Press Release
Silver A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Goes to Ripple House Residential Architecture by Sam Alawie
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Sam Alawie for architecture, building and structure design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 19, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Ripple House Residential Architecture by Sam Alawie, designed for Zane Carter Architects, has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Silver A' Design Award Explained
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
About Ripple House Residential Architecture
Ripple House is a residential building located in Sydney, Australia. The home stands on a compact site of 311 square metres and contains four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two car spaces, and indoor and outdoor kitchen and dining areas. A custom screen forms the front facade. The water droplet pattern is laser cut into aluminium sheets, and each sheet is curved to ripple across the surface. A durable powder coated finish protects the metal from sea salt spray. A central void connects the two levels and supports openness, light and interaction within the home.
About Sam Alawie
Sam Alawie is a registered architect with over 10 years of experience in the field. With a rich portfolio of diverse projects, Sam has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and innovation in architectural design. Each project reflects his dedication to creating functional, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing environments. Sam's approach is client-centric, focusing on understanding the unique needs and aspirations of each client to deliver tailored solutions that exceed expectations. His ability to blend contemporary design with practical functionality has earned him a reputation for delivering projects that are both visionary and grounded in reality.
Award Record
With this recognition, Sam Alawie is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award
The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Entries typically include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. Awarded architectural projects are published at https://designers.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/169026
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/169026
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!169026
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/364082
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://bit.ly/41kZqBQ
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Ripple House Residential Architecture
- Function
- Residential Architecture
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Steel Blue, Cornflower Blue, Dark Slate Gray, Black and Wheat
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Zane Carter Architects
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Sam Alawie
- Country
- Australia
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #169026
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer archphoto Andreas Bommert Videographer archphoto Andreas Bommert
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- A sculptural piece of art in built form, this design transforms space into an ever evolving experience. The custom screen designed by the architect, casts dynamic light art, mimicking the fluid dance of water droplets as sunlight shifts throughout the day. Shadows ripple across surfaces, creating an interplay of movement and stillness. This fusion of architecture and light elevates the home beyond function, into an immersive, living artwork that responds to time, nature, and its inhabitants.
- Inspiration
- Ripple House whispers the poetry of water, embodying fluidity and connection, inspired by the graceful, ever changing dance of droplets. This lyrical concept ripples through every detail, most vividly in the custom-designed front screen, a masterpiece by the architect. Its pattern, an elegant ballet of converging and diverging droplets, stands as a sculptural ode to nature, casting ephemeral shadows that shift with the sun’s journey, painting the home in light’s delicate choreography.
- Research
- The design research blended site analysis, material testing, and engineering to balance aesthetics, function, and durability. It optimized light, airflow, stability, and material longevity in a coastal setting. Using digital modeling, prototypes, and simulations, data from soil tests, climate studies, and material evaluations informed decisions. Research ensured screw pile stability, aluminum corrosion resistance, and marble island support, setting new standards for resilient coastal design.
- Challenge
- Designing Ripple House posed challenges in structure, materials, and execution. The open voids required precise engineering for stability, balancing openness with support. Built on sand, the home relied on screw piles for a solid foundation. The aluminum screen, laser-cut and assembled in segments, formed a flowing ripple effect while resisting sea spray corrosion. The floating marble island, curved and held by a wooden frame, demanded expert craftsmanship and structural reinforcement to achieve its sculptural lightness.
- Realization and Technology
- This design is a symphony of light, movement, and material. The water droplet inspired pattern is delicately laser cut into aluminium, each sheet gently curved to ripple across the façade like a flowing stream. Bathed in an anodised allure, the metallic powder-coated finish catches the light, shimmering like sunlit water. Beneath its beauty lies resilience; the Electro coating, crafted with advanced super-durable polyester thermosetting powder, ensuring its tale endures sea salt spray.
- Operation and Interaction
- Ripple House enhances human experiences by fostering interaction and connectedness. The design actively encourages a sense of community and engagement, creating spaces that invite people to gather, converse, and connect with one another. At the heart of the home, a central void seamlessly connects the two levels, acting as a visual connector that enhances openness and fluidity while encouraging interaction between the levels. The kitchen is designed as both a culinary and social hub. The expansive chef’s island functions as a workspace and dining area, inviting family and guests to gather around food, creating an interactive cooking experience that fosters togetherness.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project is located in Sydney Australia. The project commenced in and was completed in October 2024.
- Specifications
- Each dwelling is situated on a compact land size of 311sqm. Each home consists of 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car spaces, both and indoor and outdoor dining and kitchen areas.
- Keywords
- Residential House, Residential Design, Duplex Design, Home Design, Interior Design, Facade Screen, Screen, Ripple
