Canadian ChanCery in dhaka

$6.95 jul/11 v.56 n.07

DESIGN • BUILD • MAINTAIN

Building Envelope from Coast to Coast. For more information, visit flynn.ca

PROJECT: EPCOR Tower, Edmonton AB

PRODUCT: Curtain Wall & Glazing, Composite Panels, Panelized Guardrail Systems, Composite Soffit Panels and Paver Stone Roofing Systems.

CURTAIN WALL & GLAZING

Roofing Systems • Curtain Wall & Glazing • Architectural Metals • Service & Maintenance • Environmental Solutions

INTRODUCING

Spray foam insulation offers energy effi ciency and design fl exibility — but ICYNENE MD-C-200™ medium-density 2.0-lb. closed-cell spray foam offers much more. That’s because our industry-leading building scientists understand more than insulation; they understand overall building envelope performance. From formulation to installation, the experts at Icynene help ensure seamless integration with HVAC and other building system elements. Not only does this optimize energy effi ciency, but it also improves durability and moisture management. You might say they’ve perfected the formula for total building performance.

THAT’S NOT JUST BUILDING SCIENCE. THAT’S BUILDING GENIUS.

For more information, call

800-758-7325icynene.com

DISCOVER THEFULL POTENCLOSED-CEFOAM INSUL

Icynene® is a registered trademark of Icynene Inc. MD-C-200™ is a trademark of Icynene Inc. ©2011 Icynene Inc. All rights reserved.

Nick Xie, Ph.D.Senior R&D Chemist

Icynene Inc.

041074icyMDC200ClsdCll_CanadianArch.indd 1 6/10/11 2:39 PM

10711c_05: TrimLine Dryer Ad-C 081109.indd 133-Line Date: 10-02-09 Vol: #4C Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Operator: EO

Client: BobrickAgency: KleinMickaelianPartnersJob No.: BC-578/79-CJob Title: Trimline Dryer AdHeadline: “Green, prudent ...”

Unit: Full Page 4/Color Production Date: 08-11-09Run Dates/Publications: TBDArchitectural Record (9” x 10 7/8” Trim)Architectural Products (9” x 11” Trim)Canadian Architect (9” x 11 1/4” Trim)

Green, prudent...and ADA-compliant.New, TrimLine™ Surface-Mounted Automatic Hand Dryer. 4" projection. Hygienic, touch-free operation. Broad, warm-air pattern delivers a comfortable hand dry. Optimum balance of fast drying time and

coated 70% recycled steel. © 2009 Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc., 800.553.1600, bobrick.com.

JUly 2011, v.56 n.07

Contents

07/11 Canadian arChiteCt 5

The NaTioNal Review of DesigN aND PRacTice/The JouRNal of RecoRD of aRchiTecTuRe caNaDa | Raic

CoVer The Canadian ChanCery and Offi-Cial residenCe in dhaka, Bangladesh By MaCkay-lyOns sweeTapple arChiTeCTs liM-iTed in COllaBOraTiOn wiTh rOUnThwaiTe diCk & hadley arChiTeCTs. phOTO By sTeven evans.

alai

n l

afO

resT

lwpa

C

Mar

Cel

MU

elle

r

sTev

en e

van

s

9 neWsPerkins+Will Canada selected to lead Edmonton’s City Centre Airport Lands redevelopment; 2011 Ottawa Urban Design Awards call for submis-sions.

26 insitesGraham Livesey explores the potential of expanding the architect’s role into the realm of development.

33 CaLendarInstallations by Architects at Cambridge Galleries Design at Riverside; The Good Cause: Architecture of Peace at the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal.

34 BaCKPaGeSuresh Perera discusses how a current show at the Maison de l’architecture du Québec entitled Réinventons la ruelle! tackles the issue of alley-oriented insertions into existing Montreal row houses.

14 Canadian ChanCerY and oFFiCiaL residenCe

MaCkay-lyOns sweeTapple arChiTeCTs COllaBOraTe wiTh rOUnThwaiTe diCk & hadley arChiTeCTs On This iMpressive prOJeCT COMMissiOn in dhaka, Bangladesh. teXt JOhn lerOUx

22 Maison ateLier dU Moine UrBain gaBriel rOUsseaU and MariO lafrenais eMplOy a range Of sUsTainaBle sTraTegies in

The CreaTiOn Of a highly evOCaTive wOrkshOp/residenCe in MOnTreal. teXt leslie Jen

We acknoWledge the financial support of the government of canada through the canada periodical

fund (cpf) for our publishing activities.

­­EditorIan ChodIkoff, OAA, FRAIC

AssociAtE­EditorLesLIe Jen, MRAIC

EditoriAl­AdvisorsJohn MCMInn, AADIpl.MarCo PoLo, OAA, FRAIC

contributing­EditorsGavIn affLeCk, OAQ, MRAICherbert enns, MAA, MRAICdouGLas MaCLeod, nCARb

rEgionAl­corrEspondEntshalifax ChrIstIne MaCy, OAA regina bernard fLaMan, SAAmontreal davId theodore calgary davId a. down, AAAWinnipeg herbert enns, MAA vancouver adeLe weder

publishErtoM arkeLL 416-510-6806

AssociAtE­publishErGreG PaLIouras 416-510-6808

circulAtion­MAnAgErbeata oLeChnowICz 416-442-5600 ext. 3543

custoMEr­sErvicEMaLkIt Chana 416-442-5600 ext. 3539

productionJessICa Jubb

grAphic­dEsignsue wILLIaMson

vicE­prEsidEnt­of­cAnAdiAn­publishingaLex PaPanou

prEsidEnt­of­businEss­inforMAtion­groupbruCe CreIGhton

hEAd­officE12 ConCorde PLaCe, suIte 800, toronto, on M3C 4J2telephone 416-510-6845facsimile 416-510-5140e-mail edItors@CanadIanarChIteCt.CoMWeb site www.CanadIanarChIteCt.CoM

Canadian architect is published monthly by bIG Magazines LP, a div. of Glacier bIG holdings Company Ltd., a leading Cana dian information company with interests in daily and community news papers and business-to-business information services.

the editors have made every reasonable effort to provide accurate and authoritative information, but they assume no liability for the accuracy or com-pleteness of the text, or its fitness for any particular purpose.

subscription rates Canada: $53.95 plus applicable taxes for one year; $85.95 plus applicable taxes for two years (hst – #809751274rt0001). Price per single copy: $6.95. students (prepaid with student Id, includes taxes): $34.97 for one year. usa: $103.95 us for one year. all other foreign: $123.95 us per year.

us office of publication: 2424 niagara falls blvd, niagara falls, ny 14304-5709. Periodicals Postage Paid at niagara falls, ny. usPs #009-192. us postmaster: send address changes to Canadian architect, Po box 1118, niagara falls, ny 14304.

return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation dept., Canadian architect, 12 Concorde Place, suite 800, toronto, on Canada M3C 4J2.

Postmaster: please forward forms 29b and 67b to 12 Concorde Place, suite 800, toronto, on Canada M3C 4J2. Printed in Canada. all rights reserved. the contents of this publication may not be re produced either in part or in full without the consent of the copyright owner.

from time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods:

telephone 1-800-668-2374facsimile 416-442-2191e-mail privacyofficer@businessinformationgroup.camail Privacy officer, business Information Group, 12 Concorde Place, suite 800, toronto, on Canada M3C 4J2

member of the canadian business pressmember of the audit bureau of circulationspublications mail agreement #40069240issn 1923-3353 (online)issn 0008-2872 (print)

viEwpoint

6 cAnAdiAn­ArchitEct 07/11

Ian ChodIkoff ichodikoff@cAnAdiAnArchitEct.coM

bro

ok

MC

ILro

y

AbovE thunder bay has beGun to reCLaIM Its waterfront wIth an aMbItIous ProGraM that wILL Convert MuCh of Its IndustrIaL Lands Into PubLIC traILs, Parks and CuLturaL aMenItIes. Iod Park Is a sPeCuLatIve addItIon to thIs draMatIC transforMatIon.

Environmental Education Centre in Calgary (Simpson Roberts Architecture Interior Design and Carson McCulloch Associates); the City of Brantford Waterfront Master Plan (The Planning Partnership); the Red River Floodway Greenway in Winnipeg (Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram); the Vale Living with Lakes Centre at Laurentian University in Sudbury (Perkins + Will Canada with J.L. Richards & Associates); the IOD Park and Waterfront Master Plan in Thunder Bay (Brook McIlroy); the naturalization of the St. Charles River in Quebec City (Groupe IBI/Daniel Arbour & Associates); and improvements to La Salle Boulevard in Baie-Comeau (OPTION aménage-ment). Collectively, these projects represent a variety of scales and levels of complexity with re-spect to managing the interface between urbaniz-ation and natural systems. Each one of them con-tains tremendous insight regarding an increased awareness in ecological management and are therefore important catalysts for improving their respective public realms. Most will undoubtedly become seminal case studies for establishing the connection of a community to its waterfront.

