Archinect - News

Canadian housing pioneer and RAIC Gold Medalist Jerome Markson passes away at 94

2023-11-21T12:28:00-05:00

Jerome Markson, the 2022 RAIC Gold Medalist and modern social housing pioneer whose influence was felt widely across Canada, died in Toronto on Saturday, November 18, The Globe and Mail reported. He was 94 years old.

Markson will be remembered as a progressive architect who affected the post-1970s immigration boom in Greater Toronto through humane and uplifting designs for The Smith Residence (1955), Market Square Condominiums (1980), Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie (1962), and Alexandra Park Public Housing (1965), among others.

“His work epitomizes a deep caring towards those who will use and enjoy his projects as well as the communities in which they exist. Many architects will offer praise by referring to colleagues as an ‘architect’s architect’. Jerome Markson is certainly deserving of the title ‘planner’s architect’ — quite possibly a more difficult and exceptional achievement within the profession,” the jury citation for last year’s RAIC Gold Medal states concisely. ...

Acclaimed Canadian landscape architect Claude Cormier has died aged 63

2023-09-18T20:10:00-04:00

Canadian landscape architect Claude Cormier, a deeply admired figure within the country’s design community, passed away on September 15th at the age of 63 following a battle with cancer, the CBC and other outlets reported over the weekend.

The founder of CCxA was behind many of the country’s most beloved public spaces, parks, and memorial designs, including Toronto’s Berczy Park, downtown Montreal’s new The Ring installation, and the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa. A statement from the firm credited him as being a “great visionary who influenced us in surprising and powerful ways, thanks to the creative force and joie de vivre he brought to all our lives.”

The RIng, Montreal. Photo: David Boyer Photographe Inc.

Born and raised in Quebec, Cormier studied at the University of Toronto and Harvard GSD before entering practice in Montreal in 1993. Over the years, Cormier’s work received more than 100 separate awards and honors, including being named to the prestigious Ordre Natio...

Celebrated Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama passes away aged 93

2023-09-05T13:45:00-04:00

Raymond Moriyama, a generational talent who greatly influenced the development of modern architecture in his native Canada, passed away on September 1st, according to his studio. He was 93 years old.

The founder of Moriyama Teshima Architects (MTA), Moriyama will be remembered for contributions such as the Ontario Science Centre, Canadian War Museum, and Bata Shoe Museum that were emblematic of his humanitarian commitments, personal experiences with multiculturalism, and social philosophy.

The Bata Shoe Museum. Image: Ali Eminov via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

He studied architecture and planning at both the University of Toronto and McGill University before practicing independently until being joined by Ted Teshima in 1970. The pair then went on to garner acclaim internationally over their designs for the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Etihad Museum, and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, which was completed in Riyadh in 1999. Several major awards followed, and Moriyama ended his career wi...

Frank Gehry reminisces on Toronto's past while detailing his Forma design for the New York Times

2023-07-26T12:56:00-04:00

A lot of work has gone into it. It’s like a painting. So the glass is offset in places to take the light a certain way and separate that surface from the rest of the building. A lot of care has gone into organizing that visually. It’ll become apparent over the years. You’ll see it and you’ll say: Oh, that’s what he was doing.

Gehry, whose family left Toronto for Los Angeles in 1947, also detailed his misgivings at the city’s contemporary development. The landscape has taken an even more markedly vertical turn since the beginning of 2021 thanks to a “race to the top” among developers (including the backers of the Gehry-designed Forma scheme, the Great Gulf Group) led by the forthcoming 105-story SkyTower design from Hariri Pontarini Architects for Pinnacle International.

Gehry’s only completed permanent work in his birth country, the 2008 renovation of the Art Gallery of Ontario, is also the subject of a major expansion designed by Diamond Schmitt, Two Row, and Selldorf Architects.

Groundbreaking on Forma’s first tower began last month, with an expected completion slated for 2028. Gehry also expressed an interest in refurbishing Arthur Erickson's Roy Thomson Hall, which still hasn't fine-tuned its acoustics since the last KPMB-led upgrade in 2002.

Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt co-founder A.J. Diamond passes away aged 89

2022-11-02T18:00:00-04:00

One of the most significant Canadian architects of his era is being remembered this week after news that Diamond Schmitt co-founder Abel Joseph “Jack” Diamond passed away this weekend in Toronto at the age of 89.

Diamond was a mainstay on his adopted country’s architecture scene since first going into the practice in the early 1960s. Born in South Africa in 1932, Diamond studied for an architecture degree at the University of Cape Town in 1956 before reading Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University and then immigrating to the United States to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed his master’s studies in architecture and began his career as an apprentice to Louis Kahn.

Diamond moved to Toronto in 1964, where he served as the inaugural director of UT’s Master of Architecture program and eventually founded his own practice, A.J. Diamond Architects, with American Barton Myers in 1975.

Previously on Archinect: Diamond Schmitt Architects' Emily Ca...

Moshe Safdie donates entire archive to McGill University

2022-08-23T14:42:00-04:00

The professional archive of renowned Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie will now be housed at his alma mater McGill University, the school announced today.

The Habitat 67 designer will also donate his restored private apartment in the famed modular housing complex, along with the undergraduate thesis titled “A Case for City Living” that led to its inception as part of the Expo 67 exhibition in Montreal 55 years ago.

The apartment (which was not previously managed by the university) and thesis are just two of the more than 100,000 total pieces included in the donation. McGill says the archive “represents one of the most extensive and thorough individual collections of architectural documentation in Canada” and that it expects the gift to provide “an abundance of opportunity for exploration” to the university and design-minded community writ large.

Special announcement ceremony of Moshe Safdie's archive donation at McGill University. Video via McGill University on YouTube.

At th...

Benighted Quebecois architect Claude Provencher passes away at 72

2022-05-26T09:00:00-04:00

The Canadian architecture landscape is in mourning following the announcement that Provencher_Roy’s co-founder Claude Provencher passed away in Montreal on May 6th.

Provencher founded the firm along with Michel Roy in 1983 and went on to become a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and was honored as a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec in 2021 for his commitment to his métier and dedication to bettering life in the great city.

Provencher_Roy's design for the Claire and Marc Bourgie Pavilion at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts was a 2014 Canadian National Urban Design Award winner. Photo: Marc Cramer.

Known for his quintessential pursuit of projects that came to define the avant-garde of new urban architecture in his native country, Provencher created a number of award-winning designs, including Montreal’s World Trade Centre complex, the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the recent headquarters for th...

The high-priced plan to replace the Royal British Columbia Museum is meeting backlash

2022-05-24T18:04:00-04:00

The momentum behind the proposed new Royal British Columbia Museum project said to be Canada’s most expensive in modern history appears to be slowing after Premier John Horgan’s recent announcement “landed with a thud” in political circles and the news media.

The Art Newspaper is reporting that the government’s updated plans to demolish the existing 1968 structure and replace it with a brand new design has levied a considerable amount of backlash in Victoria, British Columbia, where critics are taking a stand against the enormous costs of the project now five years in the making.

Labeled a “billion-dollar vanity project” by local Liberal Party leader Kevin Falcon, the currently $789 million CAD ($615.8 million USD) would author a full-scale modernization of the 135-year-old institution that would leave its doors closed until the year 2030. Horgan has said he laments the project’s newfound status as a “political football,” pointing desperately to its mass timber construction and new ...

Check out this new map of Canadian Architecture award winners since 1968

2021-08-26T14:59:00-04:00

Looking for some Maple-flavored architectural inspiration? You’re in luck now, thanks to a new interactive map published by The Atlas of Research on Exemplarity in Architecture and the Built Environment in collaboration with Canadian Architect magazine.

The new map showcases a comprehensive list of the more than 500 winners of the magazine’s annual award since 1968. Featuring both built and unrealized projects, the list was compiled thanks to data collected by M.Arch students at the Université de Montréal.

The project was funded in part by the Canada Research Chair in Architecture, Competitions and Mediations of Excellence Social Sciences as well as the Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The full database can be accessed here.

