‘Usonian Ideals’ Winners Revealed at Gala Awards Ceremony

Last night, surrounded by the inspired structures created in just two short days this weekend, the winners of the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum’s Usonian Ideals Build-Off were announced to a full house.   All of the builders received trophies, and several awards were handed out.

Taking the top place in the Pro Category was veteran builder Apollo Reinard.  I had the pleasure of chatting with him, when he informed me that he’d always loved the Usonian style, but hadn’t really known much about it until this competition.  On the site for his home, Reinard said:

“The home site is nestled in the northwest in Washington State, in a secluded coastal area. It’s along Puget Sound across from the cities where it’s quieter, nestled in among the mixed forest trees of pine, cedar and oak.  The site gently slopes toward the water but the house is situated quite a ways uphill from the actual shore. This gives a sweeping panorama from the main living areas at all times of day.”

The winner in the novice category was a joint effort by Kasimir Deimatov and Jadyn Firehawk.  Firehawk was the novice winner in the Craftsman build-off, but this was Deimatov’s first competition.  I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon with these two before the gala, a fascinating conversation which will be featured on the Prim Perfect blog later this week.  At the awards ceremony, Education Director Barbara Collazo revealed something that makes this particular build quite special:

“I’d like to tell you a bit about Kasimir and Jaydn. Kasimir, a Belgian, was an interior design student before a diving accident about 10 years ago, and is now quadriplegic. They approached us and asked if he could design and Jaydn could act as his hands due to speed, and we agreed… Kasimir is involved in the Virtual Ability community here in Second Life, and in many ways SL has given him back his life. I am pleased that they competed–and so thrilled to be able to give him this award.”

Deimatov had a very clear vision for his site: “I saw this house placed on a sloping hill with the higher elevation on the NE corner, surrounded by pine trees on this slope of the hill and fairly open to the front (the SW ). With a nearby outcrop of bluish-gray metamorphic rock.”

The first place winners in each of the Pro and Novice categories received $L2000 and a $L2500 gift certificate from Builder’s Brewery.

The second place winners received $L1500 and $L1500 from Builder’s Brewery.  They were levi Ewing in the Pro category, and P3T3 Feller for the Novices.

Third place winners received $L1000 and $L1000 from Builder’s Brewery.   They were Niamh Burnstein and Morgan India for the Novices.  Burnstein and India also tied for the Builder’s Choice Award and received an additional prize of  $L1000 and a Midway Garden Sprite made by Troy Vogel.

The event attracted over 1000 visitors this weekend, and everyone was able to vote for their favourite build for the Peoples’ Choice award.  Like the Builder’s Choice, this category was also tied for the Pro entries: Marcan Aridian and Kendra Ling.  DMom2K Darwin took the novice award.  The winners each received $L2000, a trophy, and a $L2500 gift certificate from Builder’s Brewery.

Finally, the staff selected a builder who they felt showed the most spirit in this competition for the Spirit Award.  Poetry Sorbet received $L1000 and one of Troy’s sprites, and I would say her plum-toned version of the Usonian Ideal definitely shows her unique, creative spirit.

After the awards, there was much dancing and celebration late into the evening.  And I have it on good authority that plans are already underway for the NEXT Build-Off, so watch this space.

A special thanks to PJ Trenton for taking the photos seen here, and throughout the event.  To see the rest of the houses and more, visit PJ’s album at the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum’s ning.