For example, along Thunder Bay’s waterfront, the city has already begun to revitalize its post-industrial landscape with a varied program—a theatre, music hall, bird sanctuary, outdoor cin-ema, water park, “cathedral” to the northland, meadows, small forests, and a zip-line course. The transformation of Thunder Bay’s waterfront has already seen the removal of Pool 6, a contigu-ous series of grain elevators that was once the world’s longest of its kind. Fortunately, the Iron Ore Dock (IOD) still remains. Built in 1944 and designed by C.D. Howe, this 500-metre-long concrete structure has remained an iconic ele-ment and will likely continue to function as a main feature of the city’s waterfront system. As these projects are so widely dispersed across the country, relatively few people will be able to ap-preciate the full breadth, ambition and sophisti-cation found in many of these designs. Never-thesless, they are so worth studying and visiting—especially given our short summer season.

The warm summer months encourage us to ex-plore and become reacquainted with the ways in which our cities connect with the water’s edge. Communities of all sizes can benefit from strong-er relationships with their lakes and rivers—geography permitting. Capitalizing upon this re-lationship helps define a community’s history of urban development since its economic or indus-trial success was usually dependent and often continues to rely upon the viability of waterways for shipping and transportation. Access to the waterfront gives people a chance to relax and re-flect in more natural surroundings away from the intensities of urban life.

Certainly, much attention has been paid over the past several years to Vancouver’s many con-nections to its waterfront. The continued evolu-tion of the shoreline around False Creek, and the now-established connection along Coal Harbour between Stanley Park and the Vancouver Conven-tion Centre has enhanced Vancouver’s pre- eminent status as a global waterfront metropolis, making it the envy of cities around the world.

In Toronto, the ongoing evolution of that city’s waterfront continues gradually with such wel-come additions as the Martin Goodman Trail improvements at Marilyn Bell Park (Victor Ford and Associates); Sherbourne Park (Phillips Fare-vaag Smallenberg); and of course the whimsy of Canada’s Sugar Beach (Claude Cormier Archi-tectes Paysagistes with The Planning Partner-ship). With its bright pink umbrellas embedded in an artificial sandy beach anchored by enor-mous candy-coloured rocks and fringed with pink-lit fountains conjuring up images of cream soda, Sugar Beach draws much inspiration from an ongoing industrial presence along Toronto’s waterfront—the Redpath Sugar refinery and warehouse facility located adjacent to the park—while overtly referencing its lakefront location.

Beyond the big city, one should not forget that many other communities across the country have also been working hard at strengthening or re-establishing their connections to the waterfront. These projects include: Stuart Park in Kelowna (Stantec Consulting); the Ralph Klein Park and

www.w

eaving

idea

s.ne

tG

reg

Bry

son

1-80

0-32

5-59

93 E

xt. 1

257

gre

g@

wea

ving

idea

s.ne

t

CANADA

Wire

Mes

h B

uild

ing

Env

elop

e, L

os A

ngel

es P

olic

e D

epar

tmen

t

Weavin

gIdeas

.net

UN

IQU

E •

TRA

NSP

ARE

NT

• G

REEN

1 2 34 5 6 7

89

NOREX®

PANEL WITH POLYISOCYANURATE CORE

• Higher thermal value per inch

• Superior resistance to fi re

• Integrated pressure-equalized rainscreen

• Exclusive structural anchoring system

• Elimination of thermal bridges

• Enhanced resistance to wind and tear-out

• Lower installation time and costs

• Insulation and fi nish: no additional steps

1 877 667-2321norbecarchitectural.com

SUPPORTED BY CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY, NOREX® IS UNDISPUTEDLY THE MOST ADVANCED PANEL IN THE NORSERIES.

Marrying creativity with the environment.

Norex® is the most innovative architectural panel in its category.

07/11­­canadian architect­9

news

PrOJects

Perkins+will canada chosen to lead edmonton’s city centre airport Lands redevelopment. In June 2010, Perkins+Will responded to an international design competition, submitting a master plan proposal for the Edmonton City Centre Airport Lands (ECCA). One year later, the firm, in collaboration with Civitas Urban Design and Planning, Group2 Architecture, and land-scape architects Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, has been named the successful proponent. The winning plan for Edmonton’s Airport Lands cre-ates a 216-hectare sustainable community fo-cused on creating a vital and highly memorable new place within the city by providing strong connections to nature, history, economic oppor-tunity and surrounding neighbourhoods. Dubbed “Connecticity,” the plan evolved through a highly collaborative design approach that optimized the team’s considerable interdisciplinary talents and expertise. Connecticity represents a bold new model for sustainable urban development. Perkins+Will’s proposed vision for the Edmon-ton City Centre Airport Lands master plan creates a new kind of community that draws deeply from its own unique attributes and spirit. Providing housing for approximately 30,000 residents and an estimated 10,000 new jobs, the master plan seeks to ensure economic vitality and sustaina-bility by extending the energy from four vibrant growth catalysts into the site: Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s research and innova-tion; Kingsway Mall’s commercial vitality; the busy life of the new rehabilitation hospital and the development spark of a new LRT line. Site infrastructure design for the ECCA takes an in-novative approach, delivering resilient carbon-neutral energy as well as promoting water and waste reduction. Carbon emissions from the

community will reduce by 3.2 million tonnes over 20 years while energy produced through biomass and deep geothermal sources will create enough electricity to fully meet the needs of the develop-ment. Surplus energy will be sold to public build-ings within the greater city of Edmonton re-sulting in a “beyond carbon-neutral” scenario. Preserving more than half the land as green space, the plan seizes the opportunity to create a large destination park that acts as both a regional draw and a neighbourhood-scaled community gathering space that knits now-disparate com-munities and land uses together. Moving for-ward, the process will feature an integrated de-sign process with a series of comprehensive workshops. This will include the City of Edmon-ton department stakeholders, neighbouring in-stitutions, and most importantly, the citizens of Edmonton, as part of a much larger team. Together, through workshop participation, open houses, online forums and ongoing discussion, an exciting series of strategies to ensure the con-tinued success of this initiative will be formu-lated and assembled. This project represents one of the most ambitious urban design competitions to be held in Canada’s recent history, and the lar-gest urban design commission for Perkins+Will in Canada to date. www.edmonton.ca/city_government/planning_ development/perkins-and-will.aspx

allied works architecture unveils design of new national Music centre in calgary.Two years after holding an international archi-tectural competition that saw world-renowned designers face off in a public presentation, the National Music Centre (NMC) revealed the extra-ordinary final design by Allied Works Architec-ture, the winner of the competition. The National Music Centre’s design pays homage to the Western Cana dian landscape with a series of

“resonant vessels” informed by the crags and canyons of the Rocky Mountains, the hoodoos of southern Alberta, and the vast openness of the prairies—creating spaces that will resonate with the sounds of NMC’s dynamic program offering. Built around the historical (and condemned) King Edward Hotel, many have speculated on how the design would treat this piece of Calgary’s musical history that closed in 2004 after serving as a hotbed of blues music in Canada for decades. “It was important to us to respect the King Eddy,” says architect Brad Cloepfil. “While reclamation and restoration is certainly necessary, we didn’t want to scrub it too clean. We don’t want to scare the ghosts away.” One of the more unique fea-tures of the building is a two-storey bridge that spans 4th Street SE. The span not only creates interesting event and performance spaces for the NMC, but also serves as a very strong visual gateway into a revitalized East Village. “We worked closely with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation to ensure our design meshed with the overall vision for East Village,” says NMC President and CEO Andrew Mosker. “Combined with funding commitments from three levels of government, partnerships with the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Cana dian Country Music Association, along with an aggressive fundraising campaign, the project has a great deal of momentum here in Calgary and across Canada.” The 135,000-square-foot National Music Centre is projected to open in 2014.

aBOVe, LeFt tO riGht­The­edmonTon­CiTy­CenTre­AirporT­LAnds­is­perkins+WiLL­CAn-AdA’s­firsT­mAjor­urbAn­design­Commis-sion­sinCe­LAunChing­As­A­unified­nATionAL­prACTiCe;­The­neW­brAd­CLoep-fiL–designed­nATionAL­musiC­CenTre­in­CALgAry­ChALLenges­The­CiTy’s­hisToriC­eAsT­ViLLAge.

Structural steel, produced from virtually 100% recycled material, helps designers acquire LEED credits. Lightweight and ideal for curved forms and long spans, it is the material of choice for exceptional environments.

