Originally published in OAA Perspectives Winter 2016/2017 on page 6. TIME FLIES. THERE IS NO time like the present. A good time was had by all. Ahead of one’s time. Big time. Closing time. The year 2017 marks a major milestone in Canadian history. It is the 150th anniversary of Confederation and the 50th anniversary of Expo 67, …
Having watched the debate on the NCC’s deliberations for site selection of the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, the news last week that Site 12, formerly the Sir John Carling Building has been recommended is disappointing, at best. Here’s why we, the citizens of Ottawa, may come to regret this choice. To be clear, I’m fully …
When we talk about food, shelter and clothing, we generally mean these three to be separate things, and, to be one thing: our basic needs. They can also be seen as the same activity in deferent mediums. They are the weaving of different elements together to form comfort. When we look at the literal meaning …
Originally published in OAA Perspectives Fall 2016 on page 8. AS ALWAYS, IT SEEMS THAT the deadline for submission of this quarterly message comes tight to another project deadline. In addition to the never-ending tasks and seemingly endless conference calls, running a full-time practice is, as many of you know, at least a full-time job. …
We’ve been riding bikes since the early 1800s and since then, have produced more than 1 billion bicycles worldwide – that’s twice as many bikes than cars! Biking is a major source of transportation for the world, and for some a lifestyle. North America and abroad, many people are opting to pay a small fortune …
When you think about the future, how do you envision your environment? What do buildings look like, both inside and out? As frequently as the trends in fashion and design change, so do the trends in architecture which influence how structures around us are designed and constructed. Beneath those changes are fundamental elements and standards …
Originally published in OAA Perspectives Summer 2016 on page 6. A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WRITING this, I was in Vancouver with colleagues from across the country, reviewing and validating the fall edition of the Examination for Architects in Canada (ExAC), as a committee member. This was followed by a meeting, again with national colleagues (mostly …
Architecture has always played a huge role in climate change. We know that buildings contribute to nearly half of the nation’s CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions – which is a huge part of the problem, but the good news is, it’s a huge part of the solution. When we add the fact that transportation accounts for …
Recently, I was invited to speak to a group of interested Ottawa residents as part of the Westboro Brainery’s ongoing series of crowd-sourced education programs. The subject: The Architects Role in City Building. We explored a number of topics to better understand what role architects play in the design and planning of a city and …