AIA Minnesota Announces 2004 Honor and Divine Detail Awards

AIA Minnesota Announces 2004 Honor and Divine Detail Awards
A traditional-lookin g, ecologically friendly house that can fit on a small city lot took first place in the annual design contest of the St. Paul chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The Neighborhood Development Alliance, which works on housing issues on St. Paul's West Side, collaborated with the architects on this year's contest and now wants to build the house on a narrow, vacant lot at 837 Oakdale Ave.

"There was no sense in just having a bunch of pretty pictures," said Karen Reid, NeDA executive director. "We want to build next year and are looking at the design, calculating costs.''

The design, by Zachary Flann of Miller Dunwiddie Architects in Minneapolis, won what is known as the St. Paul Prize and the $1,000 award that goes with it. Three other designs got honorable mention and $150 awards.

Sylvia Frank, chairwoman of the St. Paul Prize Committee, regularly scouts local organizations for possible contest material and called the neighborhood alliance. Reid said the contest assignment to design a house for a small lot was perfect for the tax-forfeited property, which the nonprofit housing assistance group has been trying to develop. The lot is owned by the St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

Flann's design was selected from 25 entries in this year's contest, which was open to architec