We are LEEDers in green

Canadian Institute of Steel Construction

For more information visit www.cisc-icca.ca/sustainability

10­canadian architect­07/11

Jci architects to expand toronto Zoo’s cultural offerings. JCI Architects Inc. and Terraplan Landscape Architects have begun work on the Schofield Memorial Garden at the Toronto Zoo. The me-morial, funded by both the South Korean and Canadian governments, is a tribute to Dr. Frank Schofield, an advocate for Korean independence during its occupation and the only non-Korean to be buried in that country’s national cemetery. The project includes a memorial hall, exhibition spaces, statue, water features, and public plazas, and expands the type of facilities offered by the Zoo to include more cultural and multi-use amenities. The Schofield Memorial Garden seeks to create something analogous to Schofield’s work and mediate between different cultures to promote the uniqueness of Korean arts and that country’s close friendship with Canada. The initial client request was to reproduce a 16th-century-style Korean pavilion, using all the traditional techniques and materials. This be-came prohibitively expensive, and failed to em-brace the Canadian component of the project. The current design team suggested embracing the idea of a cross-cultural scheme, basing itself on traditional Korean principles and aesthetics

while incorporating Canadian materials and technologies such as oak timbers, louvered cedar roofs, passive heating and cooling systems, and stormwater and filtration strategies. In the end, it is this cultural and architectural hybridity which lends the project its richness. Phase One of the project is scheduled for com-pletion in 2012.

awards

2011 Ottawa Urban design awards call for submissions.Held biannually, the 2011 Ottawa Urban Design Awards celebrate projects built in the city of Ot-tawa that exhibit urban design excellence. Pro-jects built in Ottawa between September 1, 2009 and September 1, 2011 are eligible, and the dead-line for submissions is Thursday, August 18, 2011. The author of the winning submission of each category will receive an Award of Excellence, which acknowledges a project that achieves urban design excellence and meets the judging criteria. Other entries in each category will be eligible to win an Award of Merit. An important distinction between the two awards is that the winners of the Awards of Excellence will be forwarded to com-

pete nationally in the Royal Architectural Insti-tute of Canada’s 2012 Urban Design Awards Pro-gram as a representative of the City of Ottawa. Winning projects will: demonstrate clear urban design intent and merit; demonstrate a positive contribution to the public realm/quality of place; demonstrate design and architectural excellence; contribute to the wider appreciation of urban de-sign; achieve a human-scale relationship with the immediate context; contribute in a substantive way to the city’s environmental and ecological health; be important to pedestrian and liveability issues; be innovative and trendsetting; and be open to transformation over time in a positive way. Submission forms and program guidelines are available on the City of Ottawa’s website.www.ottawa.ca/residents/planning/design_awards/index_en.html

cOMPetitiOns

saucier + Perrotte architectes one of five shortlisted firms in the Bogotá international convention center competition.The Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá (CCB) is sponsoring an international architectural design competition for a new Bogotá International Con-

07/11­­canadian architect­11

vention Center (CICB). Co-sponsors include the City of Bogotá, the Government of Colombia, and CORFERIAS. The new venue is a key resource for the city to increase its level of competitiveness at the local, regional, and international levels. The facility must have a distinct visual presence and support a wide range of international, cul-tural, entertainment, educational, commercial and community programs, and should showcase design innovation and sustainability while supporting regeneration of the surrounding neighbourhood. The importance of the com-petition was reflected in the 226 firms that regis-tered for and inquired about the competition. In total, 91 proposals were submitted from 119 firms, either individually or in association with others. The proposals came from five con-tinents and 21 countries. Among the proposals received, four came from architects who have been honoured with the Pritzker Prize. Similarly, most registered firms have been recipients of major international awards and recognitions in architecture and design. After a rigorous and careful selection process by the competition’s evaluation committee, the following firms were chosen to continue on to Stage II of the competi-tion. The shortlisted firms are: Saucier + Perrotte (continued on page 32)

architectes of Montreal; Bermúdez y Herreros Consortium of Bogotá, Colombia and Madrid, Spain; Diller Scofidio + Renfro + UdeB Archi-tecture of New York and Bogotá; Snøhetta + RIR of New York and Bogotá; and Zaha Hadid Archi-tects + JMPF of London, England and Medellín, Colombia.www.ccb.co/conventioncenter

YUL-MtL: Moving Landscapes international ideas competition.The Chair in Landscape and Environmental De-sign at the Université de Mon tréal (CPEUM) is launching an international urban design ideas competition for the gateway corridor linking Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to its downtown area (MTL) along Autoroute 20. The CPEUM has been commissioned by the Min-istère des Transports du Québec to coordinate the competition and the underlying collaborative planning process bringing together the main public and private actors responsible for this ter-ritory. The 17-kilometre gateway corridor, which is mostly made up of transport infrastructures and brownfields, is witnessing a large number of development infrastructural projects, thus offer-ing considerable urban innovation potential. The

proposals should revolve along three work streams: an evolving and emblematic landscape project for the metropolitan area; a scenographic composition of the corridor experiences; and a collaborative approach to sustainable urban de-velopment. A total of $100,000 CDN will be awarded to and shared between three laureates. Entries will be evaluated by an international jury chaired by Italian architect and urban planner Bernardo Secchi, along with: Pierre Bélanger, as-sociate professor in landscape architecture, Har-vard University Graduate School of Design, Cam-bridge; Ken Greenberg, architect and urban de-signer, Greenberg Consultants Inc., Toronto; Florence Junca-Adenot, founder of the Forum Urba 2015, Université du Québec à Montréal; Anick La Bissonnière, architect and theatrical set designer, Atelier Labi, Montreal; and Maroun Shaneen, representative of the Ministère des Transports du Québec. To register, each contest-ant must fill out an electronic entry form before August 26, 2011, and proposals must be electron-ically submitted by October 7, 2011. http://mtlunescodesign.com/en/project/YUL-MTL-Moving-Landscapes-International-Ideas-Competi-tion and yul-mtl@mtlunescodesign.com

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

soprema_can_arch.pdf 6/10/11 4:19:35 PM

HEADS UP!

www.canam.ws/architects

It’s here, the new Versa-Dek®!

The most attractive metal decking in the industry is now available in Canada and is distributed exclusively by Canam. Take advantage of the unlimited architecturalpotential of Versa-Dek® with its unique shapes, lines andcolours. A product that takes you to new heights!

Elevate your creativity with Versa-Dek®.

Call our architectural solutions experts at 1-877-499-6049 or online at www.canam-steeljoist.ws/contactus-architect

Canam, a world of solutions for the most innovative designs!

Versa-Dek®

is a registered trademark ofMetal Dek Group®.

Ch

arlo

tte

Do

ug

las

Inte

rnat

ion

al A

irp

ort

, Ch

arlo

tte,

NC

MEP-Pub Head-Can Arch-0310_Layout 1 09/04/10 11:34 AM Page 1

THREE PADS. ONE SCRUBBER.A LITTLE WATER.

nora® pro clean system.

With the nora® pro clean system, that’s all you need to maintain your nora® rubber flooring. From daily cleaning to restoration of a neglected space, the nora pro clean system changes everything you thought you knew about flooring maintenance. Eliminate detergents. Reduce labor. Improve performance. Enhance aesthetics. Experience for yourself the benefits of the nora pro clean system. Scan this code with your mobile device to watch pro clean videos. Follow us @noraflooring

www.nora.com/us/proclean29

pro clean videos pro clean videos

Pub Canadian Architect 9" x 11.25" (85% of original size)

3230-1464_ProCleanQR_caD1.indd 1 6/6/11 2:17 PM

A Respectful RefugecAnAdA’s new diplomAtic heAdquARteRs in BAnglAdesh succeeds in BAlAncing ARchitectuRAl cues thAt RepResent ouR countRy while Respecting the mAteRiAlity And context of the host countRy.

pRoJect Canadian ChanCery and OffiCial residenCe, dhaka, Bangladesh ARchitect MaCkay-lyOns sweetapple arChi-teCts liMited in COllaBOratiOn with rOun-thwaite diCk & hadley arChiteCtstext JOhn lerOuxphotos steven evans

National symbols come easily to Canadians. Without question, the maple leaf is ours, but to those outside our borders, are we more than scarlet-clad Mounties and rugged hockey play-ers? Are we fully encapsulated by the soaring grandeur of a Haida totem pole, the bold stark-

ness of a prairie grain elevator, or the snug efficiency of an Inuit igloo from a nostalgic 1950s travelogue? From sea to sea, our myriad regions (and certainly our cultural mosaic of late) raise a thorny question: what is the most appropriate path to architecturally express

our country’s contemporary character in the 21st century?

The question may very well have been an-swered by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Archi-tects (MLSA) who, as design architects in association with prime consultants Roun-

ABoVe set Behind its defensiBle infra-struCture Of BriCk and steel, the high COMMissiOn glOws at dusk.

thwaite Dick & Hadley Architects (RDH), were given the challenging task of designing a new purpose-built Chancery and Official Residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Rather than approaching the project with the ephemeral flash and bravado of a World’s Fair

16 cAnAdiAn ARchitect 07/11

pavilion, or deferring to a restrained expression of our (usually) diplomatic and measured nation-al character, the design team chose a more in-spired path built on Canada’s varied stew of hu-manity, compassion, landscape, and economic and political stability. The result of their arduous eight-year-long task has resulted in a building that avoids the predictable and the clichéd. This alone is no small success, as in this city of 15 mil-lion people at the epicentre of one of the poorest and most densely populated countries on earth, nothing is straightforward and simple.

