Architecture Wanted

Telus Gardens Trailer

2012-03-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

Video does not embed, please click here to see the video. The architects are Henriquez Partners

From the Province:

At 53 storeys high, the new residential condo tower that’s part of Telus’s redevelopment of a downtown city block will be the city’s second-tallest building, and it’s being built in an area the city zoned off limits to residential construction.

Rezoning for the 500,000-square-foot tower, part of the $750 million redevelopment Telus Garden that also includes 500,000 square feet of office space in a 24-storey tower, was approved by Vancouver city council last week and was officially launched by Telus on Friday.

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Telus+plan+second+tallest+tower+Vancouver+includes+condominium+units/6247708/story.html#ixzz1oN4F8qTL

More stills:

BIG development at Granville Loops

2012-01-22T21:12:00.000-08:00

Is this the future of the coveted Granville Loops' site? Rumour has it... Check out the article at Vancity Buzz.

Now on Facebook

2012-01-16T20:00:00.000-08:00

Just a bit of housekeeping - I set up a Facebook page feed for Architecture Wanted. If you prefer to get your news there, like the page here.

VanDusen revisited - the new Visitor Centre

2012-01-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

via Montechristo

The new visitor centre at VanDusen Botanical Garden designed by Perkins and Will opened last October and a couple of weeks later I had a chance to visit it. If you have not seen it, you should check it out - it is excellent.

It has no less than a LEED Platinum rating, the top possible building rating for environmental performance, and it is net-zero energy - it generates its own energy. But combined with its environmental achievement, is a dramatic architectural experiment, showing us that high 'green' grades can go together with exciting spaces and massing moves.

I have done an earlier post on the design here, and although the design changed since then - as they organically always do - I was as into it during my visit as I was in my post. The one surprise was just how much intensity was in one rather small building. Everything was to the max - the sweeping curves, the detailing, the materiality. There is enough here for a few buildings!

Many many excellent articles have been written recently:

And here is a fun videos from Perkins and Will.

As for images, you will find many awesome ones on this Flickr set by VanDusen Gardens. Below is a mixture of images by others, the nice ones, and by me, not as nice since I had no other option but to take them with my phone camera.

via Vancouver Sun

by Raymond Chan

by Dan Toulgoet

Agnieszka Stryjecka

By Perkins and Will

SALA Spring 2012 Lectures

2012-01-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

Just got this full line-up today - click on picture to see it larger. Many exciting speakers.

Osamu Nishida at Spring Lectures 2012 by UBC SALA

2012-01-05T23:47:00.000-08:00

ondesign.co.jp

Aomori Nebuta House

2011-12-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

Seeing these lovely winter images of Aomori Nebuta House, I could not help but miss the snow - need to get to the mountains stat - and this building's absence (or something similar) from Vancouver's architectural landscape. This lovely project was designed by Vancouver's own Molo Design - known here more so for their less permanent works such as Softwall and Cloud light.

After winning an international competition nearly a decade ago to design Nebuta House, they have been duly acknowledged internationally for their architecture this year as the building finally opened to visitors. Among the awards are International Architecture Award for Best New Global Design 2011, Perspective Excellence Award 2011, Design Vanguard 2010, and highly commended by venerable Architectural Review for Emerging Architecture 2011.

Aomori's Nebuta Festival is one of Japan's largest and is quite spectacular consisting of a procession of large and incredible lantern floats representing many spirits, gods, and heroes. Nebuta House exhibits five best from each year.

Although Molo Design winning competition entry was for a somewhat different program, the design was adjusted to its current intent. An external skin of twisted metal ribbons encloses a perimeter breezeway - not unlike traditional engawa. Besides giving the building its visual identity, it also mediates the sense of enclosure and filters the light. Where the external screen The light and shadow play give way to darkness within, recreating the nighttime condition that sets off the Nebuta Lanterns to their full advantage. The designers have handled the shadows so skillfully as a strategy.

It is a wonderful building - now can we have one like that in Vancouver? Architecture wanted....

design renderings

skin model

All images are by Iwan Baan and Molo Design.

Photo Post - Waterfront House by Nick Milkovich

2011-12-07T23:56:00.000-08:00

What luck! Recently I got a chance to tour a house designed by Nick Milkovich, which is in the final stages of construction. The house is very grand and the detailing is such a treat! Here are the pictures:

Staples Residence by Arthur Erickson

2011-11-07T22:09:00.000-08:00

This house is currently for sale - Vancouver Lights did a wonderful post on it with more detail. Listing is here. The house needs tonnes of love, but it is, oh, so gorgeous, and is well worth it!

RUF Project on Salt Spring

2011-08-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Ah, Salt Spring, how did you become a home to most splendid recent architecture in BC? What is your secret?

On the heels of the Linear House profile last week (see post below), comes another linear house on Salt Spring - this one designed by young studio RUF project, previously posted about here. They first presented this house design at Pecha Kucha Vancouver this summer.

Panoramic views from the site are a cue for the linear orientation of the main space. Heroic gluelam beams at the windows free the facade of structural supports, allowing the entire water side of the volume to be glazed. The whole volume is also like a bridge between the two wings, there is a great lightness in that section of the span.

It harks back to Smith House 2 by Erickson - perhaps, a tribute? They were inspired by Erickson one way or another:

Luckily, RUF was working with “ideal clients,” whose design brief of rustic Canadian cabin meets modern villa allowed them relatively free rein. Inspired by West Coast mid-century modernists – especially Arthur Erickson – the house is a contemporary take on the longhouse that pushes the concept of post and beam to its limits.

For a much better description of the project, I would defer to a pro - Hidani Ditmar has recently profiled RUF Project and this house in Globe and Mail.

all images by Ivan Hunter; drawings by RUF Project

Linear House by Patkau Architects

2011-08-26T22:18:00.000-07:00

An outstanding house design has been completed a little while ago by Patkau Architects on Salt Spring Island. A row of mature douglas firs marches across the property inspiring the orientation and form of the building. The building's two ends, main residence and guest quarters, are separated by a breeze way. The rest of the house opens up completely to the outside by retracting multiple door panels - "an open-air pavilion".

Next to the form, the cladding is a strong supporting act - charcoal fibre-cement panels - relentless and crisp. Lack of any other cladding is so very refreshing! The form and the skin make it somewhat hard, but also...

...pure.

Uncompromising and memorable.

The heaviness of the upper mass is inverted inside into literally lighter upper interior portions: upper walls and ceiling are lit up with lighting and skylights ( depending on whether it is night time or daytime). In a palette of light woods and concrete, the interior intentionally plays off the exterior. The structural effort is well worth the all the wonderful moves that happen in this design.

I suspect it will rake in many more design awards.

Now, it would be great to get more public works in Vancouver of the same caliber! Lucky Salt Spring...

oh, a twee little shed - I see what you did there

This shower would be a lot harder to leave in the morning!

All photos are by James Dow and drawings by Patkau Architects via ArchDaily.

Migrating Landscapes Competition

2011-08-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

"The Migrating Landscapes Organizer (MLO) is pleased to announce an open ideas competition for young Canadian architects and designers. This competition will be the main process for creating Canada’s official entry to the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture, entitled MIGRATING LANDSCAPES.

Themed around migration and cultural identity, MIGRATING LANDSCAPES examines how we as Canadians express our diverse cultural memories and the settling/unsettling dynamic of migration in contemporary settlements and/or dwellings. The competition invites young Canadian architects and designers to reflect on their migration experiences and cultural memories, and to designdwellings onto a new landscape, an exhibition infrastructure designed by MLO.

The intention of this competition is to bring the Venice Biennale to Canada, by promoting and exposing the up-and-coming generation of Canadian architects and designers to the Canadian public before showcasing them in Venice. The goal is to build a young, architectural “Team Canada” to represent Canada in Venice"

MLO competition brief.

BTW - BC competition jury is:

Omer Arbel

Peter Cardew

Chris MacDonald

Leslie van Duzer

Erickson on Sunnycrest

2011-08-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

Having updated the post immediately below on 3635 Sunnycrest Drive, I am compelled to note that this house is next door to a triangular house by Arthur Erickson at 3623 Sunnycrest.

Hollingsworths galore

2011-07-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

Between seeing a Fred Hollingsworth house on a West Vancouver home tour earlier this month and two of his current houses currently on the real estate market, this is turning into a Hollingsworth month. As luck would have it, one of the latter will have its open house this Saturday from 2 to 4 pm at 3635 Sunnycrest Drive in North Vancouver.

