White House Redux, a competition launched by Storefront for Art and Architecture and Control Group last January, posed a simple question: What would the residence of the most powerful individual in the world, the White House in Washington, D.C., look like if it were designed today? With almost 500 submissions from 42 countries around the world, this resulted in a global conversation about executive power and political will.

The winners and jury selects are on view at the newly renovated Storefront for Art and Architecture through November 8, and online, where the popular vote for top prize is currently being tallied.

Left: Scene from Palin/Biden debate watching party at Storefront for Art and Architecture, photo courtesy Storefront. Right: Installation of White House Redux exhibition, photo: Peggy Roalf

A five-panel jury, which met last May on the 45th floor of World Trade Center Tower 7 awarded 4 cash prizes plus an honorable mention, with a top prize of $5,000. Surprisingly few architectural schemes were submitted, but one on display is a massive office complex with a facade nearly identical to any urban Sheraton Hotel. Juror Geoff Manaugh, senior editor of Dwell, said, "It's not just the house of some random guy in a cowboy hat who's going to take over the world. It's actually thousands of different offices of branches and workers."

But social and political commentary runs rampant in the form of cartoon strips (one based on "Peanutz"), animations, black comedy in various degrees of noirishness, and serious philosophical discourse. More than a few propose that government become more transparent, none more pointedly so than a scaled up version of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski's cabin, rendered in ghostly white.

Project 619 states that the existing White House is economically inefficient, an easy target for terrorists, and proposes relocating the many functions it houses to neighborhoods sprinkled throughout the metro D.C. area. Project 1091 shifts the seat of presidential power all the way to America's heartland. In relocating the White House to Lebanon, KA, the program reads, "The job creation opportunities are enormous as are the possibilities for creating good will with a segment of the population that often feels ignored."

The online popular election will award a single cash prize based on the number of banner clicks received. The organizers have been surprised by the attention the site has received; as of today, at somewhere between $0.01 and $0.05 per thousand clicks, the leading contender's prize is up to $109.85, with 19 days to go.

If you're itching for a catfight in tonight's presidential debate, head for Storefront on your way home -- it's open 'til 6:00 pm. White House Redux offers much to contemplate and plenty of ways to warm up your own verbal chops for a heated argument. But there's more: To mark the closing of the White House Redux exhibition, Storefront will hold an all-night election vigil in the gallery with a live large-screen CNN projection and special blog-reading stations. Everyone's invited!

White House Redux continues at Storefront for Art and Architecture through November 8. 97 Kenmare Street, NYC. 212.431.5795. Map.