While Dhaka is a metropolis of relentless bed-lam, pollution, crowds, noise, urban sprawl and countless dusty construction sites, it is also a fascinating, friendly, vibrant, ancient and rela-tively safe city in a region that has been a cultural

and spiritual hub for millennia. Walking through Dhaka is akin to visiting a city from the distant past, while simultaneously experiencing a planet that is very much in the present. Here, thou-sands of recent concrete high-rises blandly dot the city, while noteworthy postwar and contem-porary structures are the exception rather than the rule.

In contrast to this state of affairs, Canada’s new Chancery is widely admired as one of the most notable new works of architecture in the city. Our Chancery joins a limited club, as Bangladesh pos-sesses only a dozen specialized embassies at present, so the stakes were high. Consistent with Canada’s domestic policy of multiculturalism, the architects were driven by an understanding of the project’s dual cultural responsibility, “to repre-

sent the ‘guest’ country and to show respect for the culture of the ‘host’ country.”

Located on a prominent corner site along a major thoroughfare in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone, the High Commission and Official Residence is a multifaceted and complex building that is also the first international built public work by MLSA. Sandwiched—in an almost perfectly Canadian way—right between the American and Vatican embassies, it is far from a physical duplication of its neighbours.

The first feature that strikes the visitor is that unlike its adjacent counterparts, the Canadian embassy has made a very conscious design deci-sion to be a part of the city and the public realm. In an understandably no-nonsense way, the flanking American and South Korean embassies

07/11 cAnAdiAn ARchitect 17

opposite, top to Bottom a woman enters the secured diplomatic compound; the chancery and official residence remains very much connected to dhaka’s street life despite its many security features. ABoVe the architecture of the canadian compound reflects the significance of the region’s brick-making tradition, while creating a highly urban backdrop for the people of dhaka.

are essentially fortified bastions sited far back from the street behind giant walls of concrete, brick and steel. The message is clear: you can’t get to us, nor should you try—unless, of course, you have an appointment.

While the Canadian Chancery is unquestion-ably secure, it has achieved this by taking great pains to fuse clever and sturdy security measures that are more shrewd than conspicuous. As an architectural metaphor for us as a nation, many would agree that Canada shouldn’t occupy a fort-ress embassy. By giving our international rela-tionship a physical presence in their capital, the “bunker ethos” was trumped by what is at the core of us as a caring and sincere country: a de-sire to show openness and trust to the citizens of Bangladesh. The public is encouraged to engage

with the edifice, walk unhindered along its sidewalk, and touch its beautifully crafted brick skin; imparting the message that a nation on the other side of the world cares very much for this place.

The venerable Canadian trait of reaching out and embracing cultures is pervasive in the archi-tect team’s approach to the structure. Bangladesh is very much a country of rivers, and as Brian MacKay-Lyons has stated, “the Ganges Delta has only two principal resources: alluvial silt and

people, which translates into bricks and brick-layers.” Hence, the core of the scheme is a start-lingly simple two-storey horseshoe form built of reinforced concrete and clad in local red brick. Typical of MLSA’s best work, it is a clear and un-complicated volume with no pretense: it is ef-fectively an elongated brick wall wrapping around a central courtyard.

By deferring to local building traditions and the Islamic cultural principle of outward mod-esty, it speaks volumes of our social image as

18 cAnAdiAn ARchitect 07/11

walls and parapets. Acting as a counterpoint to the reddish brick/stone shell, a pair of punctuat-ed metal covers wrap the middle sections of the building, above the mechanical and third-floor office spaces. Evoking both the corrugated metal huts of outlying rural areas as well as the shel-tering metal volume of the architect’s 1998 Kutcher House on the Nova Scotia coast, the half-panelized and half-louvered silver forms offer solar protection and textural variety, although MacKay-Lyons wasn’t completely satisfied with the metal-clad portions. He stated that in hind-sight, more of the brick should have been used throughout for both practical and cultural/ tectonic reasons, and he has a point. The local builders were somewhat less comfortable with architectural metalwork, and constant cleaning because of the omnipresent dust makes it a chal-lenge for building staff.

The High Commission possesses two separate entries: an immigration entrance along the main road, and a more modest consular gate and staff/service entrance through the curved wall. As the more “public” entry along the main street, the immigration section is generously glazed and features a prominent ramped entry, all under-neath a protective steel canopy that acts as an ef-fective shelter during the severe monsoon rains that occur from June to October. The rest of the building’s outward exterior is largely unbroken by visible fenestration, save for a rhythmic pro-cession of thin vertical windows along the upper floor. At the other corner of the building, the staff/service entrance passes through a secure gate followed by a short walk to a large porte- cochère that leads to both the embassy and am-bassador’s residence.

Like the immense brick cylindrical forms of Louis Kahn’s nearby Bangladesh Parliament complex, the Canadian High Commission fea-tures a curved brick mass facing west, which is certainly the building’s most memorable attrib-ute. While the curved volume imparts an air of solidity and heft, it is fundamentally a slender ribbon enclosing a simple landscaped courtyard. Bangladesh has a strong tradition of courtyard buildings with a connection to defined exterior space, so the intent was both time-honoured and resourceful. Unlike the grassed areas of the adja-cent American embassy which are completely closed off, the staff and visitors here are able to enjoy and inhabit the pleasant garden as a quiet transitional breathing space before going inside.

While the building is a protected structure with a hierarchy of privileged and controlled access, it also boasts a number of more public spaces in-cluding the immigration hall with its comfortable built-in seating and interview rooms, the great room of the official residence, and the foyer atrium. A refined three-storey-high space, this atrium is cut thin and tall behind full curtain-

top the solid and louvered aluminum shrouds are a convincing counterpoint to the weighty mass of the brick used throughout. a system of canopies offers shelter from the monsoon rains. ABoVe a louvered aluminum screen provides office workers welcome relief from the relentless sun.

Canadians. It also embodies the disciplined philosophy the architects have keenly developed over the past quarter-century. According to MacKay-Lyons, “a contextualist approach is not a style, but rather a discipline, a method, a way of seeing, which is culturally transferable. Build-ing within the material culture of a place not

only communicates a respect for regional context but also ensures the maximum economic value to the client.”

The smooth red brick and its coursing are of a very high quality, made all the more distinctive by periodic highlights of pink sandstone above the windows and as coping stones at the crest of

07/11 cAnAdiAn ARchitect 19

Right, top to Bottom the embassy’s architec-ture can be reductively described as a curved extrusion that protects itself from the outside world while forming a lush central courtyard; a model of the entire compound; an early sketch of the project.

wall glazing on the southern face, with a blanket of horizontal metal louvers to shade it from the blazing sun. The interior walls are clad through-out in lightly stained maple panels imported from Canada, contrasting with polished black granite floors. Adjacent to the foyer is a glazed semi-public multipurpose room that is often used for seminars, large group meetings and media sessions.

The embassy interior layout is straightforward and linear along its horseshoe spine, with much of the building’s first- and second-floor office zones organized around a naturally lit hallway path. The single-loaded corridor along the curved sections features staff offices on one side and a partially glazed wall on the other. Passing by the intermittent window/wall sequence is a magnificent walking experience—a zoetrope of constantly alternating light/dark and shifting vistas outwards toward the garden.

The ambassador’s official residence occupies the southeasternmost corner of the complex. Separated from the rest of the site by an eight-foot-high brick wall and covered walkway that encloses a private yard/garden, the residence spaces are simple and efficient. The most dis-tinctive areas are the ground floor’s public recep-tion and dining rooms, separated by a stained wood dividing wall that floats between them. These spaces feature a similar material palette to the office wing, with a sloping ceiling of stained wood panels, polished black granite floors, inter-ior walls of stained maple and rose stucco, and a north-facing fully glazed wall that overlooks the private garden.

As an oasis of calm in the bustling chaos of Dhaka, the overall character of the project is courageous and admirable. While it is not per-fect, one quickly realizes that it is virtually im-possible for any public building in Bangladesh to be blemish-free due to local construction practices, budgets, and demanding schedules. The very fact the building was even able to get completed was due to the unusual level of com-mitment by team members such as Bangladeshi-Canadian architect Momin Hoq of associate firm RDH. Living in Dhaka, Hoq oversaw the lengthy contract administration and “nearly gave his life to the project,” according to Talbot Sweetapple. Small technical challenges of the building notwithstanding (eg., a lack in some critical areas of covered walkways and sun-shading pro-tection), the building certainly fulfills its many difficult roles.

20 cAnAdiAn ARchitect 07/11

client department of foreign affairs and international trade canadaARchitect teAm brian mackay-lyons, rob boyko, talbot sweet aple, momin hoq, melanie hayne, sanjoy pal, dan herljevic, martin patriquin, justin bennett, sawa rostkowskastRuctuRAl yolles partnership inc., development design con-sultants limited mechAnicAl hidi rae consulting engineers inc., development design consultants limitedelectRicAl development design consultants limitedinteRioRs mackay-lyons sweetapple architects limited contRActoR spcl-gbbl joint venture, spcl, charuta private AReA 42,000 ft2 Budget withheldcompletion october 2009

top the great hall is a diplomatic state-ment of material expression—local bricks and black granite with canadian maple mediated by exposed black-painted steel structural elements. ABoVe, left to Right cano-pies protect people from the rain and ramps help drain the water away; the view into the great hall with its exterior aluminum louvers; a local resident waits for customers needing a ride.