The two sisters are selling their late father's house and are hoping to sell it to someone who can do justice to the work. The house has not been altered and is still the way Fred hollingsworth designed it. I hope to get some better ones during the open house to post here.

Meanwhile another gem is up for grabs in North Vancouver. It is a real star. Moon Residence is such a quintessential earlier Hollingsworth - a perfect mix of Wright's influence, West Coast design principles with a character that is all Hollingsworth. An outstanding design. The listing provides great images to give you a sense of the place:

There is also a video:

I will add the house from the tour shortly too!

Coast Modern Movie - Fundraiser

2011-07-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Elspeth Pratt at Offsite

2011-07-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

If you have not had a chance to check out Elspeth Pratt's installation "Second Date" at Vancouver Art Gallery's Offsite (located by the Shangri-La lobby at West Georgia and Thurlow). From Art Daily:

In this latest installation, Pratt transforms Offsite through subtle dislocations in the existing architecture—rigid angles become curves, opaque surfaces are lined with reflective skins, and dark stone is covered with bright rubber. These changes challenge the impulse to standardize our built environment. Inspired by the Aqua Tower in Chicago (2009) by Studio Gang Architects, Pratt’s transformation of Offsite reorients our perception of the space and its architectural framing. Pratt’s work deftly comments on ideas of ornamentation in contemporary architecture, while calling for an examination of the neutrality of spaces designed for public access.

Do go see it - it is really awesome both as art and space. Neutral it is not!

RE-BLOGGED: Vancouver Lights: Carmichael Residence

2011-07-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Lights: Carmichael Residence: "Ron Thom's 1957 Carmichael residence is on the market . This is one of Thom's Wright-inspired hexagonal houses and shares a common langua..."

Pecha Kucha 17 - West Coast Modern Special

2011-06-12T18:38:00.000-07:00

Far far away - RUF Project in Soweto

2011-05-31T23:08:00.000-07:00

Recently local RUF Project have made a big international splash with a great project - a soccer training centre in Soweto in South Africa. Its unique take on exterior wood skin mixed with bold graphics makes it quite memorable. Created in partnership with Nike Global Football Brand Design, it fills a great niche for both athletes and the larger community as a place to come together to train and to play.

RUF Project will be presenting their 20 slides of their work as part of Pecha Kucha at Vogue on June 23rd.

Meanwhile, here are many images of Soweto Centre:

For more information and image credits visit Dezeen.

UBC SALA public lecture series 2011

2011-01-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

B.C. Binning's House July 1st Tour - Architecture Wanted's 100th POST!

2010-06-20T20:10:00.001-07:00

Here's an announcement from The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (which work hard to preserve both natural and built heritage of our province):

Come join TLC on Canada Day in celebrating West Vancouver’s unique heritage at the home of west coast icon B.C. Binning! Come view the lush gardens, innovative architecture, and stunning view.
Renowned for his virtually unparalleled ability to amalgamate art, architecture, and education, Binning was in the vanguard of West Coast modern art and architecture.

Thursday July 1st from 1-4 p.m. Admission by donation.
2968 Mathers Crescent (Just off of 29th and Marine Dr.)
Carpooling and public transit are recommended as parking is limited
Contact The Land Conservancy for additional information:
(604) 733-2313/ ktaylor@conservancy.bc.ca
www.conservancy.bc.ca

Fallingwater Cottages

2010-05-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

On the heels of their twelfth Governor General's Award, Patkau Architects have won a competition to design Fallingwater Institute cottages, nearby Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and not to far from his Kentuck Knob house. Their competition was formidable - Marlon Blackwell, Wendell Burnette, MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple, Olson Kundig, and Saucier + Perrotte.

Their design is without question, hands-down a leader. Its is ephemeral yet grounded(obviously) and voluptuous, if I may use that word to describe architecture. And they put turkeys in their renderings - pretty hard to top!

More images and drawings - all from patkau.ca:

The Book is here!

2010-04-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

Reading Vancouver Sun yesterday I came across an article profiling new effort to produce 4th edition of Exploring Vancouver. This reminded me that there is a new architectural guide to Vancouver fresh off the presses:

A Guidebook to Contemporary Architecture in Vancouver,
authored by Christopher MacDonald with Veronica Gilles and edited by Nancy Dunton and Helen Malkin.

It's about time there was a contemporary architecture guide! Organized by areas! With maps!

Well now, would I still keep on posting or will it become a trusted mate in my (and others') architectural journeys around Vancouver and make this blog irrelevant? What of my Google Map? Superseded? Hmm... Oh well - off to the bookstores!

Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery

2010-04-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I have visited the Belkin Gallery at UBC - something I have meant to do for ages.

It was designed by Peter Cardew and is definitely the very next reason after Museum of Anthropology for an architecture-phile to get out to UBC. Located at 1825 Main Mall, it was finished in 1995.

Awash in gorgeous detailing - right down to the "oreo cookie icecream" glaze on the brick - the design merited Canadian Architect Excellence Award, Progressive Architecture Award, Governor General and Leutenant Governor Medals. Quite an achievement!

Here are some of the pictures I took:

Ontario Pavilion

2010-02-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

Of all pavilions my favorite was Ontario House, located at Concord Place. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto, this $4.65 million (design and construction only) building was by far the most inspired and striking. Its signature was the open air enclosure created with 42 km of cut white and blue rope chosen to evoke Niagara Falls. To hear one of the designers speak about the design, check out this link here. Apparently, kids loved the ropes!

The inner enclosed portion of the pavilion was functional, although had great content otherwise - technology, food, music, etc.

Manitoba Pavilion

2010-02-26T16:03:00.000-08:00

One pavilion I found myself liking a fair bit is the CentrePlace Manitoba located in downtown "live site".

It is a prefabricated structure by Cibinel Architects. Besides the obvious effort to make it look like a considered piece of architecture but being a little rough around the edges, it had both a strong overall concept and some fun detailing. Although it is built with budget materials, it makes a tonne of impact - and it does not do so at the expense of pavilion's exhibition content.

Certain elements are worth pointing out in case the pictures are not easy to read:
- solid wood benches in the front creating a much needed rest/waiting area that doubles as a ramp
- tall pivot door that seemed to make the pavilion quite open to the outside
- the rotating projections on the translucent wall worked wall with its curve
- translucent walls were a great choice - the lighting was great
- reclaimed wood and recyclable translucent panels

Another notable fact - it cost $2.3 million. While that seems like a fair bit, compare it to others - Saskatchewan's 4.1 million(a sphere and a tent), Aboriginal Pavilion's six million(a sphere and a building), Canada's $10.4 million (neither tent nor building - something in between). Of course, just a part of cost of each went towards the buildings that house the content. It is certainly interesting to see who chooses to let architecture play a role in the representation of their province/region/culture/etc. and how large a role that is.

And to continue the train of thought from the previous pavilion - this one embodies the typology of "pavilion" quite well. Simple, special, light, prefabricate/temporary, etc.

Some pictures:

The back room is has an exhibit on the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Here is the model:These are rendering and construction photos - all via Cibinel Architects website:

In the evening the pavilion comes fairly close to the rendering.

Overall, great job of a pavilion - kudos to letting architecture be part of your exhibit both outside and inside!

2010 Aboriginal Pavilion

2010-02-16T21:40:00.001-08:00

Fresh out of hibernation, I am posting a couple of pictures I took this weekend of the Aboriginal Pavilion in downtown Vancouver constructed especially for the Olympics next to the Queen Elisabeth Theatre.

It is a somewhat awkward two-for-one - a tent and a pavilion. But of the ones that I did see it is both the best tent and the best pavilion. Many in the latter category are actually also just tents - for pavilion benchmark, see below:

The pavilion is by HBBH, now Cohos Evamy HBBH.

For earlier post on this pavilion, see here.

Party for Architects

2009-11-16T22:20:00.000-08:00

Reading Vancouver Lights as I do, I found out that Vancouver Special is hosting a second Party for Architects. Too bad that it is at the same time as Cantu/Living Space/Midland event. How is a girl to decide?

By the way, more posts about actual buildings are coming up. Stay tuned.

Que Sera, Surrey

2009-11-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

If any of you have been keeping an eye on this city then you know that for a while Trevor Boddy has been insinuating that he is working on a top-secret significant competition for some time. Well - the cat's out of the bag! Inspired by Formshift in name - and more? - Townshift was announced early this week.

