The Coolest Houses of 2010-2011

Image via Complex Original

Each year, The American Institute for

Architects gives out awards recognizing the best new housing in the U.S. The 2011 awards, given out to structures built over the past year, focus heavily on sustainability, efficiency, and affordability, but above all anything that gets recognized is first and foremost awesome. Click through the gallery above to see the coolest new homes of 2010-2011 and start planning your own.

1. Addition to an Historic Cape on a Coastal Farm

Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson


Location: Little Compton, R.I.


Why it's cool: Restored original details combined with modern elements like large expanses of glass.

2. Blair Barn House

Architect: Alchemy


Location: Blair, Wis.


Why it's cool: This ultra modern barn-like crib is airy and light-filled with heated floors and rope and pulley operated lights and doors.

3. Combs Point Residence

Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson


Location: Ovid, N.Y.


Why it's cool: The flowing building mirrors the path of a nearby stream through the woods.

4. North Beach Residence

Architect: Heliotrope Architects


Location: Eastsound, Wash.


Why it's cool: A low-impact summer home that has no foundation and is raised several feet above ground to meet government regulations.

5. OS House

Architect: Johnsen Schmaling Architects


Location: Racine, Wis.


Why it's cool: A unique look, ample views and numerous outdoor rooms.

6. Town House

Architect: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect


Location: Washington, DC


Why it’s cool: An urban architecture solution for more natural light, color and interesting materials.

7. 100K Houses

Architect: Interface Studio Architects LLC


Location: Philadelphia


Why it’s cool: Small and simple, efficient and super cost effective.

8. R-House

Architect: Architecture Research Officeand Della Valle Bernheimer


Location: Syracuse


Why it’s cool: Innovative design allows for minimum to net-zero energy consumption.

9. 50 Saint Peter Street/ Historic Salem Jail

Architect: Finegold Alexander + Associates


Location: Salem, Massachusetts


Why it’s cool: An historic three-building jail complex renovated into a residential community.

10. 930 Poydras Residential Tower

Architect: Eskew+Dumez+Ripple


Location: New Orleans


Why it’s cool: Reimagining the French Quarter through a 21-story mixed use project.

11. 1111 E. Pike

Architect: Olson Kundig Architects


Location: Seattle


Why it’s cool: The exterior paneling is inspired by cars from the 1950’s and owners choose the color of their unit.

12. Armstrong Place Senior and Family Housing

Architect: David Baker + Partners, Architects


Location: San Francisco


Why it’s cool: A not depressing urban environment for seniors.

13. Art Stable

Architect: Olson Kundig Architects


Location: Seattle


Why it’s cool: Artistic adaptable live/work space designed for artists.

14. Hancock Mixed Use Housing

Architect: Koning Eizenberg Architecture


Location: West Hollywood, Calif.


Why it’s cool: The four story project has 156 public parking spaces, and sixty-one residential parking spaces to help ease LA’s parking problem.

15. Tassafaronga Village

Architect: David Baker + Partners Architects


Location: Oakland


Why it’s cool: Smart, affordable housing for a neighborhood that needs it.