Whether as effective designers or as diplomats in a foreign land, we are always encouraged to listen before we speak. In the Canadian Chan-cery’s case, the architects listened carefully, acted wisely, and the resulting building speaks volumes. cA

John Leroux is an architect, teacher and art historian living in Fredericton.

1.800.871.8876www.hambro.ws/architects

Our concrete floor system Offers yOu:

economical solution fire ratings uLC/uL Long spans Composite design engineered system sTC 57 Bulkheading eliminated

WHy NOT CHOOse

solUtIon?A ProVen

Ma Maison

a Modest project in Montreal’s lively plateau neighbourhood is a paradigM for urban regeneration with a sustainable focus.

07/11­­canadian architect­23

project­La­Maison-ateLier­du­Moine­urbain,­MontreaL,­Quebecarchitect/designer­GabrieL­rousseau­architecte­and­Mario­LafrenaisteXt­LesLie­Jenphotos­MarceL­MueLLer

Live/work scenarios are becoming increasingly commonplace in North American urban centres, allowing artists, designers and those engaged in creative occupations to enjoy a seamless transi-tion between private and professional life, there-by avoiding lengthy, stressful and tangled com-mutes to the office. A noteworthy addition to this hybrid building type of home and studio is the Maison Atelier du Moine Urbain (Urban Monk’s House and Workshop), located in the heart of Montreal’s vibrant Plateau neighbourhood.

The client, Mario Lafrenais, is a multidisci-plinary artist who works primarily in stone;

opposite­a­view­of­the­Lush­urban­courtyard­reveaLs­the­skiLLed­Landscape­strateGies­of­the­cLient,­who­was­responsibLe­for­its­desiGn­and­construction.­top­three­iMaGes­iLLustrate­the­aMpLe­use­of­recLaiMed­MateriaLs­in­the­workshop—tiMeworn­artifacts­which­iMbue­the­proJect­with­a­Great­deaL­of­spirit.­bottoM­fuLL-heiGht­GLazinG­on­both­fLoors­of­the­workshop­encouraGe­the­fLow­of­LiGht­and­air;­recLaiMed­wood­and­saLvaGed­LiGht­fixtures­characterize­the­rustic­QuaLity­of­the­workshop­interior.

called Moine Urbain, his company produces—among other things—stone sinks for residential and commercial applications. Managing to con-vey both a rough-hewn quality and yet also re-fined beauty, the award-winning Moine Urbain products have attracted a variety of high-profile clients. Lafrenais had owned a residential prop-erty on rue St-Dominique for about a decade, where he lives with his partner and two children. Seeking to integrate his stonework studio with his home, he commissioned architect Gabriel Rousseau to design an adjacent workshop on the empty parking lot next to the two-storey house.

A relatively modest addition of 783 square feet, the new two-storey structure abuts the existing residence and while complementary, makes no attempt to mimic the old red brick façade. In-stead, a thoroughly contemporary material vocab-ulary announces itself through concrete block, large expanses of glazing, and a striking pair of huge wooden front doors—salvaged and reclaimed from an old convent. Still, the new structure re-sponds to the datum lines of the existing street-scape, contributing a respectful and remarkably urbane presence to the neighbourhood.

The ground floor of the building is devoted ex-

1

3

4

5

Ru

e St

-Do

min

iqu

e

workshop Addition

Existing housE

0 10’

0 10’

Ru

e St

-Do

min

iqu

e

workshop Addition

Existing housE

1

2

4

5

24­canadian architect­07/11

client­Mario­Lafrenaisdesign teaM­GabrieL­rousseau,­Mario­Lafrenaislandscape­Mario­Lafrenaiscontractor­Mario­Lafrenaisarea­783­ft2­addition;­3,473­ft2­oriGinaL­housebudget­n/acoMpletion­suMMer­2010

second floor­

0 10’ground floor­

clusively to workshop/studio functions, while the second-floor mezzanine physically connects to the existing house through a newly created portal in its former exterior wall. The mezzanine ex-pands the family’s residential functions, and has become a de facto living room and meditation space, which overlooks the peaceful courtyard and back garden.

The major impetus for the project was the cli-ent’s desire to build to the greatest degree of sus-tainability possible, and Lafrenais himself was substantially involved in the design and con-struction process, relying heavily on Rousseau’s design skills and professional expertise.

Effective natural passive ventilation was achieved through a variety of methods, making air-conditioning unnecessary even during Mon-treal’s hot, humid summers. Cross-ventilation is encouraged through an entire wall of north-facing full-height glass windows that open to the back garden on both the ground and second floors. This abundance of glazing provides the added benefit of allowing optimal north light to penetrate deep into the interior spaces, reducing the need for ar-

above­a­raised­deck­pLatforM­Makes­an­ideaL­spot­for­outdoor­dininG­in­the­verdant­courtyard­Garden.

tificial lighting. The decision to incorporate an overlooking mezzanine on the second floor results in a greater spatial dynamic within the workshop, but also permits hot air to rise and be expelled through the skylight opening in the roof.

Eight solar panels were salvaged from a former government building and installed on the roof-top, which enable solar energy to be captured and subsequently used to radiantly heat the concrete floors in winter and also to heat the pool in more temperate months when necessary. Even the wood-burning stove, which is used to provide additional heating in the cooler seasons, was sal-vaged from a demolition yard.

The recycling of materials evidences the most visually obvious gesture of sustainability princi-ples at work. In addition to the salvaged entry doors, solar panels and wood-burning stove, the building also incorporates reclaimed light fix-tures and wooden structural beams. The hemlock panelling that sheathes the interior walls comes from trees felled during a major storm, which were cut into planks and planed by artisanal methods. All of this represents a most com-mendable effort in recycling and reuse, but these timeworn artifacts also contribute a most evoca-tive spirit to this modest project.

Lafrenais’s talents are not confined to his stone creations. After the workshop was com-pleted, he alone undertook the design and con-struction of the harmoniously landscaped back garden—perhaps the most overtly striking feature of the project. As the scale of the new workshop was fairly restrained, the outdoor space left over was substantial enough to form a sizeable private courtyard containing multilayered wood decks, verdant plantings, and a small swimming pool. A sense of peace and serenity is achieved in the multiple zones of the garden: ivy scales the verti-cal surfaces, softening any hard edges of this urban court, and the layered overlapping deck platforms create numerous seating areas and optimal display opportunities for the designed stone objects.

Fittingly, the project was honoured earlier this year with a jury mention in the recycling/conver-sion category of the 2011 Awards of Excellence in Architecture from the Ordre des architects du Québec. There is undoubtedly merit in its con-scious pursuit of holistic sustainability, but the Maison Atelier du Moine Urbain offers impres-sions of a life beyond itself. Probably the greatest experiential impact is found in its poetic material vocabulary of reclaimed materials, the potency of which offers fleeting glimpses of past lives and of another time. ca

1­existinG­house2­workshop3­­Mezzanine­LivinG­rooM/

Meditation­space

4­raised­deck5­pooL

To download recommended Qr reader, please visiT www.beetagg.com

DIRect eNeRgY ceNtRe, toRoNto

exposiTion September 22 – 23, 2011 conference

September 22 – 24, 2011

We Speak The Language of DesignJoin the Conversation

Don’t miss the launch of Hospitality Canada @ IIDeX 2011

26 canadian architect 07/11

insites

the architect as developer

Architects Across cAnAdA continue to investigAte the possibilities of developing their own projects, broAdening their skill sets in the process.

teXt grAhAm livesey

The concept that an architect can be a developer has not been extensively explored in North American practice. The barriers to architects act-ing as developers that were in place in the past are now relatively few beyond the pragmatic issues of incurring additional financial risk and gaining relevant expertise; however, becoming actively involved in development requires a solid knowledge of financing, real estate and market-ing. Furthermore, architects heavily involved in development must often overcome a negative stigma associated with this form of practice. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the architect-as-developer model? Who are some of

the architectural firms actively involved in this process in Canada?

A brief survey of the four largest provinces and their provincial architectural associations—Brit-ish Columbia (AIBC), Alberta (AAA), Ontario (OAA), and Quebec (OAQ)—indicates that each licensing body accepts professional architects who are interested in entering the development arena. As an example, the AIBC has specific by-laws addressing the concept of an architect as a project owner, and in such cases there is a re-quirement that architects who act as developers must fully disclose this to all parties involved to ensure that no conflict of interest or misunder-standing occurs. The AIBC bylaws include word-ing that states that the architect who is also a project owner (or contractor) must render archi-tectural services “fully and impartially,” and “financial interests must not override profes-sional responsibility and impartiality.” This concept of full disclosure is shared by other asso-

ciations. The common recommended practice across all four jurisdictions is for the develop-ment entity to be separate from the professional architectural firm. In Quebec, it is also required that site visits be conducted by a separate party other than the architect-developer. However, there are situations where a potential conflict of interest may arise that would cause difficulties for an architect who acts as the owner or client; in particular, how architects deal with building contractors. This also relates to professional lia-bility insurance where an architect acting as a de-veloper will have some limits placed on his ability to recover monies in a claim, as obviously, the architect and developer (owner) in these cases cannot act against one another.

