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Announcing the winners of AN’s 2024 Best of Products Awards

Best of Products

Announcing the winners of AN’s 2024 Best of Products Awards

(Courtesy Gantri)

The 10th edition of The Architect’s Newspaper’s Best of Products Awards continues the program’s quest to elevate the well-designed products serving the architecture and design community. The awards bring a well-deserved celebration and recognition of the manufacturers, designers, engineers, and collaborations that are behind the trusted tools and systems that make up our built environment.

This year, the program featured 34 categories and was open to international entries so long as the product is available in North America. Based on submissions and resulting winners, sustainability proved to be a uniting theme. Recycled content and reusable material proved common among many entries, but those who impressed the jury did so by moving the goalpost beyond just greenwashing to create scalable, circular systems or impressive ways to reduce energy and carbon. These products serve as a testament to just how attainable a sustainable future really is.

The following are the 2024 Best of Products Awards winners, honorable mentions, and editors’ picks. May they serve as a commendation for the innovations currently shaping the industry today and a reflection for how the needle will continue to move going forward.

Jury

Acoustics

An image of a baffle from Spinneybeck
(Courtesy Spinneybeck)

Winner
Søuld Baffle

Søuld Baffle is a sustainable acoustic solution made from eelgrass, sourced from Denmark, that can be used in different suspension and mounting options.

“I like its multifunctional aspect. It’s an environmentally friendly product and very seamless. I can see it in many different applications.”Jimmie Drummond
Honorable Mention
Hush Stack

Appliances & Plumbing: Bathroom

A sleek bathroom with bathroom accessories by pba
(Courtesy pba S.p.A.)

Winner
Design For All Bathroom Accessories

Conceived to blend into a space, Design For All Bathroom Accessories includes a wide range of paper towel dispensers, waste units, soap and hand sanitizer dispensers, toilet tissue dispensers, toilet seat cover dispensers, sanitary napkin/tampon dispensers, sharps containers, shelves, and grab bars.

“Understated and also very utilitarian—but in a more of a minimal, designed way. It wasn’t necessarily bringing so much attention to it, just acknowledging that this is what I am, and this is what I do.”Brian Messana
Honorable Mention
Custom Designed Artful XLERATOR® Hand Dryers by Artists For Humanity
Honorable Mention
D|VERSE Sink System featuring the XLERATORsync® Hand Dryer with Electrostatic HEPA Filtration
Editors’ Pick
Rista Vessel Bathroom Sink

Appliances & Plumbing: Bathroom Accessories

The Airpocket door from Airmada
(Courtesy AIRMADA Drying Solutions)

Winner

The AirPocket Door is a slide-in shower door with a full shower seal, enabling you to turn your shower into a combination walk-in shower/steam shower.

“As a concept, I loved this. I really like how clean and seemingly simple it looks.”Brian Messana

Appliances & Plumbing: HVAC

A kitchen with a linear light track and built-in diffuser from Titus
(Courtesy Titus)

Winner
FL-10 LED

The FL-10 LED architectural linear diffuser is a system that fully integrates an architectural linear diffuser with a lighting module.

“It’s the bane of my existence trying to figure out where all the diffusers go when you’re doing a project. To be able to couple that with a lighting track that’s so clean and simple, it would add a lot to any space you’re designing—without adding a lot.”Lisa Iwamoto

Appliances & Plumbing: Kitchen Appliances

A black, sleek induction cooktop from Miele
(Courtesy Miele)

Winner
KM7000 Induction Cooktop Series

This induction cooktop offers a sleek, unobtrusive look without the need of a stainless-steel frame for a flush look and new cooktop pan recognition and combination abilities.

“I appreciated its safety elements: to be able to turn down all the burners to the lowest setting with a push of a button so nothing burns. It’s sleek as well as safe.”Kelly Pau
Honorable Mention
Series 11 48” Professional Induction Range

Appliances & Plumbing: Kitchen Fixtures

The 2.0 faucet from Grohe
(Courtesy GROHE)

Winner
GROHE Blue Chilled & Sparkling 2.0 Water System

The 2.0 provides filtered, chilled, and medium tap water and sparkling water at the touch of a button to limit plastic bottles and waste.

