Santa Fe Arts and Culture Magazine: View Article

Jeff Harnar Award for Contemporary Architecture

By: Thornburg Charitable Foundation

SUBY BOWDEN AND J.D. MORROW CO-RECIPIENTS OF

FIRST JEFF HARNAR AWARD FOR CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

Former architectural partners, Suby Bowden and John D. Morrow, won the inaugural Jeff Harnar Award for Contemporary Architecture for their architectural planning of the Galisteo residence of Emily Fisher Landau and Sheldon Landau.

At a reception attended by Santa Fe architects and interior designers, hosted by the Thornburg Charitable Foundation at the La Fonda Hotel here, Garrett Thornburg stated, “It’s our hope that the Jeff Harnar Award will expand our community’s awareness of the value contemporary architecture brings to the vitality and vibrancy of Santa Fe. By respecting our city’s past as well as allowing contemporary architecture and design to exist in harmonious balance, we ensure that there is life in the architecture of Santa Fe,” Thornburg continued.

The Award ceremony followed the judging of 18 submissions provided by area architects for residential, commercial and institutional projects. The JHA Judges Committee was comprised of renowned architects, interior designers, artists and teachers. Santa Fe architect, Steve Shaw guided the process.

JHA Honorary Chairperson, Lori Harnar, noted “It’s wonderful that Jeff’s work and spirit is being honored by encouraging other architects, both locally and regionally to strive for the same level of excellence so apparent in all of Jeff’s body of work.”

Upon receiving the $5,000 prize and the custom designed award (see attached photo) Suby Bowden stated, "J.D. and I are thrilled to be the first recipients of this wonderful award, because of our tremendous respect for Jeff Harnar. As well, we are honored to receive an award which reflects Santa Fe's understanding that strong contemporary design can be quietly compatible with the community's mainstream."

JHA runners-up, Marci Riskin, Riskin Associates Architecture, Inc. architect of the City of Santa Fe’s Fire Station No. 8, and D. Joseph Andrade, djosephandradearchitect llc, architect and owner of the Second Street house, were also recognized. “The fact that the competition produced such a wide assortment of projects – high end residences; urban in-fill homes and City fire stations – proves that good design can be accomplished with a wide range of budgets – for a broad array of clients” said Thornburg during the presentations.

This inaugural JHA competition drew praise from internationally recognized architect, Ricardo Legorreta who earlier said of the competition, “Architecture should ultimately be judged by its ability to bring joy and pleasure to those who inhabit and use the structure and at the same time be respectful of the region’s history and culture.”

The Jeff Harnar Award for Contemporary Architecture will continue annually and possibly be expanded to include a wider portion of New Mexico from which projects can be submitted. This year’s inaugural ceremony was timed to kick-off Santa Fe’s Design Week, details of which can be found at www.designweeksantafe.com.

Visuals of all 18 submitted projects and the Award Criteria can be found at the Jeff Harnar Award website, www.jeffharnaraward.com