Trevor Boddy presenting Townshift.

The competition's prizes will total $75,000 distributed among 11 winners. There are five different design areas as challenges. I will not provide much more detail as I would be competing with an exceptionally thorough overview by the re:place magazine.

Additional good sources of info since townshift.ca is not quite useful yet:
- GlobalBC story complete with a video
- BC Local (more details specifically regarding the competition)
- “Never having to say you're Surrey” « Price Tags

The notion of addressing suburb cities in a design ideas competition is interesting, although it is not as much a design problem as it is a planning, zoning, infrastructure, and economics problem. Let's design away anyway - so that they can be prize-ponied during the Olympics and then shelved (see referenced links above) - for the glory of it all!

Events _White, Pallasmaa, Sabattino

2009-10-21T22:23:00.000-07:00

Three lectures coming up, all very exciting!

First:
Mason White this Wednesday, October 22, at 6:30 pm in UBC's Lasserre 104.

Next,
Juhani Pallasmaa on November 2, Playhouse Theatre, 6:30.

Lastly,
Michelangelo Sabattino on Arthur Erickson on November 22, Vancity Theatre, 7pm. $75 (students $25)

...and we are back!

2009-10-21T22:22:00.000-07:00

That was one looooong vacation.

Prefab 20*20 Competition

2009-06-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

June 15th is the deadline for the early bird registration. So... tomorrow. Hurry, this is yet another fantastic international/local opportunity to showcase your talents to the world. Blurb:

As part of LivingDensity Exhibition and Forum, and in collaboration the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, Azure Magazine, and Interior Design Show West, Architecture For Humanity Vancouver proudly presents PREFAB 20*20: Visions For 400 Square Foot Homes, An International Open Ideas Competition.

Open to all designers, architects, engineers, artists and students around the world, PREFAB 20*20 challenges you to propose a free-standing, prefab dwelling unit for a footprint no more than 400sf (37.5sm) in an urban setting anywhere in the world. Fit for two adults, its basic program shall include sleeping, bathing, cooking, living, working/studying, and storage areas. Entrants are free to deviate from the basic program but justification must be included.

Click here to learn more.

'tis the season of the tour announcements!

2009-06-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

West Van Tour 2008 - Ron Thom's Baker Forrest House:
The ultimate wine reception destination

Yay! Tours!

Heads up came from Vancouver Lights Blog today on the big modern residential tours of Vancouver. One is organized by the West Vancouver Museum and the other by Vancouver Heritage Foundation.

The West Van one runs on July 11 and all visitors will be bused around and there is a wine reception at the end with door prizes . $100.

Vancouver Heritage has theirs on October 3, as well bus and wine here too. $100. + 4 Core LUs.

Last year's West Van tour was fantastic, I architecture-geeked out every second of it. I really recommend it . Unfortunately, I missed the other tour, but it is praised highly by Vancouver Lights.

Lastly, I have no idea as to the line up of either(other than Harbour House by Helliwell+Smith: Blue Sky Architecture is the headliner for the West Van tour), but watch this space - who knows I might be able to shed some light on this later...

International competition: Self-sufficient City

2009-06-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

Not Vancouver-related, but fun. This landed in my inbox today and I am passing it on:

We are organizing the 3rd Advanced Architecture Contest, envisioning the habitat of the future. The aim of this international competition is to promote online discussion and research through which to generate insights and visions, ideas and proposals that help us envisage what the city and the habitat of the 21st century will be like.

The competition is open to architects, planners, designers and artists who want to contribute to progress in making the world more habitable by developing a proposal capable of responding to emerging challenges in areas such as ecology, information technology, socialization and globalization, with a view to enhancing the connected self-sufficiency of our cities.

Gursky

2009-06-08T22:51:00.000-07:00

VAG has Andreas Gursky on now.
Go.

Winners of Where's the Square

2009-06-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

The summer is here, the posts are few and sporadic...

A few days ago the winners of the Where's the Square competition were announced and that saga has ended. For me it was the locations that the entrants have selected, rather than the designs themselves, that determined how convinced I was of success of each entry. Many locations did not 'speak of what it means to be "Vancouver" ' (per competition brief) to me. Here is where the competition played a trick on all its ambitious entrants - unless one has selected the perfect site, the design itself seems secondary. And selecting such a site proved to be very, very, very hard indeed!

Regardless...

The jury unanimously selected an entry - this one did not even appear on the shortlist - by Mark Ashby Architecture and Greenskins Lab (Mark Ashby, Kevin King, Isabel Kunigk, and Daniel Roehr). That name would be good for a band of some sorts, too. Their entry entitled "The Band" envisioned a linear space running by the BC Place; along that space would centre various cultural institutions and the like. These institutions sequentially program a certain stretch along "the band". Unfortunately, it is VAG's new location - taken for granted, but now in peril -that determined along with GM Place the location for "the band". The band - complete with garden plots, market/cafe, farmer's market infrastructure, interactive light standards, permanent umbrellas, and a floating island - would have connected the downtown with the seawall, allowing the existing building to stay in its path thus creating "interesting programmatic tensions".

The very few and very tiny images released by VPSN :

( Dear VPSN,
Please send me bigger images!
I asked nicely earlier, and...
Nothing!
Pretty please?)

People's Choice Awards went to:
#1 - Vancouver Carpet by Hapa Collection (Joe Fry, Xenia Semeniuk, and Doron Fishman)
#2 - Waterfront Square by MPA Design ( Michael Alexander and Michael Painter)

Image Post: Gould Residence by Splyce

2009-05-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

Initially setting out to give an overview of works by Nigel Parish ( Splyce ) , I decided very soon thereafter that there are simply too many images of his projects that I would like to post. So ... Today there is just this one; more later.

Parish has received a Bronze 2008 IDIBC Award of Excellence for the renovation of this West Vancouver home. Simple graceful exterior with Parish's characteristically thorough approach to interior design and detailing. Click on an individual image to enlarge it:

(by the way, love the shoes in the photo above, left - just like
the fish in one of Le Corbusier's photos. Cheeky)

All images splyce.ca

Image Post: Eagle Road House

2009-05-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

Eagle Road House in West Vancouver by Helliwell + Smith: Blue Sky Architecture. Click images to enlarge.

This 2008 house might be joining this year's West Vancouver Museum House Tour roster. *fingers crossed*

All images are by Gillean Proctor and Blue Sky Architecture.

In memoriam - Arthur Erickson

2009-05-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Arthur Erickson

1924-2009

Awards news!!!

2009-05-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

Washrooms (Bruce Carscadden)

During the gala this weekend, AIBC handed out the awards for 2009. Here is the breakdown:

Lieutenant-Governor Medals:
Arts & Social Sciences 1 and Blusson Hall complex, SFU, Burnaby
Busby Perkins + Will Architects

Washrooms (Kensington Park, Robert Burnaby Park, and Swalwell Park)
Bruce Carscadden Architect Inc.

Lieutenant-Governor Merit Awards:
Chimo Aquatic and Fitness Centre
Hughes Condon Marler: Architects

North Vancouver City Library
Diamond and Schmitt Architects (Toronto) and CEI

Whistler Public Library
Hughes Condon Marler: Architects

AIBC Innovation Award:
"22" Series
Omer Arbel for Bocci

AIBC Special Jury Award:
Dockside Green_Synergy
Busby Perkins + Will Architects

AIBC Emergind Firm Award (new!):
JWT Architecture and Planning (interesting choice)

Source Canadian Architect

Where's the square? shortlist

2009-04-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Vote for the people's choice entry and and view all the shortlisted entries here now.

Harmony House

2009-04-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

In 2006 Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC for short, of course) launched EQuilibrium, a program that was meant to get developers and builders to envision demonstration houses that focus on principles of sustainablity:

-occupant health and comfort,
-energy efficiency,
-energy production,
-resources conservation,
-reduced environmental impact, and
-last but certainly not least, affordability.

Designs are entered into a competition and the winning entries are built. In addition to having the winning entries built, the designers receive $60,000 to cover design costs, management, and commisioning of the project. Since the initiative's inception, six projects have been completed and are/were open to public as show pieces (they are sold once the tour period is over).

