the mood-edifying effects of daylight inside. Of course, there were plenty of work desks and lots of seating, with much of it sporting plush upholstery and integrated privacy features. Color us envious.

Submissions exhibiting keen attention to enclosures and exterior surfaces reminded us of the world outside, and, browsing the latest in outdoor furnishings, we imagined lingering over a long, shaded lunch with colleagues.

Which isn’t to box in any of these exceptional designs and wares. While many are particularly well-suited to the new normal, they certainly aren’t constrained by it. Nearly all boast flexibility of a kind, a trait welcome in all times and scenarios. Several promote well-being and facilitate interactions; others are simply inobtrusive—no small thing. For these reasons and plenty more besides, we toast this year’s honorees.

The Best of Products Awards Jury:

Kimberly Dowdell
President
NOMA / HOK

Billie Faircloth
Partner
KieranTimberlake

Alex Gilbert
Associate Director
Friedman Benda Gallery

Gabrielle Golenda
Products Editor
The Architect’s Newspaper

Sharon Johnston
Founding Partner
Johnston Marklee

Tom Kundig
Founding Principal
Olson Kundig

Samuel Medina
Executive Editor
The Architect’s Newspaper

Irwin Miller
Principal
Gensler

Jonathan Moody
CEO
Moody Nolan

Dr. Adam Polcyn
Vice President of Research and Development
Vitro Architectural Glass

Asad Syrkett
Editor in Chief
Elle Decor

Jejon Yeung
Principal
Worrel Yeung

Categories:

Interior Finishes & Surfaces

Standing partitions around a desk
(Courtesy 3form)

Winner
New Flek Palette
3form

Honorable Mentions
Obscura by Suzanne Tick
Skyline Design

The Coordinates Collection by Cambria,
Gensler

Editors Picks
Dekton Avant-Garde Series
Cosentino

Pietta Donovan Collection
Walker Zanger

Amazonite
Fiandre

Decorative Lighting & Electrical

Stick lighting atop a staircase, a 2020 best of products awards winner
(Courtesy FLOS)

Winner
Coordinates
FLOS

“This elegant design delivers well-calibrated light that enhances architectural environments without overwhelming an interior, and invites subtle discovery of its well-resolved, minimal details.” —Sharon Johnston

Honorable Mentions
Coil Collection
LightArt

Illan
Luceplan

Editors Picks
Sky
Pablo Designs

Residential Furnishings

A timber-framed couch and coffee table
(Petr Krejci/Courtesy Benchmark)

Winner
Sage by David Rockwell for Benchmark
Benchmark

Honorable Mentions
Reprise Chair
L.Ercolani

Hew Coffee Table
Design Within Reach

Editors Picks
Pandarine Sofa
HAY

Textiles

A material palette
(Courtesy Deborah Berke Partners)

Winner
Dawn Collection
Deborah Berke Partners x Warp & Weft

“These patterns are so subtle in their gradation and choice of colors, and so sophisticated and unique with their figuration. They will enhance a broad range of furniture ensembles and spaces.” —Jejon Yeung

Honorable Mentions
Desert Lights Carpet and Rug Collection
ShawContract Hospitality Group

Silhouette
nanimarquina

Editors Picks
Sunbrella Assure
Sunbrella

Kitchen Appliances & Plumbing

(Courtesy Fisher + Paykel)

Winner
48″ Professional Range
Fisher & Paykel

“With a hybrid induction and gas range top, this product brings you the best of both worlds.” —Gabrielle Golenda

Honorable Mentions
IKON 33″ Apron 1-3/4 Bowl with Low Divide sink
BLANCO

Transitional 30″ Combination Wall Oven
Dacor

Editors Picks
Park Avenue Kitchen Cabinets
ITALKRAFT

Bathroom Appliances & Plumbing

Clear glass partitions in front of a toilet, a 2020 best of products awards winner
(Courtesy Duravit)

Winner
SensoWash i
Duravit

“As more and more consumers are seeking out high- functioning toilets, it’s nice to see a design that doesn’t look like one, and is packaged in a beautiful, simple form.” —Jejon Yeung

Honorable Mentions
Acquafit
Fantini

modularBATH
CARVART

Editors Picks
Eir Intelligent Toilet
Kohler

StyleDrain
California Faucets

Tiles, Chemical Anchors, & Adhesives

White cabinets with circular motif
(Jason Laliberte/Courtesy LATICRETE)

Winner
SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Translucent Grout
LATICRETE

Paint & Coatings

A floating office floor in a bank
(Garrett Rowland Photography/Courtesy Pure + FreeForm)

