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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!
25th Best of Canada Awards, the only national design competition in Canada to focus on interior design projects and products without regard to size, budget or location! All winners will be published in the Nov/Dec issue of Canadian Interiors.
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, Sept 7th at 11.59 p.m. PST
Saint-Jean-Eudes School Library, Québec City BGLA architecture + urban design Photography by Stéphane Brügger
www.canadianinteriors.com/BoC
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05/06/2022 Features
31 RETURNING TO THE RITUALS OF HOME Examining individual moments within the home where office work has no place. Compiled by Peter Sobchak
40 BRUSH STROKES AND BEDROOMS Three homes designed to prioritize and
display clients’ extensive art collections, in essence dressing a gallery in residential clothing. By Martha Uniacke Breen
46 PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN The acoustical considerations behind the new Tom Patterson Theatre. By Payam Ashtiani and Doron Meinhard
52 REVISITING CLOSED DOORS How equity fatigue is anesthetising a global awakening that has the potential to reshape a generation. By Ian Rolston
Regulars
14 CAUGHT OUR EYE 16 SEEN Highlights and insights from IDS22 in Toronto. 18 THE GOODS New and noteworthy residential product launches, including luxuri-
ous bathroom and kitchen collections; countertops and backsplashes as eye-catching space anchors; and outdoor furniture that releases comfort and style normally confined to indoors. 56 OVER & OUT Vanlife gets a chic upgrade. COVER – Inspired by Islamic hammams, this Toronto bathroom designed by Reflect Architecture is a sanctuary for its owners. Photography by Riley Snelling
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com Welcome to our podcast series, where we step away from the photographs and talk with interesting leaders about interesting ideas and issues facing the design world today. Available for listen or download on our website as well as a variety of streaming platforms, including:
Episode 14 A Future for Architecture Criticism? w/ Ian Chodikoff
Two Are Better Than One: Robert Street Residences Two adjacent Toronto houses by Taylor Smyth Architects subtly respond to their local vernacular, and to each other. Episode 15 Interior Design in Public Transit w/ Greg Parsons
Best of Both Centuries: Maison Merveilleuse
IT TA IO L N
E to xcl D o u ED IGI ur sive
Agence Imagine renovates a 19th century townhouse in Montréal’s Pointe-SaintCharles area.
Less is More: Querbes Residence
Sound and Stage Acoustics in the new Tom Patterson Theatre
Vives St-Laurent preserves and integrates unique historic features in a single-family Montréal home.
Past Meets Present: Queen Mary Residence Atelier Barda adds a rear extension to a historic home in Montréal’s Hampstead district.
Visit the expanded digital edition at
www.canadianinteriors.com CANADIAN INTERIORS 5/6 2022
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AWARDS 2017
C E L E B R AT IN G E XC E L L E N C E IN IN T E R IO R D E S IG N
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ARIDO Awards magazine 2022 Limited Space Available! Book Now! Published by:
Fo more information, contact: Martin Spreer mspreer@canadianinteriors.com (416) 371-9894
ARIDO Awards Gala
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GATHER+PLAY | LIVE | LIVE TOGETHER | SHOP | PRESERVE+RESTORE | DISTINCT | CRAFT
@aridontario @blogarido arido.ca Image Credit: Deloitte KW, Interior Designers: Annie Bergeron, ARIDO; Nina Bast, ARIDO; Design Firm: Gensler; Design Team: Franca Rezza, ARIDO; Willem Berends, ARIDO; Photographer: doublespace photography
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May | June 2022 / V59 #3
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Subscription rates > Canada $38.95 per year (plus taxes) U.S.A. $71.95 USD per year, Overseas $98.95 USD per year. Back issues > Back copies are available for $15 for delivery in Canada, $20 USD for delivery in U.S.A. and $30 USD overseas. Please send payment to: Canadian Interiors, 126 Old Sheppard Ave, Toronto, ON M2J 3L9 or order online www.canadianinteriors.com For subscription and back issues inquiries please call 416-441-2085 x2 e-mail: circulation@canadianinteriors.com, or go to our website at: www.canadianinteriors.com Canadian Interiors is indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index by Micromedia ProQuest Company, Toronto (www.micromedia.com) and National Archive Publishing Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan (www.napubco.com).
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inside
ers anxious about indoor air quality and infectious disease control in their own homes? Maybe, but probably not as much as those unanswered work emails staring at them from a laptop while sitting in a hybrid workspace carved out of their kitchen.
Cut the Cord
Also released in March was the now-regular Mental Health Index survey by LifeWorks that revealed a growing percentage of Canadians struggle with disconnecting after regular work hours. “Concerns regarding disconnecting from work are not new, however, work from home and hybrid work have brought the concern to a new level,” says LifeWorks president and CEO, Stephen Liptrap. “As the worksite is now overlapped with home, the benefits of flexibility can easily be countered by lack of separation from work.”
