EXCELLENCE IN CALIFORNIA ARCHITECTURE

This summer the American Institute of Architects California Council announced the 2006 Recipients of its annual design awards program. Five Honor Awards were given, including one for new student housing at the University of California, Berkeley by Esherick, Homsey, Dodge, & Davis (EHDD). The project (photo by Peter Aaron/ Esto) is in a residential neighborhood with single-family homes and low-density apartment buildings and is designed to improve connections between the residence halls and the street life of the community. Next week we'll look at this and the other four Honor Award recipients.

BRANDLEHOW PRIMARY SCHOOL

A primary school in southwest London has become a proving ground for a new type of school construction. This wood classroom extension in Putney is no ordinary project. The prefabricated Finnforest Merk system from Germany made it possible to build in a matter of weeks. Next week writer Don Barker will describe the system and explain why the project is further remarkable: it is a comfortable extension to a Grade II listed (registered historic) building.