Probably the most famous architect as devel-oper is Atlanta, Georgia-based John Portman. His book The Architect as Developer (published in 1976) laid out an argument for the active involve-ment of architects in development. As Portman’s

lwpA

c

07/11 canadian architect 27

dub

Arc

hit

ects

co-author Jonathan Barnett notes, Portman found that the typical role of the architect was “too passive and too uncertain.” Operating against conventional practice at the time, Port-man sought to “think of real estate architectural-ly, and architecture entrepreneurially.” The architect-as-developer model does mean that the architect must engage in levels of entrepreneur-ship outside of standard North American archi-tectural practice. Acting with his own devel op-ment company (currently called Portman Hold-ings), Portman often partnered with other large development interests to develop and design projects. Famous examples of Portman’s archi-tect-as-developer approach include Peachtree Center in Atlanta, and the Embarcadero Center

in San Francisco. Known for his big and showy projects, Portman continues to direct an office in Atlanta. However, he remains largely an anomaly in the architecture profession because of the large size of the projects he has spearheaded.

Writing in the late 1980s about Portman’s ef-fect on Atlanta, Rem Koolhaas argued that Port-man’s union of developer and architect has been both powerful and highly destructive, creating a series of buildings in downtown Atlanta largely devoid of vitality. Koolhaas suggests that Port-man’s work is megalomaniacal, and by eliminat-ing the opposition between architect and the client, he has lost an essential creative element. There is no doubt that Portman’s best-known projects are from the 1970s, and they reflect an

approach to architecture that has been discredit-ed. Nevertheless, Portman’s argument that direct involvement in development will allow architects to have a greater influence on the end result still holds true. That architects can be involved in the real estate and marketability of buildings (in-cluding site selection and program), preparation of feasibility studies, the projection of complete development costs, the “pro forma” incomes and expenses, financing, and renting of buildings is not unreasonable. Despite his focus on the real estate, Barnett suggests that Portman did not lose sight of his role as an architect, and that his gained knowledge of real estate marketing, fi-nance, and management deepened his skills as an architect.

Over the last several decades, some Canadian architects have experimented with various forms of development. More recently, a number of younger firms across the country have been will-ing to actively get involved in development work. Many of these firms are prepared to take on a wider scope of practice by getting involved in the development of small-scale projects, usually commercial and/or residential. As an example of an architectural practice offering a wide range of services, Calgary’s housebrand brings together architectural design, construction, real estate services, development, retail, and interior design together under one roof. By expanding its range of services, an architectural practice can secure a greater overall fee from a particular project. Under the right circumstances, architects can have greater control over the end results. As developers, housebrand have undertaken the construction of several projects, and as “develop-ment consultants” they have also put together projects for clients. However, John Brown, a principal of housebrand, prefers the second model, as it reduces the financial risk. More im-portantly, it does not reduce “the client to merely being a customer.” Brown believes that working with a client is vital to his practice, rather than acting as developer himself, which he suggests tends to reduce the enterprise to one of selling. However, there are firms willing to act as devel-opers, or to be their own clients, in effect. The following firms represent a range of approaches to development, although each sees development as a way to undertake commercial projects that others will not: Lang Wilson Practice in Archi-tecture Culture (LWPAC) in Vancouver, Dub Ar-chitects Inc. in Edmonton, and Kobayashi Zedda Architects Ltd. in Whitehorse.

opposite the monAd, designed And finAnced by vAncouver-bAsed oliver lAng And cynthiA wilson of lwpAc, utilizes pre-fAbricAted construction And will be completed in the fAll of 2011. aBove the shAw building renovAtion in edmonton is being developed by five oAks, A compAny operAted by Architect gene dub.

28 canadian architect 07/11

Oliver Lang and Cynthia Wilson of LWPAC have recently produced their first project with their development firm Intelligent City Develop-ments. The MONAD project is an example of

their efforts to build leading-edge sustainable projects in response to Vancouver’s EcoDensity challenge and various green building programs, including a grant program from BC Hydro.

MONAD is located on a restricted infill site in Kitsilano, and employs pre-fab construction and several innovations including mechanical park-ing and geothermal heating/cooling. As Lang says, they entered the development arena after many years of research, and because they felt that conventional developers were not prepared to take on innovative urban housing projects. In order to secure the financing for the MONAD project, they had to put in cash themselves and also raise funds from a number of investors. The new project is an evolution of their very success-ful Roar_One housing project in Vancouver, de-signed and built with a local developer in 2006. Beyond acting as designers and developers for MONAD, LWPAC also entered into a joint ven-ture partnership to develop and execute the pre-fab system for the project. The risks are high, but the project has proven to be a rewarding learning experience, and sales have been strong. They have gained knowledge about construction, and the process has led them to a greater understand-ing of what potential purchasers of their units re-quire. Ultimately, they see their development work as a “product,” like an automobile, that will be continually refined as they undertake further projects. Nevertheless, development projects such as MONAD will remain only one aspect of the firm’s work.

One of the most experienced Canadian archi-tects when it comes to development is Gene Dub, whose firm has developed about 15 buildings over the last 25 years, ranging from $1 million to $25 million in construction costs. They have pro-duced a significant portfolio of work. Most are residential projects involving renovations and additions to existing or historic buildings, often buildings on the Edmonton Historic Registry. Dub believes that the process allows for “greater control over the design process, and more free-dom to design to your own program, tastes and schedule.” On the down side, “the time required to deal with the program and financial matters leaves less time to devote to design matters.” By taking on development work, Dub has under-taken projects that more conventional developers would not likely have pursued. He notes that profit was not his primary motivation, but rather the opportunity to take on interesting projects and preserve heritage structures in Edmonton. He acknowledges that there is potential for a conflict of interest, but no more so than in con-ventional client-architect relationships if the ar-chitect discloses their interest. He does not see it as a general model for practice, but acknowledges that his development projects have helped keep the practice busy. He also suggests that it works

top the 2nd Avenue lofts building in sAskAtoon is A redevelopment of the old hudson’s bAy depArtment store, A highly successful conversion by edmonton-bAsed Architect gene dub. aBove, leFt to riGht the minimAlist interior of one of the project’s units; the centrAl portion of the floor plAtes wAs removed to creAte An Atrium, bringing nAturAl dAylight into the building’s core.

dub

Arc

hit

ects

dub

Arc

hit

ects

dub

Arc

hit

ects

07/11 canadian architect 29

for firms who have the required set of skills. Dub states that the “financial risks of building devel-opment are far greater than those found in archi-tecture. I know of many architects who have jeopardized a good architectural practice by get-ting involved in development.” Dub has his own development company called Five Oaks Inc., and handles his own marketing, leasing and sales. He concludes that the architect as developer can produce rewards in terms of accomplishments and design recognition (the practice has received 18 awards for their architect-developer projects), and when a project goes well, there is additional financial reward.

Kobayashi + Zedda Architects Ltd. have under-taken five development projects over the last 10 years in Whitehorse, and they also are directly in-volved as building contractors in many of their buildings; their development and construction company is called 360 Design Build. They got into development work in order to demonstrate that good architecture could be vital, and to kickstart the revitalization of downtown Whitehorse. They concentrated on residential projects, which have been generally very successful, although not nec-essarily producing enormous financial rewards. Jack Kobayashi has given this topic some thought, recalling the historic “master builder” where architect and builder were united in one figure. Kobayashi argues that the general skills that ar-chitects typically possess make them well-suited to taking on an expanded range of roles when it come to project development and delivery. By act-ing as the owner, or by being involved in a project from the beginning allows for better decision-making and a stronger vision for the project. Kobayashi believes most architects can grasp the knowledge required for financing and marketing a project. He writes that the architect as developer (and builder) produces “a process that involves the creative mind and broad knowledge base of the architect throughout the total life of a building project, and could lead to improved building per-formance evaluation, and in turn, better and more sustainable and significant buildings.” Further-more, in 2008 as part of rejuvenating downtown Whitehorse, they opened a café called Baked that has proven to be very successful. In 2006, Jack Kobayashi and Antonio Zedda were named “Northerners of the Year” by Up Here magazine for their unique contributions to northern culture.