Thanks to the pandemic, design discourse continues to be dominated by issues of health and wellness, at least if the torrent of survey data being released every week is any indication. We already know that wellness is a top priority for users of all types of spaces, ranging from commercial to industrial to residential, but it is so important to homeowners that the ASID made it a key issue in their 2022 Trends Report released in March. “Homeowners are increasingly searching for designs and products that will promote good health and an overall sense of wellbeing,” says the association in a press release that accompanied the Report. “Clients are gravitating toward simpler, cleaner, easier-to-maintain designs, as well as outdoor living spaces and places where they can relax and restore from the increased stresses of everyday life.” The underlying sentiment here is straightforward and not much of a surprise to anyone. But perhaps a follow up question that should still be asked is “What are these stresses of everyday life?” Are homeown-
Being in a space surrounded by perpetual perceived incentives to remain “connected” has serious effects and can result in a word that we thought was the domain of the office. “The indications of burnout could not be any clearer,” says LifeWorks senior vice president, Paula Allen. “Motivation decreases with burnout, not because people no longer care about their work, but because they lack the energy to engage fully.” Engagement is only possible if followed by disengagement, which we should feel safe and secure to do at home in spaces designed for exactly that purpose.
11 Peter Sobchak
psobchak@canadianinteriors.com
Bevel is the podcast series where lovers and practitioners of design speak openly about their thoughts and experiences in the industry and ignite dialogue about a discipline always interested in making things better.
Canadian Interiors conversations Available at canadianinteriors.com/podcasts, as well as: Apple Podcasts
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caught our eye
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Riley Snelling
Connect the Dots Ontario’s Kitchener-Waterloo region has evolved from a manufacturing to tech hub, and Dubbeldam Architecture + Design has referenced that evolution with Binary Spectrum, a site-specific installation in the three-storey lobby atrium of a downtown building. 8,000 coloured acrylic discs of varying diameters sway softly on 650 wire cables in a pattern that “suggest digital processes and fractal patterns found in science.”
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Nicole Aubrey
Nature’s Geometry Hive is an interlocking masonry wall composed of 175 3D-printed clay bricks arranged like a honeycomb, where the gradual opening and closing of apertures in each clay unit creates undulating variations in privacy and light along the wall. This multi-way partnership came to fruition when SDI Interior Design, working with their client Investment Management Corporation of Ontario on the design of new office space at 16 York Street in Toronto, approached the University of Waterloo to do a permanent showpiece for their 24th floor reception area.
Shabaan Khokhar
The Ball Pit Caesarstone commissioned Alessandro Munge in collaboration with Unique Store Fixtures to utilize their new Pebbles Collection for a headlining installation at IDS22. Inspired by the product’s “simplicity and quietness” as well as the manufacturing process, “I wanted to celebrate and juxtapose those qualities by creating an immersive experience that was both peaceful, grounding yet inherently dynamic,” says Munge. The result was Neo Colosseo, which Munge also saw as “an opportunity to bring people together and create a connective experience that could be as introspective as expressive and playful” after years of pandemic isolation.
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Ulysse Lemerise
Paper Wings The latest permanent lighting installation by British designer Paul Cocksedge, Bourrasque (French for “gust”) is meant to mimic pages that have been frozen in the wind. Installed in Dior’s iconic 30 Montaigne address in Paris, itself redesigned by Peter Marino, this sculpture is the latest edition of a piece which debuted in Lyon in 2011, updated with new technologies that allow light to flex and curve.
Game On Play is always about going on a journey, so it makes sense that Perron Design would give the first Montréal branch of toy and hobby shop Boutique L’Imaginaire, in the SaintBruno-de-Montarville suburb, a striking series of areas linked by colour and theme that both pop and draw customers in. This experience happens first, and most dramatically, with a monumental wooden passageway wrapped in coloured arches, representing the transition between the real and the fantastic worlds and acting as the boutique’s signature.
Talent Show For a third consecutive year, two Canadian students are among the winners of the Formica Canada 2022 FORM Student Innovation Competition. Christina Vogiatzis from the University of Waterloo won second place for her Pawd design (above), while Julienne Bernier, from Georgian College of Barrie, Ont., picked up third for her Annual Ring chair (right). Now in its fifth year, the Competition invited interior design, architecture and furniture design students across Canada and the U.S. to create pieces using Formica Laminate woodgrain products, a nod to the traditional fifth-anniversary gift of wood. CANADIAN INTERIORS 5/6 2022
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Ed Reeve
Adrein Dirand
More Than a Feeling The Design Museum in London U.K. has launched an exhibition that explores one of the internet’s largest and oddest cultural movements: the creation of content designed to trigger an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), a term that describes physical sensations of euphoria or deep calm, sometimes a tingling in the body. In recent years an online audience of millions has grown, dedicated to watching the work of designers and content creators who try to trigger this feeling in their viewers, often done by whispering, eating, touching or tapping. Weird Sensation Feels Good: The World of ASMR, presented in collaboration with ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, includes a series of 40 audio, visual, and tactile works ranging from Björk to TV painter Bob Ross and beyond.
