Awards and Accolades

International Recognition

We aspire to be part of a design community that will make Ottawa known for its architectural excellence. Our clients and the public deserve a built environment that is not only practical and sustainable but excites and delights the senses.

This has motivated a fierce pursuit of the highest standards of design. Kariouk Architects is the only firm in Ottawa to have earned multiple international awards and accolades for our residential work. Homes we have designed appear in hundreds of architectural books, magazines, and journals. We’re also the only architects whose work is featured in a major international art gallery. “(a)way station: the Architectural Spaces of Migration“, part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), was created by Paul Kariouk and colleague Mabel O. Wilson.

Similarly, the awards and accolades you see below weren’t achieved by us alone. We owe an immense debt of gratitude to our clients, who are at the heart of our design process and who are our partners in every sense. We thank them for trusting us with one of the most important projects of their lives: the creation of their homes. You can read reviews from some of our clients on Google.

American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, USA

2024 Design Awards: Merit Award, m.o.r.e. Cabin

Paul Kariouk, our principal, is licensed to practice across Canada, Virginia, and New York State, where he practiced before accepting the opportunity to teach at Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism. We were thrilled to receive this award for our m.o.r.e. Cabin.

AIA Canada

2022 Design Awards: Merit Award, Architecture, m.o.r.e. Cabin

While we’re very keen to put our work on the international map, we’re equally proud of the recognition we receive from our fellow Canadians, like this Merit Award.

2022 Design Awards: Honourable Mention, Architecture, Forest Retreat

Imagine how thrilled we were to learn that we were recognized for a second project — the Forest Retreat — with an Honourable Mention.

Ontario Association of Architects (OAA)

2022 Design Excellence Awards: Finalist, Architecture, m.o.r.e. Cabin

The OAA Design Excellence Awards are presented to architects based in Ontario and designing for clients anywhere. The collection of 30 finalists includes exciting projects in institutional, commercial, and residential categories. We’re proud that m.o.r.e. Cabin was included among them.

American Institute of Architects (National), USA

2013 Small Project Awards: Winner, Category 1, Cemetery Marker

We were honoured to be one of the jury’s three choices for Category 1, “a small project construction, object, work of environmental art or architectural design element up to $150,000.” This very remote churchyard cemetery marker is located in Pennsylvania and is designed to allow the grass to grow between its five plates.

Architizer, USA

2023: 30 Best Architecture Firms in Canada, Featured

We were recognized as #13 in the top 30 Best Architecture Firms in Canada, a list that included many much larger firms.

2022 A+ Awards: Finalist, Best Small Firm (International)

Billed as “pioneering,” we were proud to be a finalist in this rating of the top small firms in the world.

2013 A+ Awards: Winner, Memorials, Cemetery Marker

Our cemetery marker was the winner of the jury prize for memorials.

Archello, The Netherlands

2023 Archello Awards: Finalist, House of the Year (Rural), m.o.r.e. Cabin

The m.o.r.e. Cabin was a finalist in a very large field of international firms. We’re very proud that our small firm was able to gain some visibility for the Ottawa architecture community.

Dezeen, UK

2022: Featured, Top 10 Houses of 2022, m.o.r.e. Cabin

The tiny m.o.r.e. Cabin was featured amongst the work of much larger international firms

2022 Awards: Longlisted, Small Building, m.o.r.e. Cabin

The m.o.r.e. Cabin was in great company. The members of the jury were looking for innovative designs, as you will see from the long list of projects.

2022: Featured, Top Nine Mass-Timber Buildings

Once again the m.o.r.e. Cabin was featured in this list of projects that incorporate mass timber, a very sustainable material.

ArchDaily, Chile

2022: Featured, Best Houses of 2022, m.o.r.e. Cabin

The fact that m.o.r.e. Cabin was featured in this collection of extremely varied homes from around the world is very humbling. The homes were urban and rural, large and small, modest and luxurious.

National Council of Structural Engineers, Canada

2022: Winner, Excellence in Engineering Award, m.o.r.e. Cabin

It’s wonderful to know that m.o.r.e. Cabin has been recognized for its structural innovation as well as for its counterintuitive sustainability. We’re grateful to the NCSEA for naming us as the “Outstanding Project” in its Under $30 Million category.

Canadian Wood Council

2021-2022 Wood Design and Building Awards: Winner, Forest Retreat

This award program recognizes the innovative use of wood in residential, commercial, and institutional projects worldwide. We were delighted to be named the winner in the Residential category for our Forest Retreat project.

2021-2022 Wood Design and Building Awards: Merit Award, m.o.r.e. Cabin

2022 was a great year for us, and we were delighted to win a second award from the Canada Wood Council, this time for the m.o.r.e. Cabin.

Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA)

2020 Design Awards: Winner, Best Custom Urban Home (3,000 SF or Less), DASH Home

Our DASH Home won the GOHBA 2020 Design Award for custom homes of 3,000 square feet or less.