Earlier this year, it was announced that two out of this year's three winning entries originate in British Columbia, and one of these in Vancouver. It is a two-storey, 3,500 sf "Harmony House" envisioned by Vancouver's Habitat Design & Insightful Building Technologies. Harmony House has a separate in-law suite and a space for a home office. Designed as an integrated system, it boasts -

- light shelves and reflective surfaces
- skylights and ample window area
- rainwater harvesting
- wind and stack driven cooling tower
- solar system

Besides being the first EQuilibrium home to be built in Vancouver, Harmony also has the distinction of being the only project of all CMHC winning entries that is aesthetically anywhere near the twenty first century.

Unfortunately, the image above is all the graphic info that I can either provide or obtain two months after Diane Finlay's announcement of the winners. It seems that CMHC is somewhat lacking in public awareness/marketing department. It is sad to see such a worthy initiative barely rise above obscurity as far as the general public is concerned. Time and money should also be allocated to generate interest and awareness - updating the website every month or so, making it less "goverment" or setting up a separate dedicated one, embracing the pesky "new" online media, etc. This post could certainly do with a few more drawings and some engaging renderings.

Kudos to CMHC for the initiative - now put your mouth where your money is!

Image Post: FormShift Winners

2009-04-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

Primary category winner: Sturgess Architects, Calgary

secondary category winner: Romses Architects, Vancouver

wild card category winner: go Design, Vancouver

primary category honourable mention:
Garon Sebastien and Chris Foyd, Vancouver

primary category honourable mention:
Romses Architects, Vancouver

secondary category honourable mention:
Acme Architecture, Santa Barbara

secondary category honourable mention:
CMO, Vancouver

wild card category honourable mention:
GBL Architects Inc, Vancouver

wild card category honourable mention:
Brian Wakelin, Vancouver

wild card category honourable mention:
Idette de Boer & Magali Bailey, Vancouver

wild card category honourable mention:
Wang Yiming, Burnaby*

images via the Tyee

* Who says bloggers don't actually create content? Congratulations to Wang Yiming not only on his honourable mention but on his well-read blog Yworkshop as well. It has been in the blogroll (to the right) pretty much since my blog began - a must read for Vancouver architecture enthusiasts.

Update:

As of now all entries can be seen as pdf files on FormShift website. Thanks for the tip, 'anonymous'!

Form Shift winners

2009-04-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

go's submission for Wild Card

Winners:
primary/arterial category:
- Sturgess Architects, Calgary
secondary/residential category:
- Romses Architects, Vancouver
wild card category:
- go Design, Vancouver

Honorable mentions:
primary/arterial category:
- Garon Sebastien and Chris Foyd, Vancouver
- Romses Architects, Vancouver
secondary/residential category:
- Acme Architecture, Santa Barbara
- CMO, Vancouver
wild card category:
- GBL Architects Inc, Vancouver
- Brian Wakelin, Vancouver
- Idette de Boer & Magali Bailey, Vancouver
- Wang Yiming, Burnaby

Check out Frances Bula's post on the topic, complete with Brent Toderian's input in the comments!

Quotable Erickson

2009-04-12T17:26:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd share a few interesting Arthur Erickson quotes (on the nature of architecture's role in everyday culture) that I found in Edith Iglauer's Seven Stones: A Portrait of Arthur Erickson, Architect:

- Everything I do, everything I see is through architecture. It has given me a vehicle for looking at the world. I am not involved in the aesthetics of architecture or interested in design as such. I'm interested in what buildings can do beyond what they look like, and how they can affect whole areas of people's lives. I have never done a building where I didn't attempt to see it in a new philosophical or social way. I could have asked questions in any field, but I am doing it through my buildings. Now I want to build with all details suppressed, to make what I build look as if it had just happened - as if there was nothing studied, no labour or art involved. (p. 19)

- Architects are so rarely aware of their own power of communication , and therefore most of what we see is indifferent building, which nevertheless affects us by its indifference. (p.60).

And if you would like to find out how Erickson waged a war on the raccoons that fished in his koi pond, who won, and how the black swans got involved along the way as well as the neighbour's cat - you'll have to grab the book yourself for that epic tale.

And some international news I could not possibly omit on this local architecture blog - one of my architectural heroes has finally picked up a Pritzker Prize. Congratulations to Peter Zumthor!

Zumthor's therme in Vals

Point Grey Condos

2009-04-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in the vicinity of 2386 Cornwall Avenue, architecture-seeing or whatnot, walk over a block to intersection of Larch and Point Grey Road to see another handsome specimen. This one startled me in my tracks - simple, graceful, and, oh, so well-executed ( fantastic concrete! ) .

Containing only four units like the previous post's subject, this building - Point Grey Condos - was built in 1988, designed by Bing Thom Architects. Its unusual column and screen detailing is subtle yet gives the building its particular character. The columns do intentionally make a "reference to a field of classical antecedents". On the whole - although some details date it - it is a timeless design that has as much of an appeal as it did when it was finished. Doing some digging around online later, I was not surprised at all that it earned Thom a Governor General's Medal in Architecture, Canada's most prestigious architectural award, in 1990. It is definitely one of Thom's gems.

Apparently Thom lives on the top floor - might be true since Sonja's Spirit, his boat, is docked fairly close by. If it is so, it is always great to see an architect living in one of his own designs.

The following are images of a private residence Thom designed in 1993, included to make this post a nice double-bill:

So many blossoms!

Image Post: Battersby Howat's 2386 Cornwall

2009-04-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

This lovely building is located not far from Kits Pool at 2386 Cornwall Ave (its location is now marked on my Vancouver Architecture Map - along with a few more Kitsilano/Point Grey additions). It is a high-end residential condo building containing only four spacious units. More pictures:

The nice images are from Battersby Howat's website; all others are by yours truly.

Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver Mag

2009-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

image by Martin Tessler

In the article titled "Unconventional Wisdom", Michael Harris reviews the new convention centre. His assessment runs along the opinions presented and referenced here earlier. Check it out.

And 'hear! hear!' to Harris' bendy-straw comment.

Startup Stars - Vancouver designers do prefab

2009-04-06T23:50:00.000-07:00

Tony Robins of AA Robins - he of Watermark restaurant on Kits Beach - has set up a prefabricated house factory, Preform Construction, in Surrey with two partners, Marc Isaac and Ryan Spong. Preform prefabricated homes originated with Robins' residential work on BC's islands. The homes are additive - one unit is one individual complete self-contained home. Bigger houses are created by combining several units or by growing the house incrementally. Although the starter house - featured in the BC Home Show - is 500 sf, one of the first houses coming out of the factory will be 6000 sf.

'Green' features are a big part of the design and construction including:

green roof
recycled and reclaimed wood products
use of FSC certified, non-formaldehyde products
instantaneous hot water heater
warm in-floor heating
low voltage light fixtures for energy conservation
grey water use
low-E double glazing
simple building form

Energy savings are also due to less travel by crews and transportation and storage of materials. Each house comes in a flat pack on a truck, with walls already painted, and lighting fixtures and appliances already installed; of course, the foundations and service hookups are still prepared by a local contractor. Less waste is also created during manufacturing than during construction. Additionally, the house is more sustainable in the long run as it is easily moveable and adaptable - since it can be added to further on.

There are three ways to get your brand new modern prefab - from your own design ( Preform "can modularize any building" ), one of Tony Robins' custom designs, or choose one of the modular units. The latter are quite nice all on their own too - solid planning, perfect size for a cabin, and these fare well in the looks department.

(Aside #1 : the website does not do the product justice, neither through images nor through breadth of information - but perhaps that is on purpose. Aside # 2: did you know Robins has his own blog? Here you go. )

From Canadian Architect article:

“The prefabrication model has proven itself elsewhere, but I haven’t seen anyone shipping the final product so completely like this,” says Robins.

The company’s first venture, shipping a “Living Unit” comprising a single module to the BC Home Show, proved there needn’t be a drywall crack in sight. And it took the team two months from design sketch to delivery, one month after opening the facility. For a large house, the normal construction time will be cut in half. Whilst the modules are being put together on their steel frames, the foundations are being formed. It is also cheaper by an estimated 15% for a local siting, due to factory efficiencies.

“The millworkers walk across the floor to site measure, rather than making a day trip up the coast or into town.” The 500-sqaure-foot one-bedroom module is green and smart, with R50 blown insulation in the walls, a green roof, grey-water use for the toilet cistern, and an instantaneous hot water heater (above the bathroom) for the taps and in-floor heating. The temperature of the module can also be changed remotely from any computer. It also feels surprisingly spacious, due to its 10-foot ceilings and the clever use of light and space.