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Back in the Saddle
IDS22 delivered the three words that the Toronto design community has been waiting to hear: “in-person event.”
1 By Martin Spreer 1 Memento | Moooi Designed in collaboration with Belgium firm Arte, Memento is a digitally printed soft touch textile wallcovering on non-woven backing inspired by extinct animals to create colourful and playfully kitschy designs that brighten any space. www.metrowallcoverings.com 2 Custom Door Hardware Collection | Schlage Architecturally inspired interior locks combine both bed/bath and hall/closet functionality into one, allowing homeowners to change from a doorknob to a lever, a traditional look to a modern look, even a non-locking door to lockable, in just minutes, without having to remove the inner core of the lock. www.schlage.ca 3 Finefolk Chair | Fogo Island Workshops Designed by Katrina Tompkins, who drew inspiration from traditional three-legged working stools used where the ground is rugged and uneven, this unadorned chair is built by hand and made from locally sourced wood. www.fogoislandworkshops.ca
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4 Lithic Chair | Maha Alavi This low-lying prototype chair by Torontobased industrial designer Maha Alavi combines a beautifully crafted solid wooden frame with beige boucle fabric seating. The heavy constructed solid wood frame protrudes above the seating to give a hint at a backrest, which gives the whole chair a nimble yet concise shape. 5 Prism Rectangle 3D Panels | AKUSTUS Made from polyester fibre containing 60 per cent recycled water bottles, these panels provide excellent acoustic sound absorption combined with inserting vibrant colour into any commercial, institutional, or residential space. www.akustus.com 6 Ellipse Collection | hollis+morris Designed by Mischa Couvrette and available in chandelier and floor versions, Ellipse is constructed as part of a triple metal frame structure encasing frosted LED lights, reminiscent of moon phases. www.hollisandmorris.com 7 Quadrifoglio | Alessandro Munge Collection Although the shape resembles a mushroom, the Quadrifoglio (Italian for “four-leaf clover”) lounge stool by the man-of-the-hour at the show, Alessandro Munge, is both comfortable and elegant, and can be upholstered to fit any environment be it hotel lobbies or private residences. www.alessandromunge.com
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Plenty of Personality Kitchens can embrace a maximalism not based on exploding colours and pattern, but instead focusing on pieces with distinctive character. Compiled by Peter Sobchak
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2 1 Formalia | Scavolini Designed in collaboration with Vittore Niolu, this new modular collection is meant to highlight the social role of the modern kitchen and uses strong linear features throughout, particularly in the wall system and partition elements that connect the cooking area to living areas while simultaneously putting “everything on display.” www.scavolini.com
2 N037 Hyper Kitchen | Nero Cucine At first glance not much to look at, but a proprietary hinge mechanism lets you raise the Corian or marble surface to uncover an eye-catching stainless steel countertop featuring a working area with a welded sink and a retractable faucet. Once fully up, a 90-degree angle is formed, turning into a de facto backsplash equipped with a sensor LED light pointed on the cooking counter. Clever enough to garner a Red Dot 2022 Award. www.nerocucine.com 3 Benchmark 36” Gas Cooktop | Bosch FlameSelect technology gives gas cooking some precision, allowing users to choose from nine defined power levels, and a tempered glass cooktop makes for easy clean up. The additional OptiSim burner cap is designed to be wider and thicker, so simmering such things as a pot of melted chocolate or butter can be done with minimal chance of burning or scorching.
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4 Botton ll | Blanco An ongoing issue in kitchens where much is asked of a small footprint, this new organizational system maximizes storage for things like recycling or cleaning supplies. The Botton ll fits securely below the sink base cabinet and includes two removable four-gallon bins with handles and a top shelf for additional storage. www.blanco.com
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5 Jean Nouvel Kitchen | Reform Design snobs rejoice! You can have a Pritzker Prize-winner in your kitchen. Made of steel accented with vertical ridges, the monochrome kitchen fronts are available in black and metal with a high gloss, reflective surface, while the countertops come in stainless steel and grey and black Fenix laminate. The variable surface treatments are all part of Nouvel’s typical experimentation with light and themes of reflectivity. www.reformcph.com
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the goods
Pre-Rinse Spring Galley Faucets | Moen Spring kitchen faucets continue to be a popular choice for residential consumers, however not all kitchens have the layout or space to accommodate their tall stature. Hence the new Belfield and Genta lines of spring galley faucets, which integrate commercial kitchen details into a low-profile design perfect for compact kitchens. www.moen.ca
Kitchen | Buster + Punch The London-based homewares maker has created a modular, free-standing custom kitchen that can be entirely configured online with frame options, cabinet colours and Caesarstone or stainless steel countertops, all designed to go with the firm’s selection of new kitchen sink mixer taps, kitchen shelves, and lighting. It is also possible to add select white goods from Buster + Punch partners to the installation. www.busterandpunch.com
French Door Refrigeration | Bertazzoni The oldest familyowned appliance brand in the world, Bertazzoni is turning 140 years old in 2022, and has introduced new 36” Freestanding French Door Refrigeration offerings to celebrate (with more to come later this year). The XV (shown) and XT models come with all the bells and whistles needed for highperforming kitchens but look sleek yet understated while doing so. us.bertazzoni.com
Thermomix TM6 | Vorwerk For 50 years, Thermomix has been steadily wowing consumers with the versatility of their combo blender/cooker kitchen appliances. But the France-based brand has outdone themselves with the new space-age TM6 model: the Wi-Fi-connected, digitally powered all-in-one sleek countertop appliance practically replaces most other kitchen appliances, outside of an oven and a toaster, by performing 22 culinary functions (including blend, cook, steam, sous vide, slow cook and more) with the touch of a button and walking the user through 50,000 global recipes step-by-step. www.thermomix.ca
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the goods
Neutral Ground
Marble is still the primary inspiration, but a dynamic range of sophisticated grey tones paired with warm hues and supported by ever-improving eco-friendly technology show that countertops and backsplashes can provide the right balance.