Winner
Brass & Bronze
Pure + FreeForm

“Pure + FreeForm impressed us with its environmentally responsible alternative to copper-based metals. Recyclable and, more importantly, containing postconsumer recycled material, the brass- and bronze-coated aluminum sheets give designers a lightweight option with a predictable, consistent aesthetic (even when weathered).” —Adam Polcyn

Honorable Mentions
Emerald Designer Edition Interior Latex
Sherwin-Williams

Martin Kesselman White
Martin Kesselman collaboration with Farrow & Ball

Decorative Hardware

A range of brushed steel handles, a 2020 best of products awards winner
(Courtesy Top Knobs)

Winner
Riverside Pull
Top Knobs

“I really like the way the design balances refinement and feeling handmade. Presenting clean outside lines and keeping the inside face softer against your hand is a great, thoughtful touch.” —Tom Kundig

Honorable Mentions
Churchill Suite
SA Baxter Design Studio & Foundry

ICE, PEBBLE, & LUSCIOUS LEVERS
Zietta Clara

Editors Picks
Del Mar Handleset
Baldwin Hardware

Architectural Hardware

A semi-open doorway
(Courtesy Accurate Lock and Hardware)

Winner
SmartEntry by Accurate
Accurate Lock and Hardware

Honorable Mentions
Unitized Glass Railing System
C.R. Laurence

Mortise lock status indicator
ASSA ABLOY

Editors Picks
e-Genius
TownSteel

Commercial Furnishings

Wood chairs around a table, a 2020 best of products awards winner
(Erik Lefvander/Courtesy Hem Design Studio)

Winner
Max Table by Max Lamb for Hem
Hem Design Studio

“‘Form is everything,’ said [Italian furniture designer] Enzo Mari. Simple shapes are the most complicated to nail. Max Lamb’s dedication to traditional mono-material making holds up in this relatively affordable collaboration with Hem. A looooong communal table, just as appropriate for a conference or meal, is a welcome addition to the market.” —Alex Gilbert

Honorable Mentions
Palisades Luxe
Spacestor

Division Twelve
Keilhauer

Editors Picks
Patkau Bench
Nienkämper

Power Beam
Knoll

Architectural & Commercial Lighting & Electrical

Stick lighting at the top of a blue room
(Courtesy FLOS Architectural)

Winner
Diversion
FLOS Architectural

“I was impressed by the simplicity and versatility of this FLOS collection and the way it creates its own architecture.” —Asad Syrkett

Honorable Mentions
Black Lens
Senso by Luminii

Purolinear 360
SONNEMAN

Editors Picks
SpectraClean
Hubbell Lighting

Custom Acoustics

A yellow room with black couch
(Courtesy De Vorm)

Winner
Mute Fit PET Felt Acoustic Panel
De Vorm

Honorable Mentions
Garden on the Wall
Garden on the Wall

Felt Baffles & Open Cell ceiling systems
Hunter Douglas Ceilings & Walls, exclusively from CertainTeed

Editors Picks
The AVIO Collection
Kirei

Acoustic Partitions

Felt acoustic partitions
(Mark Wickens/Courtesy Pair)

Winner
Toast
Pair

“I appreciate the simplicity of the design. The panels seem super versatile and especially relevant right now, given the many different places people find themselves using as workspace.” —Tom Kundig

Honorable Mentions
Clikclax
Clikclax Pty Ltd.

STACKWALL Collection
CARVART

Editors Picks
SoftScreen
Arktura

Electrical Systems

A large skylight, a 2020 best of products awards winner
(Courtesy Sky Factory, Inc.)

Winner
Aperture SkyCeiling
Sky Factory, Inc.

Honorable Mentions
Cadiant Dynamic Lighting Experience
Cree Lighting

Outdoor Lighting & Electrical

Timber slats illuminated with thin floor lamps, a 2020 best of products awards winner
(Courtesy Landscape Forms)

Winner
Motive Outdoor Lighting
Landscape Forms

“The best outdoor lighting aids in wayfinding without being visually obtrusive, and Motive strikes a balance between good looks and functionality across several applications.” —Asad Syrkett

Honorable Mentions
Candél
Pablo Designs

Nebula
Neri

Editors Picks
Lance Series
Meteor Lighting

Outdoor Furnishings

(Courtesy Landscape Forms)

Winner
Disc, Peak & Stretch
Landscape Forms

Honorable Mentions
Rio Bike Rack by RIOS
JANUS et Cie

Iconic
Maglin Site Furniture

Editors Picks
The Eclipse Collection
Parasoleil

Outdoor Finishes & Surfaces

An infinity pool on a deck
(James Burniston/Courtesy Kebony)

Winner
Kebony Deck Board
Kebony

“The four varieties of fasteners provide easy installation and plenty of options for use without sacrificing high visual impact. This is an awesome product that I’m glad to see getting some attention for its versatility.” —Tom Kundig

