The 48th annual Orchids and Onions competition for good and bad local architecture recently announced 15 choices, including two Onions this year.
Downtown San Diego-based projects won one Orchid (Children’s Park) and one Onion (MTS Gaslamp Quarter display).
The San Diego Architectural Foundation‘s panel of judges sorted through more than 100 projects that were nominated by the public.
This was the first time Tijuana was included in the competition.
Children’s Park’s Orchid was for Landscape Architecture. Jurors called it a landmark of the Marina District community, points awarded for preserving elements of the original design while adding a tree house-style playground, pond and boardwalk and dog park. Owner/developer: City of San Diego/Civic Communities; architect/designers: Spurlock Landscape Architects, Schmidt Design Group
The MTS Gaslamp Quarter display got an Onion for Public Architecture. The 50-foot-tall digital board with three sides of LED screens was installed across the street from the San Diego Convention Center. Jurors said it was a missed opportunity that took away from the entrance to the Gaslamp Quarter and gave off a large Las Vegas-esque vibe. Owner/developer: Metropolitan Transit System. SDSun
