The award for Best Overall Design was awarded to Martin Funck of Rosskopf & Partner AG, Obermehler, Germany, for the Hotel Puerta America project in Madrid, Spain. The project comprises a 12-story hotel, with each floor being specially designed by a renowned architect. Rosskopf & Partner was responsible for the solid surface works on eight floors — in cooperation with eight architects from all over the world. One of the most challenging designs implemented turned out to be the first floor designed by Zaha Hadid architects, London, U.K. The first floor includes 28 rooms completely made of solid surface material, two suites, the lobby and parts of the corridor. All visible areas except for the flooring were fabricated out of LG HI-MACS. The project was exclusively done in solid colors, such as black, white and orange. The objective was to annex a completely new architectural style to a public building and thereby combine functionality with design.

The award for Best Commercial/Institutional Design was awarded to Kenneth Graves of Sterling Surfaces, Sterling, Mass., for work on commercial conference table/credenza in New York City. The project was to create a large conference table with a sleek edge profile and electrical outlets and data ports built in, as well as a matching credenza out of DuPont Corian.

The award for Best Residential Kitchen Design went to Scott Tate of Spectrum Surfaces Inc., Green Bay, Wis. for work on a residential kitchen in Pound, Wis. The family was looking for something a little different than the run-of-the-mill basic countertop. Their kitchen was so large that Spectrum needed to design something to break up the very large tops. So, on the whole project a 1?4-in.-wide black strip was poured 2 in. from the front edge on all of the tops. For the island top the owners decided on an interesting compass design. The cook top is granite and the tops are Northstar Black Sea solid surface with Coconut Ice and Silver Night for the compass.

Paul F. Mauss of Solid Surface Specialist, Onalaska, Wis., won the award for Best Residential Bath Design for his amazing work in a residential bathroom in LaCrosse, Wis. The family wanted a total bathroom remodel, which included expanding the room into the existing roof lines, utilizing existing skylights for natural light and room enhancement, and creating a larger, more functional vanity, tub deck and shower space. Beige Fieldstone Corian was the material used.

The Best Nontraditional Design award went to Matt Wilson of The Top Shop, Salinas, Calif., for the creation of a solid surface Billiard Table. Tired of doing the same old work, Wilson decided to take a chance and fabricate a billiard table out of LG HI-MACS. Nine months of free time and 400 hours of work later, he finished his one-of-a-kind table, which weighs 1,500 lbs. and has a matching triangle rack and cue stick wall rack. The homeowner that bought it had him customize his billiard room, adding solid surface window sills, a corner seat and a matching mini bar. The table is mostly clad in solid surface, has fluted legs and has coved, reinforced corners.

For more information, please visit www.solidsurfacemagazine.com or call 920-563-1694.

SolidSurface magazine is owned and published by business-to-business media leader Cygnus Business Media. Cygnus Business Media reaches nearly 15 million business owners, executives and professionals annually through its portfolio of over 200 media products.

EDITORS NOTE….this does not have much to do with stone….but man it is kinda cool!