Photographer: James Dow | ArchDaily

Northwest Native: Homes of the Salish Sea

Eric Baldwin — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 05:30:00 +0000

The Pacific Northwest is synonymous with rainy mountains, expansive coastlines and dense forests. Known for its majestic landscapes, the region has innate connections to the waterfront. Over time, these channels were referred to as the Salish Sea. Encompassing the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound, the intricate network of bays and inlets is bounded by British Columbia and Washington. Dotted with a number of major port cities, including Bellingham, Vancouver, and Seattle, the Salish Sea has also been home to many indigenous peoples.

The Biophilic Response to Wood: Can it Promote the Wellbeing of Building Occupants?

Valeria Montjoy — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 06:45:00 +0000

Although the term may seem recent, the concept of biophilia has been used for decades in architecture and design. The guiding principle is quite simple: connect people inside with nature to promote their well-being and quality of life. With all the ongoing design trends that have consolidated as a result, the demand has focused on organic materials that emulate outdoor environments. Among all the options, wood is one of the most popular materials to bring nature indoors, not only because of its functionality, but also due to its multiple physiological and psychological benefits.

Polygon Gallery / Patkau Architects

chlsey — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 18:00:00 +0000

The Polygon Gallery is the rebirth of the Presentation House Gallery, which has been a passionately independent photography and media institution in North Vancouver for more than forty years. More site-maker than site response, the building stands at the front of urban waterfront renewal where infrastructure is reimagined and culture outgrows an industrial past.

Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe win the 2021 RAIC Gold Medal

Andreea Cutieru — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 05:30:00 +0000

The Royal Architecture Institute of Canada awarded the 2021 Gold Medal to the architectural duo Brigitte Shim and A. Howard Sutcliffe. The distinction is a recognition of the architects' long-lasting and pivotal contribution to Canadian architecture.

10 Unconventional Plywood Projects That Show The Bright Future of 20th Century Materials

Jack McManus — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Sold in standard 4 foot wide sheets since 1928, plywood has been a staple of conventional construction for nearly a century. Dimensionally strong, easily cut, lightweight and capable of creating an effective barrier, plywood and other engineered panels like OSB, particle board, and MDF is ubiquitous, particularly for their use as sheathing material in balloon and timber frame construction systems. Boats, airplanes and even automobile frames have historically been built out of plywood, predating (or replacing) steel, aluminum, and fiberglass. As a simple material capable of being manipulated and shaped in a wide variety of ways, sheet ply was also favored in furniture and architectural designs by modernists including Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Alvar Aalto, and Marcel Breuer.

Draw Inspiration From These 21st Century Bathroom Designs

Piedad Rojas — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 08:00:00 +0000

The bathroom is one of the most static and traditional spaces in any residence. However, in recent times, this space has gained an identity that relates directly to the interior and exterior design of the house. As architects, we strive to create a warm, dynamic and attractive space for users.

Today, bathrooms that include new technologies, clean projects, integrating new materials with an emphatic use of color are highlighted. Next, we compiled a selection of 34 toilets that reflect this trend.

Wong Dai Sin Temple / Shim-Sutcliffe Architects

Rayen Sagredo — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 09:00:00 +0000

The Wong Dai Sin Temple is a modern sacred space that houses a dynamic Taoist community committed to their inner spiritual development through the ancient physical practice of tai chi. The Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism needed a new spiritual home in suburban Toronto that had to reflect not only the heart and soul of their religious beliefs but also the modern contemporary world of their congregants. This place of worship is located on a major suburban arterial road surrounded by a shopping mall and cul de sac’s lined with oversized single family residential mansions.

Art or Architecture? 13 Projects That Blur The Boundary

Ariana Zilliacus — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 09:30:00 +0000

Whether architecture is a form of art or not has often been a controversial topic of conversation within the architecture world. If one goes by the general definition of the word "art," architecture could potentially fit within the umbrella term: "the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power." As anyone involved in the architectural discipline probably knows, there is an abundance of varying definitions of the word "architecture," so whether its primary purpose is to achieve beauty or to organize space is evidently up for discussion.

ARTlab / Patkau Architects + LM Architectural Group

Cristobal Rojas — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:00:00 +0000

This project began as a renovation to Tache Hall, a 1911 student residence, for Music and Art at the University of Manitoba. When an opportunity arose for federal stimulus funding during the 2009 recession, the decision was made to develop a portion of the program separately, so it could be designed and constructed in an expedited manner to meet funding deadlines. This project, the ARTlab, became the first of a multi-phase creative arts facility.

Tula House / Patkau Architects

Cristian Aguilar — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Perched 44 feet above the Pacific Ocean on a remote island, the Tula House reflects the casual irregularity of the sites rock ledges, beach, and forest in both its geometric and spatial order.

Material Inspiration: 10 Projects Inspired by Wood

Eric Baldwin — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 01:00:00 +0000

To celebrate the launch of ArchDaily Materials, our new product catalog, we've rounded up 10 awesome projects from around the world that were inspired by one material: wood. Check out the projects after the break...

Beaty Biodiversity Center and Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory / Patkau Architects

Kelly Minner — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The Beaty Biodiversity Center and the Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory are located on Main Mall, the central north/south spine of the University of British Columbia. Together they form a complex of related environmental science functions; a new campus precinct organized around a generous exterior courtyard space which is bisected by new cross-campus pedestrian and bicycle connections.

Beaty Biodiversity Centre - Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory / Patkau Architects

Kritiana Ross — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Linear House / Patkau Architects

Andrew Rosenberg — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Linear House is located on a sixteen acre farm on Salt Spring Island, an island in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. The property is bisected from east to west by a long row of mature Douglas fir trees. There is a gentle slope falling across the site from south to north. The south half of the site contains an orchard; the north half a hay field. There was an existing cottage on the property which has been sold and relocated to a neighbouring property. The existing barn, garage and studio buildings remain.

Winnipeg Skating Shelters / Patkau Architects

Andrew Rosenberg — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Winnipeg is a city of 600,000 residents located on the Canadian prairie. It is the coldest city of its size outside of Siberia. Winter can last six months. So learning to celebrate winter - learning to take advantage of the opportunities that winter provides - makes sense.

Grand Library of Québec / Patkau Architects + Menkès Shooner Dagenais Le Tourneux Architectes + Croft Pelletier

Kelly Minner — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Grand Library of Québec consolidates a number of collections dispersed throughout the province to create a resource library for the region as well as a central public library for the city of Montreal. The building contains four major components: a general library, a children's library, the collection Québécoise (historic documents pertaining to Quebec), and an assortment of public spaces outside the library control zone.

Winnipeg Library Addition / Patkau Architects + LM Architectural Group

Kelly Minner — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Winnipeg Centennial Library was originally constructed in 1976 as a three-story building occupying a city block and an adjacent public park. The existing library, constructed of reinforced concrete exposed to the interior and pre-cast panel exterior, felt very disconnected from its surroundings including the park. The addition to the library, which began in 2002 as the winning entry in an invited design competition, includes reorganization and expansion of the collections, reconfiguration of the circulation systems, and creation of new social spaces, as well as renovation of the existing library.

Gleneagles Community Center / Patkau Architects

Kelly Minner — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Gleneagles Community Center is located on a small, gently sloping site adjacent to a public golf course. Patkau Architects organized the program on three levels to minimize the building footprint. By subtly reshaping the cross-sectional topography of the site, the lower level and the intermediate level are both located on grade. More photographs and drawings following the break.