Whilst the unit clearly lends itself to installation on a recreational property, the soon-to-be-legal Vancouver laneway housing is an obvious future market.

Vancouver Sun article here.

Robins with the starter model at the BC Home Show

starter model

one of the custom prefab houses

At the very same time, Vancouver company Form&Forest has enlisted D'Arcy Jones to design prefabricated cabin kits for their line, that too ship as flat packs. Unlike Preform, Form&Forest has one specific niche - holiday retreats. Jones has developed three designs for the company so far. From Azure:

Each cabin encompasses approximately 635 square feet. Trapper's design is typical in that it features an open concept living room, generous patio space at the back, and bedrooms tucked behind the terrace. The Cowboy design, by contrast, features wraparound windows in the main space and a soaker tub at the center, from which to enjoy the view.

The designs are intended for those who have a plot of land and are thinking of building on it, and the cabin's prefabricated components are designed to ensure minimal labour and sub trade requirements on the building site.

This particular way of building will require more work from the customer/client including site prep, assembly, and finishing. You are getting a kit of parts - it is up to you to put it together and to finish it.

Basically, both options are great and (rant alert) they will always have King Kong's leg up over anything "shipping container" - people, those are for shipping! If you must, do like Mr Robins and Mr Jones and design things for living in.

Another reason for "why?" On their blog - besides having a very cool name, they also have a blog and a tweeter feed - Form&Forest elaborate:

It is our intention to create beautiful, livable spaces. More than this, we intend to create spaces that enhance your well being. Spaces that help you find a little happiness.

You may think the Form & Forest prefab cabin kits are beautiful. You may even find that they make you happier. If you do, that’s because they are designed for happiness.

...

Cabin Design 1: Cowboy

Cabin Design 2: Ranger
Cabin Design 2: Trapper

Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion

2009-04-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

This is pretty huge for downtown Vancouver.

After months of peeking over the construction fence, I - like hordes of others - have finally found myself inside the new convention centre as part of its two day public opening. Both days the centre is open to everyone from 10-4 with performances and events scheduled during that time.

Boasting many environmentally responsible strategies, it was designed by Seattle's LMN Architects with Vancouver's Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership and DA Architects. This 338,000SF $ 883 million convention centre is in process to be certified as a LEED Gold project. Among it many "green" features are:

six acre green roof - Canada's largest green roof
black water treatment & recycling
grey water reuse
artificial reef /marine habitat to mitigate effect of new underwater foundations
local material usage
cooling and heating system that utilizes the water of the inlet
natural ventilation
energy-efficient lighting
comprehensive recycling
powered by "green power" - certified as electricity that comes from renewable/sustainable sources

The design is not iconic like the older section of the convention centre, but it is well-appointed. The scale of spaces is very generous; the size alone makes the spaces grand.

This is best aided by the wall panels made of stacked hemlock boards; apparently these were assembled by a robot named Victoris in Saanich. Thus clad, the large masses have the warmth and richness that complement their scale; the bold massing is almost satisfying - in few Canadian buildings one can find such frank boldness - save for minutia of signs, screens, and other miscellany that insist breaking it up with busyness.

The other finishes in the main areas are less successful. The glulam boards that create a seamless ceiling screen, which hides various services conduits and ducts painted black, are quite successful in reflecting a flow of circulation and a flow of roof planes above. However, these seem to exist for their own sake - as if the reflected ceiling plan drawing was made with great care and conviction but not in harmony with the other aspects of the spaces and masses. It is hard to tell what is happening with the carpet altogether. The aluminum screens fit in the way these do in most contemporary buildings - an obvious choice within the palette of other metals - those of curtainwall, of structure's cladding, of hardware, etc.

The finishes switch abruptly at the basement level altogether in favour of an entirely different palette; the exhibition space lacks connection with the building above altogether (but the concrete floor is just gorgeous! ).

The building has many overlooks, terraces, and balconies, providing ample opportunities to enjoy spectacular views of the North Shore. Green roof - alas inaccessible - often provides interior views that are quite striking.

Although it is not seamless, this building has some fantastic moments!

Here my photos of the interior:

The official website for VCEC has very lovely photos - unlike the ones above - check them out. In a future post, I will add exterior photos (once I take them).

Update: Gordon Price delivers a wonderful review of this building over at Price Tags.

Mayhew House

2009-03-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

Recently, while in Victoria, I had a chance to visit a house I could hardly afford but could hardly afford to miss. Ron Thom's Mayhew house has been up for sale for quite a while, reduced in price to the point of making some afraid that it would be torn done once bought up. This waterfront property in the Uplands neighborhood could easily fall pray to the extremely voracious McMansion fever sweeping through that area.

The house, unaltered save a few unfortunate interior finish changes, is ripe for a loving restoration. It has impeccable inner structure and spaciality; the proportion, the flow, it is all there - that ineffable feeling of a fantastic building that one can not summarize easily in words like you could attempt to do with Baker/Forrest House in West Vancouver or the Fraser House in Toronto.

Anyway, here are some more of my (inferior) photos - click to enlarge:

and the house comes with the archive
containing all correspondence, etc.:

Neither my pictures nor the next set really do this building justice. Here are the contemporary photos and plan from Doug Shadbolt's book:

Clearer but much less compelling plan:

Vancouver Lights also did a post on Mayhew House - check it out.

Vancouver Street View

2009-03-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

I went on a little stroll near Vancouver Art Gallery with newly released Canpages street view. Again the credit for alerting me to it is to Gordon Price (check out his blog - it's also in the sidebar); the CTV picked it up recently too. Canpages beat Google to it in Vancouver. Very nifty, although the range is fairly limited.

Just click on "street view" once you are on the map page:

Canpages

Henriquez interview in G&M

2009-03-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Kelly Deck interviews Gregory Henriquez on Woodwards for Globe and Mail in 'Woodward's tests architects passion'.

Some interesting quotes:

I'm a fourth-generation architect. The sort of work that I'm passionate about is work around social justice. It's really what I call cultural sustainability. It's the buzzword nowadays: Everyone talks about sustainable buildings - the green stuff. But the best thing that you can do in terms of sustainability is design a building that society values and will be around in a hundred years.
I don't see myself as a West Coast designer, I see myself as a downtown Vancouver designer. I believe in density, in urbanity; I think that the diversity of our community here is something that's beautiful and it should really be embraced as a model for other parts of the world.

The future is in hybrid projects - where market, rental and affordable housing get merged into the normal fabric of our city. I think that if we embrace the philosophy, in one generation we could end the homelessness and affordability problem. We're such a wealthy country, the fact that we can't deal with this important issue just seems silly.

But do read the interview for yourself. It is here.

Gold for the Patkaus: better late than never!

2009-03-21T23:29:00.000-07:00

Agosta House

It's about time. Read the press release from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada regarding this year's gold medal recipients:

Patkaus Awarded RAIC Gold Medals

Vancouver-based architects John Patkau FRAIC and Patricia Patkau FRAIC are the recipients of the 2009 RAIC Gold Medal from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. The two Winnipeg-born architects founded Patkau Architects in Edmonton, Alberta in 1979 before relocating to Vancouver in 1984. Both are Fellows of the RAIC, Honorary Fellows of the American Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects, members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, and Members of the Order of Canada. Patkau Architects has received significant national and international awards, including 12 Governor General’s Medals, four Progressive Architecture Awards, 16 Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence, an RAIC Innovation in Architecture Award of Excellence, and three AIA Honor Awards. Patkau Architects was selected to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1996. Patricia is a faculty member at the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia, and both have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to both teaching and practice. The RAIC Gold Medal, considered to be the highest honour bestowed by the profession of architecture in Canada, recognizes significant contribution to Canadian architecture; individuals whose personal work has demonstrated exceptional excellence in the design and practice of architecture; and/or, whose work related to architecture, has demonstrated exceptional excellence in research or education. In reaching their decision, the Gold Medal Selection Committee noted:

“They fulfill the dream that ordinary people have about architecture: that life can be more whole, more harmonious, more livable because such a building exists.”
“Their work as architects and teachers has inspired generations of aspiring architects across Canada.”
“They create architecture that matters.”

And, here is Pyrch House - just because this image strikes me every time I see it:

All images from patkau.ca.

FormShift Vancouver Update

2009-03-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

Well, this is much more to my liking! Without much fanfare the key dates for the FormShift Vancouver competition have been changed. Here are the new ones:

Registration: March 20th, 2009
Submission: April 6, 2009.