Honorable Mentions
RHEINZINK-GRANUM architectural-grade zinc
RHEINZINK

Laser Cut Collection
Móz Designs

Editors Picks
Deep textured, perforated stainless steel
Rigidized Metals Corporation

Windows

Thin mullions on a corner window
(Courtesy AGNORA)

Winner
Vision 90 – Insulated Glass Unit
AGNORA

Honorable Mentions
CABRIO Balcony Roof Window MK19
VELUX

Skycove
Marvin

Editors Picks
1620UT/1620UT SSG Curtain Wall System
Kawneer

Doors

Interior of a living room with timber flooring
(Courtesy NanaWall Systems)

Winner
NanaWall SL84
NanaWall Systems

“NanaWall is a game changer for environments that are designed to elegantly blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces.” —Kimberly Dowdell

Honorable Mentions
YSD 600 TUH Low Threshold, Impact-Rated Architectural Sliding Door
YKK AP America

Holoform Demountable Wall System
Holoform/OldCastle

Editors Picks
MultiGlide pass-through with automation
Andersen Windows

Safety Openings

A plant in front of a screen
(Jess Gulnick/Courtesy McGrory Glass)

Winner
Glass BirdProtect with DotView One-Way Vision
McGrory Glass

“Many bird-safe glass options have become available in recent years, and this unit is at the top of the pack.” —Samuel Medina

Honorable Mentions
Flood Window System
Fenex

Cladding

A sharp jutting black building
(Courtesy Sto Corp.)

Winner
StoVentec Rainscreen systems
Sto Corp.

Honorable Mentions
Synthesis 3D Designed & Printed Custom Facades
EDG

Envel Ultra–High Performance Concrete Facades
Envel Facade

Editors Picks
Vintago
Swisspearl

New Wanderlust selection of 29 ALUCOBOND PLUS aluminum composite material finishes
3A Composites USA

Roofing

Spirlaing shingles
(Courtesy CLISSET LLC)

Winner
Dragon Armor
CLISSET LLC

Honorable Mentions
InvariTone
Rigidized Metals Corporation

Facade Structural Systems

A mirrored glass facade, which won the 2020 best of products award
(Heron Aerial Photography/Courtesy YKK AP America, Inc.)

Winner
YWW 50 TU Thermally Broken Window Wall System
YKK AP America, Inc.

“YWW offers an innovative slab edge cover that facilitates clean lines while providing thermal break technology to enhance product performance and flexibility.” —Kimberly Dowdell

Honorable Mentions
Decorative Ventilated Glass Rain & Wind Screen System
Bendheim

Florim S7 System
Florim Ceramiche S.p.A.

Timber Building Materials

A timber ceiling
(Courtesy LIGNIA Wood Company)

Winner
LIGNIA Fire
LIGNIA Wood Company

Glass

An enclosing glass cube with offices inside
(Courtesy Vitro Architectural Glass)

Winner
Solarban Acuity Glass
Vitro Architectural Glass

“Vitro gives designers another tool to show that they care for our environment. It gives us the ability to push both high performance and aesthetic forward.” —Jonathan Moody

Honorable Mentions
isosecure
sedak

Halio smart-tinting glass
Kinestral Technologies

Editors Picks
Precision Edge
Pulp Studio

Weather Barriers, Air Barriers, & Insulation

A construction site under barrier wrap
(Courtesy MaxLife Industries)

Winner
ArmorWall Structural Insulated Sheathing SP
MaxLife Industries

Honorable Mentions
Cavityrock Black
ROCKWOOL

HVAC Appliances

A best of products award winning hvac system cooling a room
(Courtesy LG Electronics)

Winner
LG Art Cool Premier Wall Mount Split System
LG Electronics

Honorable Mentions
PKFY-NLMU Wall-Mounted Indoor Unit
Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US

Sanicubic 2 VX
SFA Saniflo

Planning & Management Software

An imac with pie charts on it
(Courtesy BQE)

Winner
CORE Architect
BQE

Honorable Mentions
Programmed Water Technologies
Sloan

Mosaic
MosaicApp

Smart Building, Smart Home, & Automation Systems

A skylight atop a white living room, a best of design awards winner
(Courtesy Marvin)

Winner
Awaken Skylight
Marvin

Honorable Mentions
LG NeON R ACe
LG Electronics

StreamLabs Control
RWC

Design & Construction Software

A best of products award winning software suit on an ipad
(Courtesy GRAPHISOFT)

Winner
BIMx 
GRAPHISOFT

Honorable Mentions
Vectorworks Architect 2020 BIM software
Vectorworks

Cellular Fabrication
Branch Technology

CLOSE AD ×