Archinect - Features

Archinect Celebrates Canada Day by Highlighting 15 Architecture Firms That Are Defining the Future of Canadian Architecture

2023-07-01T08:00:00-04:00

July 1, also known as Canada Day, is a time when Canadians come together to commemorate the union of what were once three separate colonies — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada (contemporary Ontario and Quebec).

Canada isn't just one of the largest countries in the world, but it's also one of the most urban. In a 2021 report, about 82% of the country's total population lives in cities. In honor of Canada Day, we take a moment to celebrate Canadian architecture by highlighting 15 firms working across the country.

Doctor of Design Program Seeks to Transform Design Education in the 21st Century

2021-12-10T13:43:00-05:00

In November 2019, the University of Calgary's School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape (UCalgary SAPL) announced its new Doctor of Design (DDes) program targeted towards practicing architects, planners, and landscape architects looking to "leverage their existing expertise into new areas of innovation." While institutions within the United States offer such programs, UCalgary is the first to launch a DDes program in Canada. Currently, the program has two active DDes cohorts that began in 2020 and 2021 with a total of 16 candidates located in Canada, Nigeria, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia. To better understand the program Archinect connected with program critic Marcelo Stamm, Ph.D., and DDes candidate Barry Johns.

With applications currently open for UCalgary's third DDes cohort, Stamm and Johns offer valuable insight to help prospective applicants learn more about the program.

Deans List: University of Calgary's Dr. John Brown Discusses the Importance of Fostering Design Innovation and Entrepreneurship

2019-11-05T06:00:00-05:00

The Deans List is an interview series with the leaders of architecture schools, worldwide. The series profiles the school’s programming, as defined by the dean — giving an invaluable perspective into the institution’s unique curriculum, faculty, and academic environment.

For this installment, Archinect spoke with Dr. John Brown, dean at the University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape. A seasoned architect and academic, Brown's background has allowed him to explore how academia can not only teach students but foster a level of thinking. From running a practice filled with people-centric design, research, and entrepreneurial spunk, Brown expresses for students to "look at what it is they want to do and how they can do that most effectively without being constrained by conventional practice."

A supporter of design innovation and entrepreneurship, Brown shares the challenges the program has faced and how the blending of research and multidisciplinary has led t...

Architect Michael Leckie, of Vancouver-Based Leckie Studio, Discusses his Intention and Craft-Driven Small Studio

2018-06-04T12:41:00-04:00

Architect Michael Leckie began his professional career working at top firms in Canada and Europe. But as the type of person who prefers to create things himself, it was only natural that he established his own practice Leckie Studio Architecture + Design. Since 2015, the interdisciplinary Vancouver firm has designed a fantastic variety of eye-popping interiors and residential projects, plus they have a growing roster of big clients and collaborators. Without a doubt, things are looking up for the young studio, who received the 2018 Emerging Firm Award from the Architectural Institute of British Columbia last month.

In the latest Small Studio Snapshot, Michael Leckie talks about the significance of keeping his practice small, the democratic nature of Canadian design, and some of the exciting plans his firm has in store.

Audain Art Museum by Patkau Architects

2017-07-31T09:58:00-04:00

Designed by Patkau Architects, the Audain Art Museum, located in Whistler, British Columbia, is a 56,000 square foot museum housing Michael Audain’s personal art collection which spans the history of British Columbia from the late 18th century to the present day. Spacious and minimal, the structure fits elegantly into Whistler's forest landscape, creating a serene environment for visitors. Recently, the art museum received a Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Awards in Architecture medal in the 2017 AIBC Architectural Awards.

After being destroyed in a fire, Canadian-firm Patkau Architects rebuilds the Temple of Light

2017-07-06T12:23:00-04:00

Construction is nearing completion on the Temple of Light at the Yasodhara Ashram in British Columbia, Canada. Located near Crawford Bay and a visible landmark from Kootenay Lake, the temple was the vision of Swami Radha, a pioneer in the North American yoga movement who completed the original center in 1992.

Happy Canada Day! A quick look at some of Archinect's favorite practices from each province and territory

2017-07-01T10:21:00-04:00

Every July 1, Canadians unite to celebrate their country and its history. Specifically, Canada Day commemorates the merger of what were once three separate colonies—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada (contemporary Ontario and Quebec). It was a milestone in the movement from colony to commonwealth to independent country.