Upcoming Event + Competition: Architecture for Humanity - Vancouver

2009-03-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

On April 3, Vancouver chapter of Architecture for Humanity debuts with a fundraising art auction at Grace Gallery:

Up for bid are a variety of works by local artists, sketches from renowned architects and a piece from internationally acclaimed local artist Stan Douglas.

The proceeds from the auction will go towards AFH Vancouver’s operational costs and fund its ongoing projects; moreover, a portion of the proceeds will go towards the international body's worldwide humanitarian efforts.

In addition to a meet and greet with the artists, the auction is also the official launch of AFH Vancouver’s first project, a laneway housing idea competition.

Wow, and another competition too! Keep 'em coming! And, one concerning laneways - it's as though they have read my thoughts. More from press release:

In addition to a meet and greet with the artists, the auction is also the official launch of AFH Vancouver’s first project, a laneway housing idea competition.

The lack of affordable housing is an issue that affects many people, across a variety of income levels,” said Lam. “The laneway housing project is an opportunity for the city to move forward and increase the number of people living in Vancouver in an environmentally sustainable manner.”

The idea competition launch is part of AFH Vancouver’s 2 week exhibit and forum on laneway housing taking place in May.

Vancouver Lights Blog

2009-03-02T21:42:00.000-08:00

How did I miss this blog for so long? How did it avoid my half-watchful eye until now?
But I have finally found it, digging around online, and I cannot help but share:

Vancouver Lights - writing about Vancouver art and (yay!) architecture.

Check it out!

It also assumes a post in the blog roll. Check all of them out if you haven't yet.

Upcoming Event: Tristan d'Estree Sterk

2009-03-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

Tristan d'Estree Sterk from The Office For Robotic Architectural Media & The Bureau For Responsive Architecture of Chicago will lecture on March 4 at 6pm, UBC Laserre Building (Room 102), on a topic of 'Responsive Architecture - Responsive Structure - Shape Change'. Blurb:

The Office For Robotic Architectural Media & The Bureau For Responsive Architecture are binary architecture / technology offices that design buildings, spaces, and systems that reflect the social and technological conditions of our time. The office implements responsive technologies to produce high-tech and sustainable architectures that reduce the impacts that buildings have upon the natural environment.

SALA link.

Google Earth - 3D Vancouver

2009-02-24T22:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Gordon Price's tip, I have been enjoying Google Earth's 3d downtown Vancouver for a bit. It is really quite neat to be able to have 3d so easily accessible.

Now if only Street View would hurry up. Google intends to release it rather soon, and I have seen the Google StreetView car around Yaletown last November. Perhaps, the wait will be quite short.

Competition! Form Shift

2009-02-23T22:43:00.000-08:00

The FormShift competition has been finally formally announced via the Tyee. Blurb:

The City of Vancouver has developed Climate Change Action Plans as well as the EcoDensity Charter – policies and principles to guide greener and denser development, improve building performance, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the city’s overall livability. Vancouver was the first city in Canada to adopt The 2030_Challenge for green house gas reduction, committing each of us to reducing our collective environmental impact. Vancouver City Council has taken that commitment a step further with the stated goal of becoming “the greenest city in the world”.

FormShift Vancouver challenges you to give shape to these goals through ideas and design solutions that will help shape the future of the city. Be it by expanding upon Vancouver's traditional design solutions or offering an entirely new perspective, this is your chance to build a hypothetical neighbourhood of the future, one that is in keeping with the vibrant, ecologically-friendly and sustainable city to which we aspire.

It is an open international ideas competition. There are three design categories - Vancouver Primary(purse = $6000), Vancouver Secondary($4000), and Wild Card($2000) - visit the competition website to read the category descriptions in the original bureaucrat-ese and architectural framese.

Registration deadline is March 13th.

Submission deadline is April 3rd.

It is quite unfortunate really that such a substantial competition has such a short schedule, especially, as it seems to be biting roughly on the heels of the deadline for Where's the Square?'s , which has a very civil and measured time line, filled with events and public talks, like that one happening this evening with Scot Hein. Of course, the deadline for Where's the Square? is on March 20th. It seems strange that so little time is given - just enough to make pretty pictures or to give it a good think-over, but both? Rushed. Although this economic climate is great for it - who would not want the purse? - it seems that those with stress-filled jobs/well-rounded interests will likely pass it up. Here is what the Tyee has on that:

The lull offers time to focus for idle architects and designers and other creative minds [indreamcity: really? (pauses to think of anyone who's without projects or job and is idle; comes up with no one) ] . In architectural circles it's known as a "recession renaissance." Some of the best ideas and small projects happen during busts, not booms.

And then there is that $100 dollar entry fee ($50 dollars for students and interns). Hmm... This economic climate again... Perhaps many companies will enter, if not that many individuals

However, bottom line - it is a great opportunity to come up with great ideas that will be noticed. Speaking of the jury, they are: Stan Douglas, Ian Chodikoff, David Miller, Nancy Knight, Brent Toderian.

Good luck!

Image Post: Measured as we knew them

2009-02-12T23:54:00.001-08:00

Located in Shaughnessy, this is the last completed house, the Wolfe Avenue residence, from Measured Architecture. Measured, only a year old, have won a Lieutenant Governor's award and have been named Western Living's 2008 Architects of the Year.

All images are via Measured Architecture, excepting first - credit for the very poorly scanned photo by yours truly goes to Western Living.

A few more images can be found here.

Upcoming events

2009-02-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

Reece Terris: Ought Apartment (sketch)

- opening reception at Jennifer Kostiuk Gallery for Reece Terris on Thursday, February 12, 6-9 pm. It is a survey of earlier works and a photographic preview of his upcoming massive site-specific installation for VAG, Ought Apartment.

- Official book launch for Vancouver Matters at Charles H. Scott gallery (designed by Patkaus and worth a visit on its own merits) from 2-4pm this Saturday, February 14th. Frances Bula calls it "a must for Vancouverophiles." The official blurb:

Vancouver Matters presents a reading of the city through multiple points of view; from professors and students at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture to artists, architects, and designers living and working in Vancouver. Representing Vancouver's history and present materiality through writing, drawing, and photography, Vancouver Matters offers a critical examination of the city's faults and opportunities.

- And Buildex, of course. Wednesday and Thursday, Feb 11-12, 9:30-5 pm.

Anticipation of Pavilions Future

2009-02-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

Today VANOC and Four Host First Nations (FHFN - Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh) unveiled plans for the temporary Aboriginal Pavilion to be built in downtown for Vancouver 2010 Olympics and set to open in one year. Newswire article description:

Centered on a 65-foot high inflated multi-media sphere, the pavilion will use the latest technology to showcase the diversity of Aboriginal art, business, culture and sport from across Canada. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal visitors will enjoy this experience in the relaxed, informal setting of the Pavilion.

[] Located on the plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver, within easy walking distance of BC Place and GM Place, the 8,000 square-foot 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion will be right in the heart of Olympic activity, with Vancouver's Celebration Site located immediately across Cambie Street.

This $3.5 million structure designed by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden contains both high-tech - the bubble - and traditional architecture - a Coast Salish longhouse that wraps around the bubble ( the Queen Elisabeth restaurant is appended to the complex as well as a reception hall). Although the Longhouse portion will outlive the games moving to a permanent home elsewhere, the sphere won't be so lucky.

Yet it is the sphere that is so intriguing and remarkable. After Adele Weder recently labeled Vancouver Olympic architecture "uncool" (source), the sphere might not be exactly a turning point, but finally it's something that looks at all close to being iconic, something that might come to symbolize Vancouver 2010 as far as architecture goes. It has the visual audacity that one would expect to associate with such an event - the Expos and such; seems that this little project has delivered more visual "oomph" than any other Olympic Venues have done so far. And judging from the earlier schemes, which - although inoffensive and, later, nice - were not very memorable, it has developed in the right direction:

earlier scheme:

later scheme:

There is something wonderfully optimistic ( and, yet, monumental ) about such a perfect shape. (Aside: the black ring is unsettling - it creates a resemblance to a salt lamp or something like it: Damian Inwood wrote in the Province that the pavilion "looks like a giant snow-globe, with the FHFN logo on it").

And, finally, I cannot think of that many better location markers to create a gathering place - something the organizers, FHFN, intended - than a big ball. "Meet me by the bubble," might be something many will say/text in due time.