Pietra Collection | LX Hausys America A big player in engineered stone, LX Hausys introduced a myriad of new colours at KBIS 2022 to its already populous collections, including Ombra to the Pietra Collection (itself part of the HIMACS Solid Surface line), characterized by short-flow veins in smoky greys and warm brown patterns reminiscent of volcanic rock. www.lxhausys.com/us
Dreamy Collection | Durasein New for 2022 is the Sun Kissed line which, according to Carolyn Ames Noble, founder of Ames Design Collective, board Chair for ASID National, and who worked on the collection, is an “interpretation of the golden hour, where the quality of light renders warm undertones.” Copper threads are burnished through a field of opaline to achieve this aesthetic. www.durasein.co.uk
Compiled by Peter Sobchak
Pebbles Collection | Caesarstone “This year, we truly felt inspired by our need to integrate calm, serene and softness into our homes,” says Ken Williams, president and CEO of Caesarstone, The Americas, hence a palette of warm, grey monochromes laced with softer hues. www.caesarstone.ca
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Inverness | Cambria The four new designs in this line cap off what was a very healthy year of launches for the quartz surfaces company. Inspired by the forces of nature, the textures of Gold, Bronze, Cobalt and Platinum are intentionally subtle. “There is a slight contrast between the veining and the background, just enough for a real raw look and feel that captures a sense of nature,” says Summer Kath, Cambria’s EVP of design. www.CambriaUSA.com
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Living Impressions | Formica Canada The Québec-based surfacing mainstay launched new additions to their Living Impressions Collection earlier this year. The launch adds 14 organic patterns and modern marbles to the brand’s repertoire with five additional 180fx patterns, nine Formica Laminate designs and one new texture. www.formica.com
Dekton Onirika | Cosentino Shown for the first time to the Canadian market at IDS22 in Toronto, this carbon neutral surface collection, designed by Regina-born Nina Magon, mixes the graphic patterns of marble with a more energetic colour palette in Dekton’s arsenal. www.cosentino.com
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the goods 1 Borghi Bathtub | antoniolupi Designed by Gumdesign, this freestanding oval tub is made of Cristalmood, a transparent resin that with thin borders and a narrow base creates a floating effect. Clear like glass but resistant like stone, Cristalmood is made of anticorrosive polyester resin and colouring pigments, and can be cleaned with all common detergents. www.antoniolupi.it 2 Marie Collection | Baril Launched at IDS22 in Toronto, the new collection is a collaboration with fashion house Maison Marie Saint Pierre in celebration of the 35th anniversary of two Québec-based companies led by a ‘Marie’: Marie-Eve Baril, who now heads the family high-end faucet company; and Marie Saint Pierre, a fashion designer with a slew of accolades including Knight of the National Order of Québec, Knight of the National Order of Canada and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. www.barildesign.com 3 White Tulip | Duravit Philippe Starck’s new bathroom series is inspired by the organic forms of a tulip in bloom, and includes furniture, washbasins, toilets, faucets and smart mirrors. The most eyecatching piece, obviously, is the freestanding bathtub, with outwardly sloping edges and natural forms that best exemplify Starck’s ideas. Available in three diameters. www.duravit.us
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Clean as a Whistle Bathroom collections that balance luxury and opulence with an ever-rising hygiene consciousness. Compiled by Peter Sobchak
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4 Nami | Kreoo This washbasin looks plucked from Michelangelo’s bathroom! Designed by Enzo Berti, the external shape mimics the veil of the Pietà, resembling worked fabric with folds at different depths. This effect was achieved using a prototyping process starting with a velvet drape laid over an oval bowl, 3-D scanned and the image reproduced by shaping the soft waves on marble using a private industrial process, then refined using old fashioned hand chiselling. www.kreoo.com 5 Urban Chic | Ramon Soler It has been quite a year for the Spanish company, collecting three awards for this innovative faucet: a German Design Award 2022; IF Design Award; and a Red Dot 2022. Juries react very positively to the patented Torubillon System, an internal sustainable water circuit that controls the force and tension of the water but saves substantially on outflow volume. www.rsramonsoler.com 6 Sailing | Fantini While the Italian design house’s first North American collaboration is with Toronto-based Yabu Pushelberg, the inspiration came from Fantini’s home on Lake Orta in northern Italy. The horn-shaped faucet handles and sleek spout are a reinterpretation of boat cleats, referencing the lake’s tranquility and nautical forms that could be just as home in the Muskoka region of Ontario as well. www.fantini.it