“This faucet can tailor to all types of water as needed: hot, cold, clean, sparkling. It’s very adaptable to the needs in the kitchen today.”Llisa Demetrios
Honorable Mention
Kitchen Program
Editors’ Pick
Components Kitchen Faucet Collection

Building Materials & Facades: Glass

A glass facade of a building by Vitro Architectural Glass
(Courtesy Vitro Architectural Glass)

Winner
VacuMax™ Vacuum Insulating Glass

This Vacuum Insulating Glass is manufactured exclusively with Solarban® 70 solar-control, low-e glass, which enables a massive 79 percent improvement in U-values and thermal insulation performance three to five times better than conventional insulating glass units.

“I appreciated the slim and light construction, which makes it applicable and actually functional in more systems and applications.”Kelly Pau
Honorable Mention

Building Materials & Facades: Metals

Three aluminum products using post-consumer material from Hydro
(Courtesy Hydro)

Winner
Hydro CIRCAL (75R and 100R)

Aluminum recycled from scrap content and post-consumer scrap from old windows, doors, and facades are re-melted for reuse again in varying building applications.

“Aluminum is super energy intensive to create, and so anything we can do to reclaim it is furnace energy saved. Since completing the loop really doesn’t happen that often, certainly in the United States, this is a major step in the right direction.”Jack Murphy
Editors’ Pick
Versoleil Outrigger SunShades for Curtain Wall

Building Materials & Facades: Stone and Concrete

Honorable Mention
Readyslate

Building Materials & Facades: Timber

A facade of a building with VetraFin facade system
(Courtesy Sentech Architectural Systems)

Winner

The VetraFin-W system combines mass timber with structural glass in facade applications, creating a sense of spatial depth to any facade or overhead application.

“What VetraFin is doing is about the simplification of performance in a very clean outcome. To me this shows us how timber is a viable solution that produces something that doesn’t feel like timber.”Brian Messana
Honorable Mention
Accoya 2024 Collection
Editors’ Pick
Structural Round Timber (SRT) Bowstring Truss
Editors’ Pick
Structural Round Timber (SRT) Stacked Column System

Building Materials: Weather, Air Barriers, & Insulation

A diagram of Advanced Architectural Products's GreenGirt
(Courtesy Advanced Architectural Products)

Winner

GreenGirt CMH XO™ is a new composite metal hybrid sub-framing system used to provide the necessary structural support and thermal breaks by bringing windows into alignment with the thermal plane of a building’s continuous insulation.

“A two for one: this tackles thermal loss while also helping support structural integrity. Overall, it’s a neat, efficient solution”Kelly Pau

Facades: Structural Systems

A shot of floor-to-ceiling windows with a hybrid facade by Lindner Facades
(Courtesy Lindner Facades)

Winner
Lindner ECO_N® - Hybrid Element Facade made of Wood and Aluminum

This hybrid facade system combines the benefits of timber modules, using carbon-neutral wood, and aluminum to deliver cost-effective and sustainable solutions.

“It’s a carbon-neutral wood which also has a beautiful aesthetic. And it’s a shallow profile, which I think is pretty interesting for a curtain wall system.”Lisa Iwamoto
Honorable Mention
Speedwall
Editors’ Pick
Lightwall 210 Dual Wall Translucent Wall System

Finishes & Surfaces: Interior Flooring

Hardwood flooring in an apartment with surfaces by RIVA
(Courtesy RIVA Spain)

Winner
RIVA Max

RIVA MAX is a 100 percent European-engineered, white oak hardwood collection that elevates the ambiance in both commercial and residential spaces.

“I’m always drawn to wide plank, and that’s what I enjoyed here. The images were really calming and beautiful.”Carrie Norman
Honorable Mention
Upscale
Editors’ Pick
Earthen Forms

Finishes & Surfaces: Interior Surfaces

A sauna made from hinoki wood
(Courtesy Nakamoto Forestry)

Winner

Notoriously rare and difficult to procure in North America, hinoki is a slow-growing, aromatic cypress species native to central and southern Japan and boasting aromatic, anti-bacterial properties.

“Mother Nature is the OG of designers. Hinoki is a durable construction material with the added benefit of anti-bacterial properties. Now that it can now be sustainably sourced, Hinoki can solve multiple concerns at once. Though slow growing, it could be more beneficial in the long run.”Llisa Demetrios
Honorable Mention
Templok Energy Saving Ceiling Panels
Editors’ Pick
Dekton Ukiyo

Finishes & Surfaces: Outdoor

ORCA's pavers for an outdoor patio
(Justin Chung)

Winner
ORCA Pavers

Landscape design and product studio ORCA’s new collection of outdoor pavers are made in California from local clay and recycled concrete with permeability for regenerative water use.