All that said, it is still a little odd.

FHFN link

The master of the skyline?

2009-02-01T21:55:00.000-08:00

For a guy whose firm does not even even have a website, James Cheng's incredible influence over Vancouver's skyline is remarkable as Michael Harris points out in his latest architectural article for Vancouver magazine.

His latest building - Shangri-La - is his most distinctive, both in height and in form. The completion of this hotel/residence/many-other-uses-in-one-building is probably what occasioned the article; Cheng is the Hollywood star on a press junket. Surprisingly so, as even Harris notes:

Quietly, with less publicity and fanfare than Arthur Erickson or Bing Thom, he has laid down much of the playing field the next generation of Vancouverites will navigate.

This perhaps is the key quote from the article for me. So quiet is the official marketing around JKMC that many do not know neither that he is indeed a recipient of Governor General's medal for Willow Court and Heath Court nor that he has "contributed 31 high-rises to the downtown peninsula alone, making him an architect of the entire urban experience." Cheng's impact is deep and history of his contributions goes quite far back . Now with this article and with "the" tower, he is on a path to become a household name. In Vancouver, anyway.

Although one can walk down many a street in Vancouver containing mostly Cheng's buildings, it is hard to single out any one of his buildings - save Shangri-La and, perhaps, Shaw - like one could with Erickson's. Cheng's concern is not with architecture, it would seem but with issues and context around it:

Cheng may be responsible for a massive amount of downtown Vancouver's built environment, but he's passionately interested in the space between buildings. More specifically, he cares how people do, or do not, live their lives between those buildings. He prefers to design the public realm first, fit the buildings in after.

[] "I'm not interested in whether the building is iconic," says Cheng. "What we strive for is something holistic, an environment for all people. We should be facilitators, not dictators."

In this can be found the explanation for Cheng's particular brand of architecture, largely characterized by its anonymity and universality. Yet Cheng seems to contradict his aspirations to be a facilitator while describing his retirement plans: ' " I won't ever retire" he says. "That's the nature of any artist: you only stop when life is finished". " Such swaggering self-assessment seems to be at odds with aspiration to fulfil a humble role of a facilitator. It is reflected in the way he shapes Vancouver's architecture - conspicuously inconspicuous - excepting, perhaps, Shangri-La, the sheer scale of which assures its iconic status for some years to come.

Read full article here.

Image Source: Vancouver magazine.

888 Beach - Cheng's hit.

Shaw tower

Massive development in Hainan

Cheng's own house

Touring tallest tower

2009-02-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

Since opening on January 24, James Cheng's Shangri-La has been open for tours. Everyone can visit Vancouver's newest wonder - every Saturday and Sunday at 2 and 4 pm until the end of April.

For those who do get to see the Shangri-La, see if there are any immortals dwelling there already...

Oh yeah, here is the real thing:

image: Vancouver Magazine

The remembrance of pavilions past

2009-01-26T20:14:00.000-08:00

Maybe some of you were around Vancouver's environs in 1976 when Arthur Erickson's Habitat Pavilion briefly existed, created for UN Conference of Human Settlement that ran for two weeks in June of that year.

The pavilion's roof is a set of hyperbolic paraboloids created with paper-mache. Sections of the roof were created by about two thousand Lower Mainland children, who paper-mached over the molds in the factory and later painted designs onto the cured skin.

Originally the pavilion was meant to spread over the entire length of the Courthouse Square, but as it was running more than two times over its allocated budget, it was downsized. As a result the pavilion lost a third of its initial breadth - right in the middle no less - resulting in two pavilions flanking either side of that unwieldy and, frankly, even-then outdated fountain.

Erickson saw the pavilion as an experiment that could be a solution to housing issues all over the world. He chose paper as the obvious material for it - obviously abundant in Vancouver and oftentimes wasted: "We are not building something useless that will be thrown away in a few weeks as most people seem to think. [] We are doing something extremely useful that will be very applicable to building problems in Third World countries." (Although you have to wonder how much (news)paper did the Third World have to recycle. From experience, it really is a problem of well-developed economies ).

There is a fantastical quality to this building, now nothing more than Vancouver's ephemeral past. From Vancouver Sun's Moira Farrow: "Erickson said the pavilion should not be judged as a structure with a limited lifespan but as a 'prototype mock-up of ideas with unlimited possibilities yet to be fully explored'. "

EcoMetropolitanism: 3 for 7 in 10

2009-01-24T21:49:00.000-08:00

Local academics from UBC Architecture, Matthew Soules and Mari Fujita, have recently unveiled their manifesto in Beijing. Titled “Seven Points for EcoMetropolitanism,” it sprung as a critique of EcoDensity and uses Vancouver as the case study.

Firstly, why seven, but not six or eleven – is this somehow related to seven deadly sins and seven deadly virtues; or perhaps any of these - lucky seven, the seven charkas, the seven heavens, seven of the apocalypse (ie. seven churches of Asia, seven candlesticks, seven stars, seven trumpets, seven spirits before the throne of God, seven horns, seven seals, seven plagues, a seven-headed monster, and the lamb with seven eyes…)? I digress, but as my blog line states I will indeed be led astray with ease. So then, seven is that magical cultural number that will stick in your head and it is probably a no-brainer that there are seven and not eight points in this manifesto.

Ten – the total number of the pages in the manifesto. And, boy, considering that most of it is comprised of images, do these pages take on quite a bit. The manifesto puts forward a concept of EcoMetropolitanism. As usual Adele Weder has already reviewed this proposition in the Tyee and from there is the summary of what makes this particular urban proposal distinct from many such:

what the Soules/Fujita team has done is conflate all these discrete sectors -- urban agriculture, animal habitat, vibrant entertainment -- into one unified field theory, literally shaped and effected by this broad new architectural paradigm. Architecture -- often the window-dressing final step in so many urban schemes -- is in this case the first step, what makes everything else possible.

As for shortcomings of this very tiny document with a very large idea, Weder’s got it covered:

The EcoMetters haven't reached that stage yet. A fantastical scheme like EcoMetropolis will require not only an ace team of architects and planners, but also the experts in botany, wildlife, economics and pretty much every other professional domain you can think of.

Read Weder’s entire article here ( The article gave EcoMet quite a boost with Archinect and Planetizen; "Seven Points" has also been featured in respected journal Praxis.) .

That to me is the biggest problem. Seems like any idea like that would begin as a joint initiative of a team of people with the same goals and architecture would be much less so window dressing and instead would emerge as a crucial component of a thorough plan. As much as the goal of making our city/ies sustainable and energy efficient through densification and ecological practices and enriching urban landscape with flora and fauna is a great one, I am confused by some of the seven points and many of the accompanying images that suggest a very literal “greening”. The literal green is something that is perplexing in architecture as well as in other milieus, such as marketing, etc. This literal green in architecture often harkens dangerously close to window dressing.

Yet, the fertile topic of zoning and property division is only grazed. Now – is it implied that EcoMetropolitanism elaborates on the ideas developed Koolhaas’s Delirious New York (never mind the Downtown Athletic Club illustration re-imagined)? From the text itself :

Where Koolhaas’ metropolitanism is focused on human experience, EcoMet brings an expanded population of non-human organisms into the mix; proximities and tensions are developed between programs specific to the expanded definition.

Meaning (reading between the lines), to subject fauna to what architectural ~~tyrants~~ visionaries typically subject people to. However, the age has passed for something so grand to be envisioned by so few – like the grand schemes of Beaux Arts or modernism - replaced by healthier if more time-consuming process involving discussion and collaboration.

Ah, but to criticize the criticism (of EcoDensity, of course) will not do. As usual one cannot sink teeth into the vague rogue, as it is only “a conceptual exploration” (Soules).

From Weder’s article:

For now, such churlish reality-checks aren't the point. The issue is to paradigm-shift our collective attitudes away from the glass-tower-on-plinth-surrounded-by-green formula.

"There's a very limited imagination of what architecture can be in the city," says Fujita. "But we live on the west coast, man! Nature is urban. Nature is eco-metropolitan. And it's our job to cultivate vibrant communities."

In its current form, seven points is more of an “inspiration board”. Weder’s article already served as a catalyst (and forum – check the comments section, unfortunately already closed) for a discussion on the internet if such a discussion cannot be had with a manifesto – an anachronistic and authoritarian means of communication that would hardly begin anything like an integrated urban design. More discussion can be found in comments on archinect and archurbanist, although most of it is predictably about the renderings.

