An award-winning Abbotsford architect recently earned the prestigious Grand Tommie Award from the Canadian Home Builders Association of B.C., for his design for a stunning contemporary private home in Kelowna.

David Tyrell, who established his company in Abbotsford in 1990, has been honoured in the past but this is his first Grand Tommie Award.

The breath-taking Kelowna home, aptly named Luminescence, was awarded the Grand Tommie Award on Jan. 28 at the Tommie 2011 Gold Gala in Kelowna.

Luminescence was nominated for six awards in various categories and came away with three including Best Home of 2011.

David Tyrell Architects Inc. shares the recognition with MGC Construction Ltd., Valley Pool & Spa and the MMM Group.

The other two categories in which the team won were the excellence in master suite design for a single family detached home over $3 million, and excellence in single family detached home over $3 million (with Past and Epp).

The home features clean lines, with expanses of glass, wood and water to blend in almost seamlessly into the peaceful environment of Okanagan Lake.

Tyrell said he was honoured with the recognition, but also shared some of the credit with his clients.

"Good architecture is not possible without a sophisticated and trusting client. I was fortunate to have such a couple for this project," Tyrell said.

Since 1990, Tyrell has garnered more than a two dozen CHBA Awards.

The Luminescence project also received a number three placement on the top 20 Most Popular Homes of 2011 at HomeDSGN.com, a website where homes from around the world are published.

The Tommie Gold Awards go to a variety of companies for categories in affordable housing, renovations, single family homes and marketing to energy efficient considerations.

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CToth@abbotsfordtimes.com