For the sixth annual AZ Awards, our intrepid jury narrowed the field from over 800 submissions, received from dozens of countries, to select just 48 finalists that stood above the rest. In addition to presenting the AZ Award winners, Azure recognized these projects, products and concepts with Awards of Merit.

In a suburb of Sydney, Australia, Ian Moore Architects’ revamp of a contemporary one-bedroom house built in 2001 reverses the damage of a flawed renovation, restoring it to its original Modernism-inspired glory. A mezzanine bedroom perched above the kitchen overlooks a living room ringed by a louvred ribbon window. Connecting the two floors, a double-decker stack of bright yellow millwork hides the staircase, playing double duty as a pantry below and a closet above. Throughout, the finishes adhere to a soft-spoken palette of white, grey and silver.

Location: Sydney, Australia

Firm: Ian Moore Architects, Australia

Team: Ian Moore with Maria Gutierrez