Words The Kanto Team
Information ICONIC AWARDS
Images Jorge Yulo Architects & Associates
A “reincarnated” family villa and a restaurant, inspired by the elegance of a jewel box – two distinctly different projects by Jorge Yulo Architects & Associates (JYAA), both now celebrated as winners.
The Makati-based studio, no stranger to the ICONIC AWARDS program, also won in last year’s edition for Equilateral House. Their two previous winners include Grace Park (2016), Mecha Uma (2016, Best of the Best), and Hacienda Community Center (2017).
The ICONIC AWARDS is an initiative by the German Design Council, who has underlined the critical role of design in global industry and business since 1953. The annual awards program fetes outstanding accomplishments in design, spanning architecture, interior design, product design, and brand communication from around the world. For 2023, 620 submissions were received, hailing from 43 countries.
This year’s edition featured a remarkable 368 winners across diverse categories. 68 were adjudged Best of the Best, with the program’s three special awards bestowed to Sou Fujimoto Architects (Architects of the Year), Holzrausch (Interior Designers of the Year), and furniture manufacturer Vestre (Architects’ Client of the Year).
Alongside the prestigious recognition, winners of the ICONIC AWARDS 2023: Innovative Architecture get the right to use special winner labels for communications and are entitled extensive coverage in ICONIC AWARDS’ dedicated publication and online presentations. Furthermore, winners can leverage the German Design Council’s extensive international press and public relations network and tap into the organization’s marketing and communications expertise. Winners are also able to submit their winning entries for consideration for the German Design Award 2024.
Tasked with determining this year’s winners is an illustrious panel of jurors, which include Fabian Peters from BAUMEISTER, Munich; Virginia Lung from One Plus Partnership, Hong Kong; Lone Wiggers from C. F. Møller Architects, Århus; Wei Wu from gmp International GmbH, Shanghai; and Ben Van Berkel, founder and principal architect of UNStudio. Entries were meticulously evaluated in terms of overall concept, design quality, context quality, materials, functionality, sustainability, among other criteria.
The winners were announced last September 22, 2023, with the official awards ceremony happening live at BMW World in Munich, Germany on October 4, 2023.
Congratulations to the Jorge Yulo Architects & Associates team! A briefer on each winning project follows. Original winners announcement can be read here. •
Reincarnated Villa
The original 70-year-old wooden structures were auxiliary residences in a 200-year-old compound of a vast sugar estate south of Manila before being structurally condemned. The reconstruction of the main villa and guest cottage began in 2018. These buildings occupied their original locations, footprints and floor plans as they were erected half a century ago. Due to cost, environment and pest control, the new structure was made of steel and left unpainted to blend in with the compound’s mature vegetation. Text from JYAA
Culinary Treasure Box: Mamou Prime
The rectilinear compositions of metal, wood and glass that clad the restaurant’s facade emits a rigid, restricted impression of the restaurant. Inspiration originated from Japanese yosegi puzzle boxes that rewards curiosity with access. Contrastingly, the interior spaces have a serpentine floor plan and curved walls. The curvilinearity signifies flesh in reference to the cuisine’s ingredients. Text from JYAA