That’s my three cents.

Langara's Library and Container art

2009-01-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

all photos: Shai Gil

Archidose featured Teeple's (and IBI-HBEW's) Langara College Library as the weekly pick. This occasions a post then!

This LEED Gold building has picked 2005 Holcim Award, 2005 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence, and SAB 2008 Award. To read about its green feature follow this link to the SAB article.

More images can be found in Archidose's post as well as on the Langara website:

here (interior),

here (exterior),

and here (design and construction);

and the Canadian Architect article.

Speaking of Teeple and Langara - Teeple is one of the sponsors of Langara's artist-in-residence Kristina Lee Podesva's Vehicle Project. If you are into shipping containers for living, head on over to the main entrance to Langara College where her artwork will be on display Monday - Thursday 4-8pm starting tomorrow until April 21st.

I have tagged the library on the map (in sidebar to the right) if anyone is interested in locating it.

Architecture ladies in "print"

2009-01-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

image credit: Battersby Howat

As I missed this article for the Tyee by Adele Weder on the female architects in Vancouver , I thought that others might have been as well.

In it, she interviews Urban Arts Architecture's founders Jennifer Marshall and Shelley Craig; Veronica Gillies of Vancouver's HOK ; Marie-Odele Marceau of Marceau Evans Johnson Architecture ; and writes about one of the first Canadian architects, Marjorie Hill, who is profiled in last year's book by Joan Grierson For the Record: The First Women in Canadian Architecture.

Although -as any such article is bound to be -it is not without its small controversy, it's a good read, drawing attention to talented Vancouver architects.

By the way, for more images of the Heather Howat's collaboration with David Battersby you can visit their website or Gaile's set on Flicker.

P.S. Here is Weder's take on the Olympic architecture in Vancouver. She likens the oval to a "dog", rather than heron.

The Oval opens

2008-12-12T21:43:00.000-08:00

Richmond Olympic Oval, designed by Cannon Design, opened today to the public for the first time. There will be other events tomorrow as well. Visit official website for more event info.

The major feature is, of course, the roof - it has one of the longest clear spans in North America. A tribute to the Salish art, its roof shape is the stylized heron's wing that occurs in their graphics. This building in particular is expected to be 2010's "Bird's Nest".

All in all, only one more competition venue is left to be completed - the curling rink. Read more about the oval and other venues at CBC.

A few more pictures:

Winners!

2008-12-12T21:20:00.000-08:00

renderings of Our Lady of Assumption by Patkau Architects

Patkau Architects have gotten two out of four Canadian Architect Excellence Awards. One for Hadaway House in Whistler and one for Our Lady of Assumption in Port Coquitlam. Also, Michael Barton of UBC received a student category award.

These images and more: Patkau website

Image Post: Gair Williamson

2008-12-04T21:34:00.000-08:00

I think his work is amazing. Let's review:

taxi

salt cellar

sala

dwell

Colin Campbell

and, of course, Case Study 547

These images (and more): www.gwarchitects.ca

"Where is the Square?" Update

2008-12-03T22:13:00.000-08:00

Image by Vancouver Traveler

Vancouver Public Space Network has posted up the competiotion brief for "Where is the square?" a couple of weeks ago. The brief and a few other supporting files are on their website.

The best parts of this competition are the absolute freedom in locating "the square" - as long as it is in Vancouver proper - and that the entry is open to anyone who wants a go at it.

The entry forms are due on January 30th and the designs are due on March 20th.

Not your usual cookie-cutter houses

2008-11-22T22:43:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Special and Creative Room organized a gingerbread house extravaganza (source). Vancouver architects and designers have created baked goods that are being auctioned off to benefit the homeless of Vancouver - click here to bid. In no particular order, here are the houses (click to enlarge):

D'Arcy Jones

Stantec

Shape Architecture

University of BC School of Architecture
and Landscape Architecture

Measured Architecture

Busby

Bricault Design

Bruce Carscadden

All are on view at Vancouver Special as well.

Update: the link to bid is fixed - good luck bidding!

Holcim Winner

2008-11-16T15:57:00.001-08:00

A Vancouver project picked up one of the Holcim awards this year (source). Larry McFarland Architects' North Vancouver Outdoor School received an acknowledgment prize for its carbon-neutral and zero net energy design - more can be found on the firm's website about this school. It was chosen from a pool of 5000 projects.

A site section and a schematic section of the school:

Upcoming: Focus of Binning Residence

2008-11-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

A neat event, put on by the Land Conservancy of BC which I LOVE :

Focus on B.C. Binning Residence - The House, The Artist, and The Architecture: Presented by the Land Conservancy of B.C
Friday, Nov. 21
2968 Mathers Crescent (that is - at the Binning House!), West Vancouver
Doors 7 p.m., presentation 7:30 p.m
Light refreshments will be served
Cost: $75 + GST with $45 tax receipt
For registration and information call 1-888-738-0533 or visit www.conservancy.bc.ca

In addition to the Binning House, the Conservancy also owns Baldwin House by Arthur Erickson and they rent it out currently at a rate of $275/ night - if anyone is coming to Vancouver (*cough* Burnaby) this is a fantastic alternative to a hotel.

On now + Upcoming: Surrey Art Gallery

2008-11-12T22:20:00.000-08:00

These events are worth a trip out to Surrey. Surrey Art Gallery is located at 13750 -88th Ave (604-501-5566) and has put on an interesting show: "Sustainable Architecture in Canada" featuring 55 projects. It includes:

41º to 66º Regional Responses to Sustainable Architecture (still making its way around the country) until Dec 21
Building Green: A B.C. showcase (sounds very promising - must remember to go! ) until Dec 14. Featuring Whistler Sliding Centre among others - image above.
Regenerative Architecture: Visions of the Future. Imaginations run wild until Dec 21.

What's more - Manufactured Landscapes by Edward Burtynsky Jan 17-March 22 focusing on BC shots, not yet exhibited in this province. A must, of course. Here is one of his lovely B.C. shots which might or might not be in the exhibit:

Image Post: Patkau's Shaw House

2008-11-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

The house completed in 2000 is located in Point Grey was built for John Shaw. It is one of the Patkau's best works earning many distinctions among them : GG 2004, AIA Hon 2005, and Record House title in 2002. Enjoy:

Plans and sections ( the sections are truly incredible!)

Sorry about image justification - will fix it later at some uncertain time... Meanwhile click on images to enlarge. Photos by Paul Warchol; drawings by Patkau Architects.

Upcoming event: Branko Kolarevic lecture

2008-11-11T18:56:00.000-08:00

SALA presents a lecture by Branko Kolarevic on Wednesday, November 19 at 6pm (UBC campus, Frederic Lasserre Building, LASR 102). Here is the official blurb:

Branko Kolarevic examines an emerging trajectory in contemporary architecture enabled by the newfound capacity to digitally design and manufacture highly crafted material effects, such as pattern, texture, relief, or varied material properties. His lecture surveys practices whose approach to form and pattern varies from “ornamented minimalism” to “expressive exuberance;” it also describes the different digital techniques of material production aimed at particular surface effects.

Branko Kolarevic is an associate professor of architecture and Haworth Chair in Integrated Design at the University of Calgary. He has lectured worldwide on the use of digital media in design and production and has authored, edited or co-edited several books, including the recently published “Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture” (with Kevin Klinger). He holds doctoral and master’s degrees in design from Harvard University and a diploma engineer in architecture degree from the University of Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia.

Smallworks

2008-11-11T18:08:00.000-08:00

With new laneway rental unit pilot approved by the City of Vancouver, one company profiled in this month's Vancouver magazine is more than ready to take it on. Smallworks of Vancouver, headed by Jake Fry and Aaron Rosensweet, has been developing small infill structures since their inception, such as the Durbach structure (above) that acts as a summer kitchen and winter garage.

Below - the Vancouver magazine piece by Jennifer Van Evra. Click on image to enlarge:
Skooker studios - his and hers:

Marston Studio - combination green house and storage shed:

Jungen studio - two structures: a studio and a storage space.

Gailan studio - a green roof workshop. Soon to receive a green roof itself:

DV Studio:

Dawson studio:

The Smallworks workshop:

I hope that soon there are even more design by Smallworks and others popping up all over Vancouver. There is certainly more than enough space, not just for rentals too.