The Residential Architect Design Awards (RADA) recognize outstanding work in advancing residential design. Each year, a jury of selected architects picks winning designs across every possible residential type of building. The 2017 winners have been announced and multiple Bay Area projects showed up among them. 

Rendering courtesy of Alchemy Architects

The Sonoma WeeHouse was given a citation in the “Custom House Less Than 3,000 Square Feet” category. Designed by Alchemy Architects, this project actually includes one main house and one guest house located on a Santa Rosa hillside. The steel-framed modular designs strike a commanding profile as they look out on the valley below. According to jurist David Baker, “it’s so tiny, but quite dramatic.” 

Rendering courtesy of Paulett Taggart Architects

Blocks 5 and 6 of the Hunters View Housing Blocks in San Francisco received honorable mention in the Affordable Housing category. Designed by Paulett Taggart Architects, these Hunters Point townhomes are part of a development project that is certified LEED for Neighborhood Development and Green Point Rated. Jurist Katherine Chia remarked that “there is a certain elegance in the details and the proportion of the buildings, and how they work relative to the ground plane and the outdoor spaces.” 

Rendering courtesy of Jensen Architects

Receiving a citation in the Restoration category was the Alamo Square Residence designed by Jensen Architects. Located in San Francisco’s Alamo Square, this project had to preserve the Victorian facade of this 1889 townhome. Inside, however, they renovated the 4,138-square-foot residence into a contemporary living space showcasing white walls, glass accents, and light-colored wide-plank wood floors. Jury member David Baker called it “a really incredible renovation. It’s restrained while being completely over the top.”