NORTH CAROLINA DESIGN AWARDS

The Grove Arcade in Asheville, North Carolina is a "phoenix rising from the ashes, a building brought back to life." So says the 2003 design awards jury for the North Carolina chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The arcade, which occupies an entire city block, was originally built in 1929 and recently redeveloped by Rowhouse Architects, Inc. with Griffin Architects. (Photo by Bill Kund.) Next week we'll see more exemplary design from the "Tarheel" State.

HIGH-TECH FIELD SURVEYS

When architects begin a renovation or addition to a building for which no plans are available, they are often faced with the chore of measuring existing conditions and creating plans from scratch. But in recent years, several aids have emerged to aid in this endeavor. Next week, architect and frequent ArchitectureWeek contributor Evan Shu will describe some tools and techniques that can make this task easier.

HOUSE FOR ART

Since the mid-1960s, the firm Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects has created a series of houses across the country for art collectors, exploring the connection between art and craft, between architecture and landscape. One such house, sited on a steep Seattle-area hillside, commands broad views of Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. Fitted between mature trees, the house defers to nature. Next week writer Oscar Riera Ojeda will tell us more about this house on a bluff.