The annual Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence highlights its 2020 winners

2020-12-07T14:13:00-05:00

Winners have been announced for the 53rd annual Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence. The awards are considered the highest recognition for Canadian architects and projects currently in the design and construction phases. This year 132 entries were submitted and reviewed by the jury.

The awards program shared that the entries themselves "show that Canadian architects are still amply producing innovative designs that are sensitive to their physical, social and environmental contexts."

View this year's winners in all five categories and select project images below.

Taza Water Resevoir at Taza Park Phase 1 by Zeilder Architecture.

Wardell by Ja Architecture Studio

2020 CANADIAN ARCHITECT AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Taza Water Reservoir at Taza Park Phase 1, by Zeidler Architecture
Calgary Japanese Community Association, by Modern Office of Design and Architecture in collaboration with Henry Tsang Architect
CAMH Research Centre by KPMB Architects, TreanorHL
Wardell by Ja Architecture Studio
Expan...

Carleton University announces the new Hobin Prize in Architecture and City Building

2019-12-23T16:03:00-05:00

The Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism at Carleton University has announced a new student architecture prize fund that will go toward supporting the work of fourth-year undergraduate students enrolled in the school's housing and community building-focused studio.

The Hobin Prize, which will consist of several monetary prizes set to be awarded to students from the design, urbanism, and conservation focuses offered at the school, is endowed by Barry Hobin, founder of Ottawa, Canadia-based Hobin Architecture. Hobin, who graduated from Carleton University's school of architecture in 1974, explains his inspiration for the prize via press release: "Architecture has a more complex role than it ever has in the past. It’s not just about buildings. It’s about building places and trying to respond to things like the LRT (light-rail transit) and how we plan to live around it.”

The studio projects the prizes will support typically delve into topics that include housing affordability, n...

Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize set to launch in 2021

2019-10-02T15:00:00-04:00

The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) has recognized influential Canadian landscape architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander as the namesake for a new international landscape architecture prize.

The Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize is set to be awarded for the first time in 2021 and will come with a $100,000 award as well as two years of public engagement activities, according to a TCLF press release.

In a statement announcing the new name for the Oberlander Prize, Charles A. Birnbaum, TCLF’s president and CEO, writes, “It was the consensus of the Prize Advisory Committee, which helped shaped the Prize, and TCLF’s Board of Directors that Cornelia Oberlander’s inspiring and trailblazing career in the field of landscape architecture exemplifies the critical values and ideals of the Prize, and that she is someone who embodies the Prize criteria of creativity, courage, and vision.”

During a ceremony announcing the announcement of the prize this week, ...

Canadian Pavilion for 2020 Venice Biennale to explore country's role as popular filming location

2019-03-14T12:25:00-04:00

The Canada Council for the Arts on Thursday announced the curators and winning proposal for the Canadian Pavilion at the 2020 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Led by Montreal architecture and design practice T B A and David Theodore of McGill University, the exhibition will be titled "Imposter Cities," and will touch on ideas of identity, history and culture within the context of Canadian architecture.

Specifically, "Imposter Cities" will explore the county's role as a popular movie set and its architecture as film-famous settings for other places. Nicknamed Hollywood North, Canada has become a top filming location with its cities and buildings often acting as stand-ins for elsewhere—i.e. Montreal plays the part of Paris, while Toronto gets cast as New York or Boston.

Using a range of digital media, the curators will investigate why Canada's buildings are so good at filling the role of somewhere else. On the proposal, organizer David Theodore said, "it will be fun to immerse visitors...

Canada Council for the Arts releases four team shortlist for 2020 Venice Biennale

2018-12-19T18:12:00-05:00

The Canada Council for the Arts has revealed the four proposals shortlisted for exhibition at the Canadian Pavilion at Venice's 2020 Architecture Biennale. Included are designs from emerging Canadian stars Common Accounts, Ja Architecture Studio, and the duo Thomas Balaban and David Theodore, who have teamed up for the project. Additionally, Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism—which is led by Professor Jill Stoner—has been tapped as well.

