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The Harris House, for instance, built by the Rural Studio in 1997 for a low-income elderly couple, is crowned by an inverted roof, like the wings of a bird in flight. As another example, his students built a community center in Mason's Bend, Alabama with rammed-earth walls, trusses and benches from locally harvested cypress trees, and a glass roof made from recycled automobile windshields.

Mockbee died in December 2001 of leukemia. He will be remembered fondly as the architect with the social conscience.

Firm of the Year

The AIA also announced other national honors last week. The 2004 AIA Firm Award went to the San Antonio, Texas firm Lake/Flato. This award recognizes the distinguished architecture of the firm's museums, university buildings, ranch houses, downtown improvement projects, and churches.

The 44-member firm attributes its success to "an open culture that honors individual creativity and nurtures teamwork." Their work in their own city has helped to revitalize the downtown area and to stimulate the public's appreciation for architecture.

The late architect William Turnbull wrote of Lake/Flato: "They have specifically Texas insights, but the quality of their translation into architecture can serve as a lesson for us all — how a building stands to the sun, how it welcomes the cooling breeze. Nothing sensational or exotic, no visual fireworks of fashion, just architecture that intrigues the mind, delights the soul, and refreshes the eye with its elegant detail and simplicity."

The AIA also awarded the 2004 Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education to Stanford Anderson. Over 25 years ago, he cofounded the advanced architectural program at MIT for History, Theory, and Criticism of Art, Architecture, and Urban Form.

More information about these awards is available at AIArchitect, the newsletter of the American Institute of Architects.

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Community center at Mason's Bend, Alabama, designed and built by the Rural Studio. Samuel Mockbee, FAIA, the studio's cofounder, has received the 2004 AIA Gold Medal. Photo: Timothy Hursley El Tule Ranch in Falfurrias, Texas by Lake/Flato, recipient of the 2004 AIA Firm Award. Photo: Scott Frances Agudas Achim Synagogue in Austin, Texas by Lake/Flato. Photo: Paul Hester Carraro Residence in Kyle, Texas by Lake/Flato. Photo: Paul Hester   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.