A stylish nail salon, a catchy restroom-and shower station at La Jolla Cove and several species of housing are among projects recognized at this year’s Orchids & Onions, held Oct. 3 at West, a new residential tower in downtown San Diego.
Sixteen designs were selected as sweet or acrid, from a field of more than 100. Tijuana was included for the first time in years, in conjunction with the yearlong World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024.
Orchid-winner Altezza in Tijuana, by Saen Studio and Design Opera Architects, is a seven-story luxury apartment building with concise cubic forms enclosing spacious interiors.
Its open, airy architecture is made possible by the spare concrete frame, a structural approach generally not feasible in San Diego, where the cost of concrete construction is prohibitive and wood-and-stucco are the norm.
Eight-story Orchid-winner Sasan Lofts in Mission Hills, by Nakhshab Development & Design, is covered with pink stucco. Its curvy Miami Art Deco vibe provides a “presence that is refreshing for San Diego,” according to the jury, and its 53 micro studios add significant housing to the area.