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1 Bauhaus Collection | Wetstyle It was the Bauhaus movement exemplified in Tel Aviv’s White City that inspired the Montréal-based company’s lead designer, Pierre Bélanger, for this new collection of vanities and countertop sinks, seen in its very clean lines and rounded corners and available in both wall-mount and floor-mount options in a variety of finishes. www.wetstyle.ca 2 RainStick Shower | RainStick This Canadian company scooped up awards at CES, KBIS and IDS22 with North America’s first WiFi-enabled circular shower, saving up to 80 per cent on both water and energy while maintaining almost twice the flow rate compared to traditional showers. The unit starts with fresh grid-supplied water, however instead of going down the drain uses recirculation technology to capture, circulate, and clean the water, all in real-time to avoid waste. www.rainstickshower.com 3 Avoir Toilet | Kohler Kohler collected several awards at the 2022 KBIS show in Orlando, including a Best of KBIS – Bath Gold for this new one-piece toilet that leverages water line pressure and an innovative flush to deliver a completely tankless design. www.us.kohler.com 4 Cadet & Studio Touchless Toilets | American Standard Hands-free technology features heavily across LIXIL Canada Inc. brands, who is aggressively targeting the home segment for whom personal hygiene is paramount. The Cadet and Studio Touchless Toilets are great examples, where hands-free sensors trigger a powerful jet of water that scrubs the entire surface of the bowl from top to bottom, including the hard-to-reach spots. www.americanstandard.ca
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I N T U I T I V E. I M M E R S I V E. I C O N I C. The Statement™ showering collection with Anthem™ controls and valves feature unexpected designs, indulgent spray options, and a range of universal forms. The versatile portfolios are meticulously crafted to fit all global plumbing standards, opening the door to truly seamless specification and unfettered creativity. Visit our website to explore the possibilities and unleash your imagination.
KO H L E R . c a
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Breath of Fresh Air
Comfort and style don’t have to be confined to the indoors. 1 Big Roll | Sifas Those inflatable noodles that remind us of summers spent horsing around in swimming pools is the aesthetic that characterizes this range of outdoor furniture, which consists of seven pieces ranging from seating to tables.
3 Outdoor Games Tables | Union Wood Co. There is a growing trend in urban areas and workplace developments to create engaging outdoor spaces where people can escape the hustle and bustle of busy life. Vancouver-based Union Wood Co.’s contribution to this movement are new outdoor ping pong and shuffleboard tables made of weather-resistant materials and two base options whose angled frames mimic supportive beams found in industrial areas and bridge construction. www.unionwoodco.com
www.sifas.com
2 Take-Out | Landscape Forms Available in five silhouettes and three colours, Rodrigo Torres’s modern design for the attached seating category is light enough to be picked up and rearranged, giving versatility to outdoor gatherings, be it face-to-face or spread out. “It’s about creating options for both ‘me space’ and ‘we space’ across a range of scales,” says Kirt Martin, Landscape Forms CCO.
4 Bjhon Collection | Agape The pandemic has helped expand our concepts of home uses, so maybe it is not so strange to consider moving some of our bathroom behaviours outdoors. Agape is certainly a fan of that, with washbasins, faucets, tubs and accessories designed for outdoor use. New additions to the collection include the Bjhon family of washbasins by Angelo Mangiarotti, now made in Petit Granit and in all Cementoskin colours. www.agapedesign.it
www.landscapeforms.com
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In response to the pandemic, Susan Chang set out to design a home workspace away from the distractions of her husband and grown sons. Her backyard provided the perfect opportunity. “My design mandate was to mimic, as closely as possible, the feeling of our Muskoka cottage with its rustic, relaxed environment, all day long sunlight streaming into the living spaces and views to nature; this was achieved through the use of board and batten on the exterior, shiplap on the interior surfaces, and the full height windows edged in crisp white trim and French doors painted in vivid coral,” says Chang, who leads HOK’s consulting team in Canada. Lined with natural birch floors and hand-crafted Sid Dickens tiles, the 107 square feet of useable space is outfit with hidden storage; energy efficient split system heating and cooling; a built-in hot and cold water system, and adorned with an upholstered bench seat with plush baby lama cushions, dimmable wall sconce and LED lighting, a womb chair upholstered in a bright red textile with a footrest, and even a 40-in. TV.