It is vital in today’s market that architects ex-pand their range of expertise in design, technical execution, and project delivery. Of the many ar-chitectural firms in Canada, we can identify those who work a lot with developers, those who act as developers themselves, or those who act as devel-

opment consultants; each is a different mode of practice. For architects willing to assume risk and finance their own work, this can be a rewarding approach. Like Portman, the firms above have identified a local need that conventional develop-ers were not willing to meet. They were also will-ing to fulfill the role of the client, in all its com-plexity, and to maintain the necessary vitality that that implies. Dean Syverson of Syverson Mon-teyne Architecture Inc. in Winnipeg—a firm that has begun to explore development—states with respect to the client: “If architecture is perceived to be a service performed for whomever and in whatever scenarios a need or opportunity arises,

aBove kobAyAshi + zeddA Architects designed And developed their new cAmbodiA con-dominium project in whitehorse.

and as a result is performed indirectly for others, then I don’t think [by acting as the client] any es-sential aspect has been removed.” The fusion of good architecture and entrepreneurship has often been seen as vulgar, and yet all successful archi-tects, however measured, are good at business. And so, the architect-as-developer model can be a successful and complementary form of architec-tural practice, as demonstrated by the firms and practices profiled here. ca

Graham Livesey is an Associate Professor in the Master of Architecture program at the University of Calgary.

kobA

yAsh

i + z

eddA

Arc

hit

ects

2011 AwArds of ExcEllEncE

EligibilityProjects must be in the design stage, scheduled for construction or under con-struction but not substantially complete by September 15, 2011. All projects must be commissioned by a client with the intention to build the submitted proposal. All building types and concisely presented urban design schemes are eligible.

Judging criteriaAwards are given for architectural design excellence. Jurors will consider the scheme’s response to the client’s program, site, and geographic and social con-text. They will evaluate its physical organization, form, structure, materials and environmental features.

Presentation1. Anonymity. The designer’s name must not appear on the submission except

on the entry form. The project name and location should be identified.2. Each entry must be securely fastened in a folder or binder of dimensions no

greater than 14´́ 5 17´́; oversized panels will not be accepted. One (1) copy of this entry form must be enclosed within an envelope and affixed to the front of each folder, preferably without the use of Scotch tape or adhesives. Clips are ideal.

3. Each project folder must include: a) first page—a brief description of the project (500 words or fewer) b) second page—a brief description indicating the project’s ability to

address some or all of the following issues (1,000 words or fewer): i) context and/or urban design components ii) integration of sustainable design iii) innovation in addressing program and/or the client’s requirements iv) technical considerations through building materials and/or systems c) drawings/images including site plan, floor plans, sections, elevations

and/or model views

4. Please do not submit any material in CD, DVD, or any other audio-visual format not confined to two dimensions, as it will not be considered.

Entry fee$100.00 per entry ($88.50 + $11.50 HST). Please make cheques payable to Canadian Architect. HST registration #809751274RT0001.

PublicationWinners will be published in a special issue of Canadian Architect in Decem-ber 2011. Winners grant Canadian Architect first publication rights for their winning submissions.

AwardsFramed certificates will be given to each winning architect team and client. Details to follow upon notification of winners.

notification of winnersAward winners will be notified after judging takes place in October 2011.

deadlineEntries will be accepted after August 11, 2011. Send all entries to arrive by 5:00 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011 to:

Awards of Excellence 2011Canadian Architect12 Concorde PlaceSuite 800Toronto, OntarioM3C 4J2

return of EntriesEntries will not be returned.

name of Project

name of firm

Address city & Province Postal code

Telephone fax E-mail

Architect/Architectural Graduate submitting the project signature

according to the conditions above

client client Telephone

Canadian Architect invites architects registered in Canada and architectural graduates to enter the magazine’s 2011 Awards of Excellence.

MemBrain™ the smart choiceMemBrain™, the Smart Vapour and Air Barrier Film, is an innovative prod-uct that allows moisture to escape from building cavities, keeping walls dry year round. When humidity increases, MemBrain™ adapts by increasing its permeability. This proven technology allows building envelope systems to in-crease their drying potential despite seasonal climate changes, reducing mould, mildew and related risks. Find out more at www.certainteed.com/products/insula-tion/mold-prevention/317391

Murox® High Performance BuildingsMurox® invites you to discover a high performance building system that is the most efficient design-build solution on the market today for the construction of commercial, industrial and institutional structures. Unique advantages: –A fast-track construction solution – An integrated, energy-optimized solution – A profitable and environmentally- responsible business solution

Contact our architectural solutions ex-perts at 1-877-499-6049. www.canam.ws/murox

ICYNENE MD-C-200™ Closed-Cell Spray Foam Is About More Than InsulationICYNENE MD-C-200™ affects more than inside temperatures. Of course you get the energy-efficiency and de-sign flexibility you’d expect from a closed-cell spray foam — but you also get the industry-leading expertise of Icynene®. The building scientists behind ICYNENE MD-C-200™ understand the ins and outs of the entire building en-velope, including the HVAC system, noise control and more, so you can achieve total building performance. For more information, call 800-758-7325.

ACO Drain for Emergency FacilitiesEmergency facilities need to be ready for action 24 hours a day! ACO Drain trench drain systems are used in hundreds of such facilities across Canada to help keep the buildings and equipment in the best possible shape and ready for intervention.Call us today to discuss your project!(877)226-4255www.acocan.ca

Accumet Composite Wall PanelsFlynn Canada’s Accumet modular wall cladding system uses state-of-the-art aluminum composite material and con-cealed framing to create an extremely strong, flat surface that eliminates dimp ling, buckling, and oil-canning. Accumet’s pressure-equalized rain-screen design with dry vented joints controls moisture drainage. Fabricated with corrosion-resistant materials, Accumet looks attractive — with mini-mal maintenance — for years to come. Visit www.flynn.ca

Hambro® D500: A smart structural floor solution When evaluating your next multi-unit residential or commercial construction project, factor in the many benefits of Hambro’s proven structural floor system that offers: an economical and efficient solution, longer spans, con struc tion flexibility, high fire resistance, and outstanding acoustical properties. Hambro’s system fits perfectly with a variety of wall types: masonry, steel frame, metal stud, pre-cast walls, ICF blocks and wood walls. Contact us to see how. 1-800-871-8876 www.hambro.ws/architects

W.S. Tyler’s Woven Wire Mesh Façades Add Style & Function Our woven wire mesh provides a wide range of unique, semi-transparent and eco-friendly façade choices. This cus-tomizable mesh adds a high degree of individuality and practicality to a wide range of projects, including commer-cial buildings, upscale homes and multi-story parking structures. Woven wire mesh enhances building function-ality by performing as a sunshade or sound barrier, contributing to the com-fort and safety of building occupants while reducing energy costs. To learn more, visit www.weavingideas.net.

Elastocol Stick ZeroELASTOCOL STICK ZERO is a VOC-free primer designed to enhance the adhesion of self-adhesive membranes on various substrates including porous surfaces such as gypsum boards at temperatures above –10°C. It is com-posed of synthetic polymers, adhesive enhancing resins and volatile solvents. www.soprema.ca

PrODuCT SHOWCASE

07/11­­CANADIAN ArCHITECT­31

Your product or service could be promoted here!Ad Sizes1/4 Page, 100 Words 1/8 Page, 50 WordsFor information about placing an ad in our Showcase & Literature Reviews, contact:Tom Arkell 416-510-6806Greg Paliouras 416-510-6808Canadian Architect 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800 Toronto, ON M3C 4J2 www.canadianarchitect.com

1/8 PAGE

1/4 PAGE

www.hgcengineering.com

Noise, Vibrationand AcousticsConsulting Engineers• Architectural Acoustics• Building Noise and

Vibration Control

HOWE GASTMEIER CHAPNIK LIMITED

Mississauga, Ontario

P: 905-826-4044F: 905-826-4940

Turn roof tops intobeautiful & usefuldecks with the

Envirospec IncorporatedPhone (905) 271-3441Fax (905) 271-7552

Paver Pedestal System

Visit us atwww.envirospecinc.com

Envirospec 4C Ad 262-1001:Envirospec 4C Ad 262-1001 2/12/10 5:

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Ad_apples_3x5_PRESS.pdf 10/8/09 10:29:58 AM

nora® pro clean system reduces Maintenance Time and CostsThe nora® pro clean system is a unique floor cleaning regimen that re-duces maintenance time and costs by eliminating the use of detergents and chemicals during the cleaning process. The combination of water and nora’s scrubbing pads keeps nora flooring sanitary, while the absence of chem-icals results in improved indoor air quality. By using only water, the nora pro clean system helps save on main-tenance costs associated with cleaning agents. For more information, visit www.nora.com/us/proclean28

32­CANADIAN ArCHITECT­07/11

PrODuCT SHOWCASE PrOFESSIONAl DIrECTOrY

NEWS(continued from page 11)

The Autonomous City takes top prize in the Arizona Challenge ideas competition.The Arizona Challenge, an ideas competition for new forms of arid-climate communities that are highly efficient, sustainable, liveable and healthy, was won by a Canadian interdisciplinary team comprised of Drew Adams, Fadi Masoud and Daniel Ibañez. Adams is a graduate (architecture) from the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, as is Masoud (landscape architecture). Ibañez is a candidate in the Master of Design Studies program at Harvard University. This international student competition sought new forms that may first lead to prototyping, with the ultimate goal of helping to shape our future cities and urban environments well beyond the limitations of what currently exists. The team’s Autono-mous City entry envisioned compact, self-sufficient and resilient enclaves embedded in the landscape, as new territories beyond current urban reaches. The proposal is a response to exhausted models of urbanism and to the coming challenges associated with rising energy costs and signifi-cant demographic changes. Architect Vernon D. Swaback, chairman of the jury, noted that “the jury gave high praise and appreciation for the thoughtful and artful qualities of the Autonomous City proposal. Replacing the outmoded downtown core with a great central infrastructural park celebrates not only the use and pleasure of its citizens but also the meta-bolic processes and relationships between man and nature. This is an un-mistakeably clear and radical idea for the future.” The team will be travel-ling to Phoenix, Arizona to take part in a series of forums related to the vision of the Arizona Challenge.