From an exhibition on Canada's waterscapes and inland bodies of water, to one on light wood framing, the shortlisted visions address ideas of identity, history and culture within the context of Canadian architecture. With an open ended prompt, the proposed exhibitions focus on topics ranging from the after life to Canada's role as a filming location and stand in for other places. Below is a snapshot of each team’s vision.

Fluid Boundaries: Ethical Imaginaries of Inland Waters
Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism (...

5 amazing job opportunities for architects in Canada

2018-03-22T12:00:00-04:00

Canada is home to some incredibly talented architects. This week we take a look at some recent opportunities posted to Archinect Jobs in the Great White North.

RobitailleCurtis has an opening for a Landscape Architect/ Designer in their Montreal office.

Laurentian Ski Chalet by RobitailleCurtis, located in St. Donat, Quebec. Image: RobitailleCurtis.

The firm is looking for an individual with extensive knowledge of plants and experience with technical drawings and site construction. The right candidate will hold a degree from an accredited landscape architecture program and have good communication skills in French and English.

Eventscape Inc. is currently hiring a Conceptual Designer in their Toronto location.

Toronto Centre for the Arts by Eventscape Inc., located in Toronto, ON, CA. Image: Eventscape Inc.

The ideal applicant will have experience in construction, manufacturing, estimating, engineering, and architectural technology or industrial design. The firm seeks an individual ...

The future of Canadian architecture relies on a national policy

2018-01-08T16:37:00-05:00

An architecture policy sets an aspirational goal for what we value about the built environment, and helps create a framework for that contribution to culture. The Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ) is actively consulting with the government on the establishment of a provincial architecture policy. This is a positive move and shows leadership in the preservation of Canadian culture. It is an example that our federal government should follow.

Canadian architecture needs the support of a national policy in order to survive the global competition. Canada's architecture must be seen under the umbrella of cultural policies that support local arts, culture, and businesses. As it stands, the country has no architectural policy to speak of. This leaves its firms vulnerable to larger international competition and its building susceptible to accreditation by non-Canadian architects.

An architectural policy can be found in most European countries and helps to support its local firms. Currently, Canada's local partners have limited involvement, especially in larger projects, due to stigmas of international firms having more design talent. When interviewed Frank Gehry said, "Canada had not offered the well supported educational institutions, the critical mass of creative people to produce radical new ideas, or the consumer markets for architecture to support more inventive practices."

The resounding success of Allied Works Architecture's "National Music Center"

2017-02-16T20:39:00-05:00

Incorporating both physical and intangible elements of Canada's musical history, the National Music Center by Allied Works is a nine-towered, terra-cotta tile clad complex that not only ropes a 112-year old hotel/blues club into the mix, but creates the kind of spaces suited for gazing dreamily into one's future.

According to Brad Cloepfil, Principal at Allied Works Architecture, the structure was "inspired by the light, landscape and geography of the northern prairie."

He goes on to note that "Studio Bell was created to amplify the rich history and future possibilities of Canadian music. The building aspires to create a sense of wonder and mystery, inspiring the visitor to explore. Nine separate towers rise five floors above the street, each resonating with music and activity. The building is alive with the life of music throughout its exhibition, recording, editing, performance and education spaces. The distinct vessels of music are bound together by the space between them, moments ...

What does Canada's new Prime Minister mean for architecture?

2015-11-12T14:39:00-05:00

By now, everyone is aware that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau comes from a solid political lineage and is relatively young, but what are his policies on architecture? During the election, The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) polled Trudeau's Liberal Party of Canada on its stances toward a variety of issues, including greenhouse gas emission reduction from buildings, quality of public spaces, and the cessation of infrastructural services such as mail delivery. If campaign promises are kept, it looks like Canada's architectural future will be an aesthetically conscious and sustainable one:

RAIC: Do you agree design excellence must be a high priority for federally funded projects?

Liberal Party: Liberals value the liveability of our cities, and this includes contributing to the ongoing nation-building that creates treasured landmarks. We recognize that architecture has the capacity to reflect our heritage, our history, and our culture. It has to potential to speak ...