“It’s the trifecta: It’s local, recycled, and permeable—and it’s beautiful.” Carrie Norman

Finishes & Surfaces: Paints & Coatings

A wooden fence in a backyard
(Courtesy Chemisys)

Winner
CUTEK® Extreme

A high-performance wood oil, CUTEK offers protection that penetrates into the wood to displace water while enhancing its natural beauty.

“One of the issues with wood is exterior applications, so this technologically advanced coating will allow us to use more wood in our projects.”Andre Herrero
Honorable Mention
Brooklyn Vogue

Finishes & Surfaces: Walls & Wallcoverings

A wood-clad building with sugi wood from Nakamoto Forestry
(Mitsuru Koizumi)

Winner
Sugi Unoiled

Made from Japanese cypress, known as “sugi” in Japan, Sugi Unoiled is a versatile, sustainably harvested wood ceiling and cladding product.

“This Japanese cypress is sourced from a family-owned, sustainably managed forest. It also helps that it has a clean grain, is naturally insect resistant, and possesses a subtle aroma.”Jack Murphy
Editors’ Pick
BranchClad Interiors

Furnishings: Accessories

A fireplace based on water vapor
(Courtesy Aquafire)

Winner
Aquafire

This modern and electric water vapor fireplace offers the allure of a traditional option with added safety, innovation, and functionality.

“I haven’t heard of a water vapor fireplace before. It’s the fire without all the infrastructure behind it to make it work. That’s cool.”Lisa Iwamoto

Furnishings: Commercial

A series of bistro tables from Uhuru and Float Studio
(Courtesy Uhuru Design)

Winner

Float Studio teamed up with Uhuru Design for a collaboration that celebrates a mutual passion for embracing industrial design and preserving architectural beauty with the table series, available for commercial spaces and a variety of materials and finishes.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a fresh take on a bistro table. The industrial look is nicely done: how thin the top is, the color schemes, the ability for variation.”Lisa Iwamoto
Honorable Mention
Moss table
Editors’ Pick
Smart Pod Family

Furnishings: Outdoor

Danver's colorful cosmopolitan kitchen against a gray backdrop
(Courtesy Danver)

Winner
Cosmopolitan Kitchen

The Mondrian-inspired Cosmopolitan Kitchen, designed by international architect, designer, and creative director Daniel Germani, offers a fresh take with a modern, minimalist design.

“It felt rudimentary, very straightforward, utilitarian—but designed in a thoughtful way.”Brian Messana
Honorable Mention
Every Day Chair
Editors’ Pick
Lissoni Outdoor Collection

Furnishings: Residential

A record player and bar counter in a living room, inspired by Judd
(Courtesy Studio Michael Hilal)

Winner
Judd Bar and Record Player

In an ode to the artist Donald Judd, the studio crafted a floating, minimal Judd bar and record player, both a sculptural and functional nod to living room/home entertainment systems of the 1950s and 1960s.

“This object, an ode to Judd, is quite nice itself. We also appreciate the fact that it is a one-off. More of that in a minimalistic design is appreciated.”Andre Herrero
Honorable Mention
Editors’ Pick
Rolling Woods Shelving

Hardware: Architectural

A kitchen with cabinet doors opening from Hawa
(Courtesy Hawa Sliding Solutions)

Winner
Hawa Concepta III

With a new redesign to the popular pivot/slide-in and folding/slide-in door hardware, the 3rd generation of this hardware now features a push-to-open option for handle-less cabinet fronts and a pull option for cabinet fronts with a handle.

“You have storage and access to what you might need with discreteness and flexibility, so you don’t have the busyness of seeing all of it.”Llisa Demetrios
Honorable Mention
Single-Motion Unlatching Door Pull
Editors’ Pick
RIVIO California Lever

Hardware: Decorative

A cabinet with a Viefe slim hardware pull
(Courtesy Viefe)

Winner
Riss Big and Mini

Riss means “crack” in German, a concept that has been reinterpreted to create Riss Big and Mini handles, based on linear crevices present in nature

“What’s interesting about this is the monochrome quality. It’s a handle product, but it’s nice that it can be color-matched to its surroundings.”Lisa Iwamoto
Editors’ Pick
Phases Collection

Lighting: Decorative

Two pendant lights from Gantri
(Courtesy Gantri)

Winner
Pendant Lights

Crafted by designers like Louis Filosa, BEBOP Studios, and Studio Den Den, this collection features timeless silhouettes,  museum-grade, dimmable LEDs, patent-pending mounting mechanism allowing single-person installation in minutes, and sugarcane-derived Gantri Plant Polymers for a biodegradable product.