Chris Greenberg
Where birds are your office mates
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Returning to the Rituals of Home Examining individual moments within the home where office work has no place. By Peter Sobchak
Like woodland creatures emerging from a winter’s hibernation, it feels like we are tentatively stepping into a post-pandemic world where the focus on not just our physical but also mental health has become more important than ever. While our initial reactions were to bring as much of the workplace home as possible, the pandemic has left many people craving the warmth and comfort of traditional rituals in their homes such as bathing, sleeping and eating, and are looking to integrate products and design trends that promote such health.
And finally, Joanne Lam of Picnic Design addresses how because of escalating house prices, “many current homeowners are electing to stay in the condo or house they currently own after giving up on the idea of upsizing to offer larger spaces for their kids. As such we are seeing the push to modify existing kids’ accommodations become increasingly common in our client’s project objectives and goals of late.” The result is a wish-I-had-it-as-a-kid room that provides individual privacy while carving out play space in inventive ways.
In the four exceptional home spaces that follow, we asked the designers behind them to explain — in their own words — the motivations and ensuing solutions for rooms embedded with extremely personal needs. For a drool-worthy ensuite bathroom designed using the architectural principles of a traditional Turkish hammam, Trevor Wallace of Reflect Architecture discusses how their clients “were clear that they wanted something different and unique, something that when they spent time in the space it would be a memorable and relaxing part of their day.”
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Kelly Cray of U31 Design discusses how he brought a refined masculine aesthetic to a luxurious penthouse condominium for a single man in his mid-thirties, with particular attention paid to the master bedroom; and Ryan Tyrrell of Tyrrell Projects describes the details behind a galley-style kitchen in a tight condo footprint that places functionality, ergonomics and innovation at the forefront.
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Ritual Ensuite, Toronto Design by Reflect Architecture Text by Trevor Wallace Photography by Riley Snelling
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This spread Based on the architectural principles of a traditional hammam, the ensuite features a large central platform with a sequence of functional elements — a walk-in shower, a hers and shared vanity, a toilet and cabinets— placed inside niches, keeping the different steps intimate and private. Arched gables frame each unit and add to the temple-like character of the space, and plaster-based wall covering, stone, rugged wood, and brass all felt honest and respectful to the original inspiration.
Reflect Architecture begins every project by taking the time to understand what is unique to the client’s identity and what is significant to them. We use this early exploration to ensure that each design is progressive and a true reflection of our clients’ character. In our Ritual Ensuite project, we quickly discovered the clients’ passion for travel to culturally rich destinations. An especially memorable and inspiring journey of theirs was to Istanbul, Turkey, which is home to many incredible hammams; so, this was an exciting place to start when thinking about bathing rituals. In particular, we explored a restored 16th century hammam called Kılıç Ali Paşa, which became an inspiration for this project. Common to many hammams, it has a central element for gathering that is surrounded by individual coves in which bathers are treated, cleaned, and “restored.” This structure became the organizing principal that drove the ensuite design, the challenge was how to accomplish this on the
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third floor of a house where the space was awkward and tight, and had a few sloped roof aspects to contend with. The oculus-like light, inspired by the glass in Kılıç Ali Paşa’s dome, holds the space of the navel stone and the four coves are then arranged symmetrically around it. The feelings of calm and serenity that the space evokes come from its formal order, the use of light, and its simple, honest materials. These materials were specifically chosen to feel like they came from the earth — another ode to the origin of the design inspiration — and allowing them their own masses in the space gives each a sense of reverence, place, and intention. Leading a client-centered design exploration allowed the architecture to become a ritual-driven space for our clients that each day reminds them of some of their fondest travel memories.
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Trevor Wallace is principal architect at Toronto-based Reflect Architecture.
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Marine Drive Residence, Vancouver Design by Tyrrell Projects w/ Bulthaup Vancouver Text by Ryan Tyrrell Photography by Brett Ryan Studios
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This spread A cohesive statement was made throughout with large format slabs that clad the walls in the front entrance and bathrooms, along with a floor to ceiling fireplace façade. Similar slabs were placed on the kitchen and bathroom floors, abutting locally harvested and sustainable engineered oak that brightens and uplifts the space and complements darker accents found throughout.
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A retiring couple and their new pup chose the classy confines of West Vancouver to move into condo living and wanted to bring contemporary style and function along with them. The galley-style kitchen was designed and created with functionality, ergonomics and innovation at the forefront. The existing space saw worn surfaces and failing mechanics, while the new introductions saw a visual refresh with long-term sustainability.
nated surfaces. Push access fronts meant the area was snag-free in the narrow space. Appliances were clad with the same laminate and thoughtful storage caddies were introduced, leading to a streamlined visual approach and easy access. The existing lighting was replaced with energy efficient LED fixtures. New recessed pot lights, accent strip lighting and a unique pendant over the eating area meant that beauty could yet again be enjoyed in a sustainable manner. Counters and backsplashes were man-made, damage-free hard surfaces and integrated a flush cooktop, sink and minimalistic electrical outlets. A built-in coffee maker, wine rack and additional storage meant these counters could be kept clutter-free.
