In February’s newsletter, we featured the current Esker Foundation shows exhibiting the works of Jack Bush and contemporary artist Colleen Heslin. Richard, Doris and I attended an artist talk shortly thereafter, during which Ms. Heslin herself led a group of curious patrons through the journey that is this exhibition’s body of work. In a conversation initiated by someone’s inquiry of process and background, Ms. Heslin led an impassioned dialogue about the limitations of insti

Design thinking: A perfect fit where the appeal of the brand synergy is greater than the sum of the appeal of each brand proposition. Brand synergy is about creating and adopting a cooperating vision from common characteristics. The synergetic idea will inspire and guide behaviours and actions, unleash competitive advantage and enhance business performance and deliver growth. It will align and integrate key selected aspects of each brand’s fundamentals and operations to enhan

It is interesting how some people talk about modern homes and use descriptors like “boxy”, “plain”, or “flat” – but is it reasonable to characterize all modern design with such over-simplistic descriptors? In many cases, especially in the inner-city where space is at a premium and lot values are high, home owners want to maximize their living space. Often, the most efficient design comes in the form of linear post and beam construction – one of the hallmarks of mid-Century Mo

Recent kudos for Calgary have been many and raving. We were named one of the coolest (The New York Times had us 17th on their 2014 must-see list), the cleanest (Mercer City Financial-#1 in the world), and simply one of the best places to live (Moneysense, #2 in Canada). In less than a decade, we’ve gone from cow-town to cosmopolitan in the eyes of the “who’s who” in the world; a city poised for the future while embracing its past. Calgary’s adventurous, if not rebellious, spi

With the gift giving season upon us, we’ve come up with a list of ten books for archiphiles of all ages. And to make your shopping easier, all can be ordered on line from chapters.indigo.ca 1. Eames: Beautiful Details, by Eames Dimitrious $41.54 This just released coffee table book celebrates the life and work of the husband and wife design duo. 2. Archidoodle: The Architect’s Activity Book, by Steve Bowkett $16.46 An educational book for children of ages that explores everyt

If someone were to tell you that the house you are buying is going to be torn down in 40 or 50 years, you’d think they were crazy. Yet this reality is being played out in countless Calgary communities as many, not-so-old, homes are being replaced by new builds. Think about it, parts of Calgary are currently being redeveloped where the homes were built in the 1960’s or 1970’s – Varsity Estates, Willow Park Estates, University Heights, Collingwood, Canyon Meadows, Lakeview Vill

Collaboration between architects and interior designers is integral to producing a successful project, and in this post we will share how the synergy between architect and interior designer, however simple, influenced and shaped a minimalist retail project. Synergistic relationships in business are often a consequence or a response to a need – as opposed to a core process.  Design synergy, as a core value, is best illustrated as a strategic partnership in service or in fabric

The New York Times – T Magazine recently featured a home in Stockholm, Sweden designed by the Scandinavian architecture firm Claesson Koivisto Rune. Located in a fin de siècle (turn of the 19th century) building, the interior is very modern, with big open spaces and minimal furnishings but at the same time very warm: a kitchen cabinet is clad in brass, and in a nod to the past, chair rail molding is used in the public spaces and ornate trim around the doorways. (Photos courte

In a recent blog post “The Parti and the Bicycle” I shared one of my favorite things about being the principal of an architecture firm – namely figuring out how we work as a studio to create designs with lasting power. I’ve always believed that if your work is done well, that it serves a greater purpose – to show you something that you weren’t aware of. In that blog, I introduced the concept of “le parti;” in this post I will share how “le parti” influenced the design of one

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about fashion brands entering the hospitality business, particularly in Dubai. The Emirate is already home to an Armani Hotel; next spring Palazzo Versace is set to open and Roberto Cavalli and Gucci hotels are in the planning stages. What are we to make of this alliance between popular fashion brands and Five-Star hotels? Is this brand alignment merely a gimmick or is there something profoundly brilliant about the concept? When it comes to f

One of my favorite things about being the principal of an architecture firm is figuring out how we work as a studio to produce things. I’ve always believed that if your work is done well, that it serves a greater purpose – to show you something that you weren’t aware of. That’s what I like to call “le parti.” Some people refer to the parti as the concept or idea behind the design, but I think this is an incomplete description. I see the parti as being more about the manifesta