“I think it’s a really great collection. A lot of the forms don’t feel that familiar. They’re kind of softening geometries.”Lisa Iwamoto
Honorable Mention
Ultra Chandelier
Editors’ Pick
Array

Lighting: Fixture

Bruno Mars’s bar with lighting from Lucifer
(Courtesy Lucifer Lighting)

Winner

This miniature recessed fixture features a minimal aperture of only 0.5 inches, available in round or square, that still delivers powerful output with up to 1041 delivered lumens.

“It’s super impressive to throw up that much light with such a small opening.”Carrie Norman
Editors’ Pick
Crepe, Copia, Cuff and Cape

Lighting: Outdoor

A series of Luminis outdoor lights
(Courtesy Luminis)

Winner
Syrios Pro

Syrios Pro luminaires enable a continuous aesthetic from curb to cube and a multitude of exterior applications, including street and area lighting for public spaces and building facades.

“Generally, exterior fixtures are not attractive to look at—these actually are. They are really thoughtful in their utility, infrastructure, lighting, and clean profile. It’s quite successful.”Jimmie Drummond
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention

Openings: Doors

At a sea ranch, folding glass doors open from NanaWall
(Courtesy NanaWall)

Winner
NanaWall NW Aluminum 643

NNW Aluminum 643 is a folding glass wall with modern features that matches the classic designs of industrial, art deco, and other midcentury architectural movements.

“I just thought it stacked nicely to the sides. It accordions in and out—elegant.”Lisa Iwamoto
Honorable Mention
Blumcraft Entice HP+ Commercial Entrance System
Editors’ Pick

Openings: Windows

A window that open for indoor to outdoor kitchens or food service
(Courtesy Western Window Systems)

Winner
Performance Series 7665 Pass-Through Awning Window

Designed for enhancing entertainment areas, the Performance Series 7665 Pass-Through Awning Window offers a seamless indoor-outdoor experience with a continuous hinge and pressurized gas struts.

“For ADUs, I think this could be a big thing, because there’s pool houses that also want to cater to the outside, and then maybe the kitchen is integrated. We’ve gotten some similar requests, so this is quite useful.”Andre Herrero
Honorable Mention
Versailles

Roofing

Solar panels on a roof on a house in front of mountains
(Courtesy CertainTeed)

Winner
SunStyle

Combining sleek aesthetics and energy generation, SunStyle offers a comprehensive, protective solar roofing system, installed edge-to-edge in a patented overlapping diamond dragon scale pattern.

“This is certainly doing something. I appreciate the multifunctional aspect of this—and it looks cool.”Jimmie Drummond

Technology: Design & Build Software

Apple Vision Pro set with Graphisoft's program laid onto the eyes
(Courtesy Graphisoft)

Winner
BIMx with Apple Vision Pro

The new mixed-reality headset delivers a fully immersive 3D experience so architects and designers can meticulously evaluate design concepts with crisp, true-to-life images.

“BIMx is really nice. It’s a very seamless user interface where you have your BIM model, and then you also have the drawing set overlaid onto it so you can navigate your entire drawing set through the model and pull up details. To be able to integrate that into an experiential thing like Vision Pro is really nice for clients and for contractors on site. I totally support this.”Andre Herrero
Honorable Mention
Pirros

Technology: Smart Building, Smart Home & Automation Systems

A wireless charging station from Freepower on a table
(Courtesy Freepower)

Winner
Freepower for Countertop

FreePower allows architects, designers, builders, countertop fabricators, and consumers to easily embed wireless charging into residential and commercial surfaces.

“It’s cool because there’s cords coming out of every outlet in my house, charging in different rooms. I don’t have one clean surface that doesn’t have a plug on it.”Lisa Iwamoto

Textiles

Ame collection of textiles in blues and green
(Courtesy Kvadrat)

Winner

Ame is the first textile-to-textile project from Kvadrat Innovation Lab, woven with recycled polyester made entirely from textile waste.

“There was something kind of almost local or artisanal about this. The narrative was really strong.”Carrie Norman
Honorable Mention
Azure Outdoor
Editors’ Pick
Cento
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