Name Title

Company

Address

City Prov. Postalcode

Tel. Fax

E-mail

Signature Date

OCheque(payabletoCanadian Architect)OVisaOAMEXOMCNo Exp.date

Nameoncard

ww

w.c

anad

iana

rchi

tect

.com

12 Concorde Place, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M3C 4J2

Pleasemailorfaxyourorderto416-510-6875

Subscribe/Renew Today!

To order on-line go to www.canadianarchitect.com Inquiries at circulation@canadianarchitect.com

OYes!Iwouldliketosubscribe/renewtoCanadian Architect

O1year $53.95 (+GST/HST/QST) O1yearU.S.$103.95 (US funds)O2years $85.95 (+GST/HST/QST) O1yearInternational$123.95 (US funds)

Type of business:

ORegisteredArchitect OProfessionalEngineersOInteriorDesigner OStudentofArchitecture/DesignOSpecificationWriter OLandscapeArchitectODeveloper/Builder OArchitecturalTechnologistOGraduate/Intern/Arch/ArchAsstOOther(pleasespecify)______________________________

Calendar

07/11­­Canadian arChiteCt­33

For­more­inFormation­about­these,­and­additional­list-ings­oF­Canadian­and­inter-national­events,­please­visitwww.canadianarchitect.com

Installations by ArchitectsJune 9-August 6, 2011 This exhibition at the Cambridge Galleries Design at Riverside features a collection of the most significant projects from the last 25 years by today’s most ex­citing architects. Projects are grouped under the themes of tec­tonics, body, nature, memory, and public space, and feature the work of Atelier in Situ, Philip Beesley, Dan Hoffman, Diller + Scofidio, Marianne Lund, John Hejduk, James Cathcart, Frank Fantauzzi + Terence van Elslander, Lab(au), Richard Kroeker, Périphériques Architects and more.www.cambridgegalleries.ca The Good Cause: Architecture of Peace June 16-September 4, 2011 This exhi­bition at the Canadian Centre for Architecture explores the creation of lasting peace through architec­ture and planning projects designed to stabilize, humanize, and rebuild

cities and territories devastated by armed conflict.www.cca.qc.ca

Façade: Textile Works by Kerry CroghanJune 30-November 1, 2011 Taking place at the Gladstone Hotel Café in Toronto, this exhibition explores and documents compelling patterns and compositions seen within the contemporary structures and urban architecture in the city of Toronto. Through the lens of a polychromatic colour palette, Kerry Croghan re­interprets the glass, metal and con­crete details of buildings as abstract textile prints. info@madedesign.ca

Play > NationJuly 1-October 10, 2011 This exhi bi­tion at Toronto’s Design Exchange explores the ways in which Canada’s unique landmass and love of the outdoors has shaped our collective interest in out door sport and ex­

ploration. The exhibition sections will focus on water, winter, forest and urban environments, and will present contemporary Canadian outdoor and sporting equipment, contextualized by historical ex­amples of earlier models and archival material. http://playnation.tumblr.com

—and then the cityJuly 19-July 29, 2011 Concluding the Urban Discovery Project in Calgary, Broken City Lab’s contribution is a sprawling series of short statements generated in response to the specific situations and realities that arise out of a place, acting as a tool for imagi­native engagement with a city’s past, present, and future and creating a possible “ending” to what seems to be the cyclical nature of cities.www.truck.ca

Mid-Century Modern and MoreJuly 24, 2011 From brick to brute concrete and curtain walls, the west

end of downtown recalls mid­cen­tury Calgary and its transition from a small prairie city to a modern met rop olis built on oil and gas wealth. Join the Calgary Heritage Initiative and guest speakers as they explore the history and architecture of west downtown in a tour begin­ning at 7:00pm in front of 607 8th Street SW.

West Connaught—Beltline tourJuly 25, 2011 A scattering of century­old houses and other landmarks re­call the history of Calgary’s Beltline neighbourhood before it was over­taken by high­rises in recent de­cades. Meet at 4:00pm for the tour in front of the Carl Safran Centre, located at 13th Avenue SW between 8th and 9th Streets.

34 canadian architect 07/11

Backpage

Back of house

A speculAtive Architecture exhibition exAm-ines the possibilities of new urbAn spAces in the Alleys of downtown montreAl.

teXt suresh pererAphotos AlAin lAforest

The once-gritty urban residential cores of Mon-treal have been given a second life as a younger, educated, and more affluent population looks to establish itself in the already built-up city. In older neighbourhoods such as the Plateau, ever-increasing land values and strict municipal regu-lation of front façades have resulted in the expansion of existing houses towards the back, and as a result, alleyways traditionally reserved for services are being invigorated with a new public face.

Responding to this phenomena, the Maison de l’architecture du Québec (MAQ) has recreated a typical alley bounded on either side by the backs of row houses. Twenty-two emerging architects and landscape architects were invited to select one of the lots and present, in large-scale model format, their interpretation of an ideal backyard addition, renovation and landscaping solution to a theoretical existing row house.

aBoVe, Left to right Atelier bArdA introduces An expAnded form of public spAce in the city’s AlleywAys; sergio clAvijo exAmines the relAtionship between historic fAçAdes And the ground plAne.

By purposefully ignoring the front façade and instead focusing on the intricacies of living, the exhibit allows a voyeuristic entry into the everyday.

Judging by the long lines on opening day and the large public attendance since then, perhaps it’s this very foray into “what goes on behind closed doors” that attracts such interest. For the most part, leaving behind formalistic preten-sions, the exhibition tends to deal with everyday living. It is in this that it finds its greatest draw.

While Réinventons la ruelle! at the MAQ focuses on the issue of insertions into existing buildings, its success in doing so raises some nagging ques-tions about contemporary residential practice in the city: in an ever-evolving world, why are we often still duplicating front façades that numbly replicate 1890s era homes? Or worse yet, meekly partake in some stylistic or formalistic game? Could not the same approach expressed in the exhibition be applied to an entire building? Also, if our acts of dwelling only occur in the back, what roles are our front masks relegated to, and

what does this say about our society? These projects, carefully inserted amongst

existing structures and responding to the narrow pedestrian alley, recall the scale and intimacy of the medieval city where architecture was about experience, interiority, habitation and pedestrian movement rather than image, icon and object. With such tight perspectives as these spaces afford, the idea of “façade” disappears and dis-sipates into lived space. Detail, material and spatio-temporal relationships emerge supreme as neighbours confront each other. It is in this coming together that the lived city, as a construct, truly emerges. ca

Architect Suresh Perera lives in Montreal where he also spends much time in his tiny backyard over-looking an alley. The exhibition Réinventons la ruelle! will be at the Maison de l’architecture du Québec until December 20, 2011. For more informa-tion, please visit www.maisondelarchitecture.ca.

UNEXPECTED ANGLE

™

Expanding design possibilities while shrinking their impact on the environment.

The Appaloosa Branch Library in Scottsdale, Arizona is not just a LEED Gold-certified building, it’s also a stunning example of how PPG’s building products are helping to

change the face of modern architecture. To enhance the beauty of the exterior and reduce cooling costs, the library’s architect used PPG Duranar® VARI-Cool™ coatings, which

reflect the sun’s energy and dramatically shift color according to viewing angle. Our Solarban® 60 Atlantica™ low-e glass allowed him to incorporate vast areas of

emerald-green glass while reducing the size of the library’s HVAC system and its energy bills. These are just two from the wide array of innovative glass, metal coatings, and full

line of architectural coating choices you’ll find through PPG IdeaScapes™. From building materials to consumer products, automotive to aerospace, marine and protective industrial

coatings, we’re bringing innovation to the surface. Visit ppg.com to learn more.

“Bringing innovation to the surface.” is a trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

PAINTS - COATINGS - OPTICAL PRODUCTS - SILICAS - CHEMICALS - GLASS - FIBER GLASS

Bringing innovation to the surface.™

Pub/Issue Canadian Architect_June Size B: 9.25” x 11.5” T: 9” x 11.25” L: 8” x 10.25”

File Name PPG_Commercial_Ad_Canadian_Architect

Client PPG Industries

NOBLE® ARCHITECTURAL SERIESMODERN + VERSATILE + DURABLE + LEED COMPLIANT

permaconpro.ca

FACEBOOK.COM/PERMACONENGCALL US AT 1-888-PERMACON TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE PERMACON CATALOGUE.

PERM_PM179_CA_ENG_July2011_fin.indd 1 11-05-30 2:33 PM