We’re small and do big things Modern Office of Design + Architecture  | MoDA | was founded in 2012 by partners Dustin Couzens and Ben Klumper. | MoDA | functions as a critical Architectural and Interior Design studio interested in working at a multitude of scales and contexts. 

Central to both our conceptual and built work are themes defining the role of the public realm within the urban fabric, the fundamental relationship between social/cultural ideologies and emergent form, the quantitative and qualitative implications of context or site and the nuance of materiality and tectonics.

As evidenced in our body of work, there’s no project too big or too small. Whether we’re designing an interior, a single-family residence or a large public project such as an office building, library, school, art gallery or even a fire hall our process is the same. We design collaborations rather than dictate solutions.

Both Principals, Dustin Couzens and Ben Klumper, are actively involved with the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Calgary in the capacity of both Critic and Sessional Instructor.

The ‘means’ are just as important as the ‘end.’ We understand that architecture is more than just great design.  We firmly believe that a building is only as good as the means by which it is delivered.  That’s why we are intimately involved in your project from the initial hand shake and napkin sketch through to cutting the ribbon.  We control the process of project delivery through a rigorous set of standards that ensure quality, budget and schedule are maintained. We are in constant communication with you to ensure that your expectations are being understood and hopefully exceeded.

Limitation drives Innovation We view architecture as a discipline of creative problem solving. Any project has, inherent to its inception, a vast array of limitations/constraints that need not only to be overcome, but also explored for their hidden potential.  Often these limitations take on the form of restrictive site or climate conditions, by-law/code covenants, or budget/time restraints, all of which (when evaluated intelligently) can produce some of the most awe-inspiring design and architecture. We love the potential of the banal.

Architecture builds the City If it can be deemed true that ‘Architecture builds the City, the City builds a sense of place, a sense of place builds a community and a community builds an identity,’ then | MoDA | endeavors to lead the way, providing a fresh perspective on how this can be done. It’s time for architecture to do things again and not just represent things.