Demolition noise saw challenges overcome due to strata restrictions which combined with client circumstances meant a tight schedule and multiple areas of scope completed simultaneously. The kitchen floor was clad with large format slabs with flush conditions to the living space, meaning less grout lines and easier to clean surfaces, enabling easier accessibility and maintenance as the couple ages. The millwork came from the intention to add form and value to the home and to the lifestyle of its inhabitants while keeping in line with a timeless aesthetic using micro-beveled, durable, two-toned lami-
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Black window shutters matching those in the living areas saw a more traditional yet sustainable approach to temperature regulation, avoiding the need to introduce air conditioning, while still allowing natural light to filter in and views to be enjoyed.
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Ryan Tyrrell is principal at Vancouver-based Tyrrell Projects.
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Kids Nooks, Toronto Design by Picnic Design Text by Joanne Lam Photography by Scott Norsworthy
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This spread As a result of escalating house prices, many homeowners are electing to stay in the home they currently own, relinquishing the idea of upsizing to offer larger spaces for their kids. With that decision has come a push to modify children’s existing accommodations in a way that balances individual privacy with the desire for maintaining a sense of shared space and natural light, while optimizing storage and carving out play space in inventive ways, as seen in this project.
During the pandemic, we were approached by a family of four with two siblings in their tween years who had been sharing a room since birth and have reached that point where they would like to have their own space. While in previous generations families would simply move from their starter home to a larger house, nowadays, that decision is complicated by rising housing costs, the pain of commuting, and the love for their own neighbourhood. For this family, the decision to stay put needed no debate. However, the dilemma was that there was no other room in their semi-detached Victorian, and the family was unwilling to embark on a large-scale re-think of the house. Clearly, a room for each child was not feasible, so the goal shifted to creating “a space of one’s own.” In the beginning, the two nooks were yet another element introduced into an increasingly cramped bedroom. However, in testing out various possibilities, it became obvious that they could be combined with cabinets and shelving to create private space for the kids and storage space for their belongings. Because there was such an increase in storage, there was also now space for a built-in bench on the opposite wall.
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While the built-in needed to read as a unifying element, it was important to allow each nook to be distinct. They are located at different heights; one is accessed from the floor while the other uses the bunk bed ladder. Each nook is decorated according to each kid’s latest obsession, and LED lights lining the opening lets each child set the mood in their space, while inside are shelves for their treasured toys and stuffed animals. If they choose, they can even add a curtain to make it their own secret hideout. Despite the two nooks being distinct, they are not separated. Within their nooks, we introduced a secret passage for when the children change their minds and want to connect with each other or play hide and seek. As they get older, it will simply become a window to pass objects, but for now, they are still small enough to squeeze through. Joanne Lam is co-founder and principal at Toronto-based Picnic Design.
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Urban penthouse master bedroom, Toronto Design by U31 Text by Kelly Cray Photography by Gillian Jackson
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This spread Set in contrast to the dramatic den layered in denim blue and grey hues, the master bedroom is lighter, featuring warm wood paneling and leather upholstered headboard designed with integrated graphic art and architectural cove lighting, all meant to set a distinctive yet calming mood. A large adjacent ensuite is exposed to the bedroom by glass and enveloped in marble and stone, providing the client a spa experience.
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During my initial meeting with the client, he expressed how he had been eyeing this property for some time and was thrilled to finally own it. The 2,500-sq.-ft. penthouse suite, on the 36th floor of a boutique condominium was in a perfect location, close to restaurants and Toronto’s King Street East entertainment district.
for me). Similar to the bedroom, the remaining spaces continue a refined masculine aesthetic approach. We liked the idea of weaving custom walnut architectural detailing with timeless herringbone patterned wood flooring and millwork: light and calming in the primary suite while dark and dramatic in the kitchen. This scheme strikes a luxurious note when paired with rich stone elements, like the kitchen countertop and island in “leathered” Bianco Lasa Macchia Vecchia stone and a floor-to-ceiling wine cooler with backlit alabaster stone.
The previous owner’s interiors were defined by a black and white, high contrast glam look which wasn’t his style. He was open to all our suggestions which made for a smooth and gratifying experience. As a medical professional and entrepreneur in his mid-thirties who likes to entertain and travel, we arrived at a “hotel room vibe” for the primary bedroom, where the overall flavour articulates an architecturally contemporary sensibility meets casual sophistication. The design is clean and low maintenance. The bedroom doors and some of the custom closets are just over 12-ft. high which posed an issue getting it up on the residential elevator, so the contractor had to organize a suspended scaffolding “swing stage” on the side of the building to transport the millwork up 36 stories (that was a new one
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Dynamic contemporary artworks and teal accents introduce colour into the narrative, animating the home’s neutral backgrounds and injecting it with a playful energy. I’m always happy when our vision for a home comes to life, and in this case, the project turned out amazing and our client was super-pumped with the result. Kelly Cray is creative principal at Toronto-based U31.
