This town is freaking beautiful, according to a couple of real-deal architects and the editor in chief of a hip magazine.

On March 22, architects Craig Scott and Jon Pickard as well as Susan Szenasy of Metropolis determined the best of Houston architecture. At the end of the day, the jury selected 21 winners in eight categories for the American Institute of Architects, Houston 2012 Architecture Design Awards.

The victors, which ranged from residential to commercial renovations, were chosen from Houston metro area projects that had been completed within the last five years or projects devised by an architect working in the Bayou City.

Steve Jansen is a contributing writer for the Houston Press.