Moshe Safdie Reflects on the 50th Anniversary of Habitat 67, the Masterpiece He Completed at 25

2017-05-10T11:41:00-04:00

Fifty years ago, a young Canadian-Israeli architect got the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to realize his senior thesis for the 1967 World Fair in Montréal. The resulting housing complex inspired generations of architects inside and outside of Canada, and its influence is visible in buildings built to this day. It wasn’t just formal innovation that determined Habitat 67’s significance—although that’s certainly part of it—but also the new way of life it imagined by way of affordable, dense urban housing with all the greenery, spaciousness, and privacy of the suburbs.

From Bjarke Ingels to Kengo Kuma, Ian Gillespie is a Developer that Appreciates the Value of Architecture

2017-04-26T12:12:00-04:00

Making the leap from paper to brick and mortar (or from the screen to IRL) tends to require a fair amount of financial support. Back in the old days, that would mean a wealthy patron like a Medici or a Guggenheim. And today—well, it also usually means a wealthy patron. For big projects, like a BIG tower, they’re often developers. But, as every architect knows, few developers actually support innovative design. Enter someone like Ian Gillespie, the founder of Westbank and the backer of many significant projects by major architects, from Bjarke Ingels to Kengo Kuma.

Designing For and With the Landscape: an Interview with MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects

2017-04-19T13:02:00-04:00

In a way, the work of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects stands out in that it fits in. That is to say, while so many of their contemporaries orient their work around attention-grabbing icons, the Halifax-based practice led by Bryan MacKay-Lyons and Talbot Sweetapple strives to make buildings that bring attention towards, rather than away from, the landscape.

A prize-winning installation pays tribute to a historical Quebec village

2016-02-10T17:03:00-05:00

Vercheres, a small village near Montreal, has recently integrated a unique memorial to honor those who originally settled the region in 1740. A local firm, Les Ateliers Guyon, has designed a cluster of benches with white oak sails rooted along the shore of the St. Lawrence River. Sails Benches echoes the arrival of 18th century explorers, while reflecting a particular artistic aesthetic that Les Ateliers Guyon has become known for. The project has recently garnered accolade from the prestigious World Interiors News Awards in London, receiving first place in the ‘Furniture Category’.

Modular benches provide maximum functionality and versatility for Lake Jasper House

2016-02-02T13:41:00-05:00

The Lake Jasper House, designed by Architecturama, stands in the midst of a forested haven in Chertsey, Canada. The Quebec-based architecture firm has thoughtfully combined a minimalist aesthetic with maximum functionality, optimizing the use of the house’s interior space. In keeping with their manifesto, Architecturama has approached their design with the intention “to have a present, living and enthusiastic architecture that engages the senses,” in addition to reducing an environmental footprint in any way conceivable.

Showcase: Slate House by Affleck de la Riva architects

2014-11-06T20:27:00-05:00

Suburbia doesn't have to be faceless. Slate House, a proud black sheep in a family of tract houses, manages a demurely chic presence amid the former farmlands of Laval, Montreal's largest suburb.

Rem's Venice Biennale is "like being immersed in a stormy S,M,L,XL, with a glass of wine, and hundreds of other people"

2014-06-16T10:46:00-04:00

Is Modernism “history”? How do Modern concepts, especially regarding representation, nature, technology and housing, relate to the current state of architecture? These were some overarching questions embedded in the 14th Venice Biennale of Architecture, curated by Rem Koolhaas. The show opened June 7th under the “Fundamentals” theme, and it is worth visiting for the important questions it raises about the current state of architecture and building.

Screen/Print #8: Satellite

2014-02-28T12:56:00-05:00

Screen/Print is an experiment in translation across media, featuring a close-up digital look at printed architectural writing. Divorcing content from the physical page, the series lends a new perspective to nuanced architectural thought.

For this issue, we’re featuring Satellite's Toronto.

Do you run an architectural publication? If you’d like to submit a piece of writing to Screen/Print, please send us a message.

Working out of the Box: Skip Schwartz

2012-10-30T15:15:00-04:00

Working out of the Box is a series of features presenting architects who have applied their architecture backgrounds to alternative career paths.

Are you an architect working out of the box? Do you know of someone that has changed careers and has an interesting story to share? If you would like to suggest an (ex-)architect, please send us a message.

In Focus: Sam Javanrouh

2012-02-21T18:33:00-05:00

In Focus is Archinect's series of features dedicated to profiling the photographers who help make the work of architects look that much better. What has attracted them to architecture? How do they work? What type of equipment do they use? What do they think about seeing their work in blogs?

In this feature, we talk to Iranian-Canadian creative director and photographer Sam Javanrouh.