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Three homes designed to prioritize and display clients’ extensive art collections, in essence dressing a gallery in residential clothing.
By Martha Uniacke Breen
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Far left Moon Light by Adam David Brown; a photograph of Paris at night by Gabi Trinkaus; and Stephen Wilkes’ aerial shot of Times Square during COVID. Centre Placing an Inuit sculpture casually on a windowsill seems to add to its humanity; on the wall nearby is the owner’s collection of rock n’roll photographs. Above A quintet of very-high-resolution photographs of folded paper by Kristiina Lahde.
Photography: Lauren Miller
The clean, open expanses, abundance of natural light, and simple, pared-down profiles that typify most modern residential architecture lend themselves naturally to the display of art. But when you are working with clients who already have a great art collection and want their homes to showcase it to maximum advantage — while also keeping it functional for daily family life — the assignment becomes a bit more complex. Ideally, having a sense early in the design process of what specific works will go where can be helpful, since walls and other display surfaces can be tailored to fit (or at least, things like light switches and wall outlets can be placed where they won’t interfere). But what stands out about the homes here is how well the design and art work together, creating a whole that really is, to coin a phrase, greater than the sum of its parts. In each case, there’s a strong sense that art is something to be enjoyed rather than revered from a distance; while all are beautiful spaces on their own, the art is what brings them to life.
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Down Below: Toronto Basement Gallery The owners of this space already had a private art gallery in their basement, which they shared with friends. But according to Mason Lane Art Advisory curator Laura Mann, “During the pandemic, they came to realize they needed a place where they could relax, watch the game and maybe have a few friends over.” They asked Mann to help them make it both homier and functional, without compromising its original purpose. She called in a colleague, designer Clarisa Llaneza, to help reconfigure the space. Llaneza turned out to be an inspired choice: as an art collector herself, she had the right synergy for the assignment. “I had actually heard about the basement art gallery through mutual friends,” she laughs, “so it seemed like fate to be working on it.”
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Upper left Next to huge sliding doors that frame a suitably artistic view of the garden, Sky Glabush’s high realist painting, Cut Tree. Centre Thrush Holmes’s 84-in. by 114-in. piece has an equally oversized title: dimly lit gleaming universe of budding leaves, blown by overwhelming night breeze. Right Soaring walls are made for art, with openings that send light through the space while minimizing direct sun on the art. Lower left The more intimate scale of the upper hall suits Sky Glabush’s wool and acrylic piece Keeping Something For Yourself and the homier subject of Deer House by Thrush Holmes.
d’oeuvres at openings, but this one features three stools where friends or family can have a conversation, or watch the big-screen TV, discreetly concealed behind unfussy cabinetry.
Tall and Tight: What Remains to be Seen Superkül’s design for this airy West Toronto home is interesting for a number of reasons. The first is its abundance of glazing, in the front as well as the rear — Torontonians aren’t always so extroverted about revealing themselves to the street — and how, with its soaring walls, almost complete lack of interior doors, and just a single bedroom (there’s a guest suite in the library downstairs, but still…), it’s completely custom-tailored to its owners.
Photography: Ben Rahn | A-Frame
In the centre of the room, a pair of curvaceous white leather-covered sofas frame an organically shaped stone coffee table; the grouping feels a little like sculpture on its own. Sitting on these sofas, says Llaneza, makes you feel “submerged” in the centre of the art that surrounds you, rather than gazing at it from a distance. That immersiveness certainly feels true in the current collection, with its theme of the night sky, including the floor sculpture Moon Light, complete with paper “moonrocks,” and aerial night view of Paris, along with Stephen Wilkes’s pandemic-era photo of Times Square, as its neon panels thank healthcare workers. “Galleries can be sterile, and that’s on purpose, so that your eye goes to the art,” says Llaneza. “But this is a home, so you want it to also be cozy and comfortable. It’s not just for lounging, or just for art; it’s for both, and it’s a wonderful space.”
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Oh, and then there’s the art. “The art very much entered into our thinking from the beginning,” says Superkül’s partner-in-charge on the project, Meg Graham.
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The house, situated on a typical neighbourhood street, had a relatively modest footprint, so the ideal (and only) solution was to go up: the central hallway is formed by a pair of gigantic two-storey walls (on the staircase side, the wall’s upper edge becomes the upstairs railing). It’s a perfect setting for large-scale art, such as Thrush Holmes’s big mixedmedia-on-metal piece with neon dogs racing across it. 5/6 2022 CANADIAN INTERIORS
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Upper left A pair of amiable figures by Gosia adds to family room conversation. Centre Robert Longo’s angular dancers at the end of the kitchen, whose island was influenced by the work of Donald Judd. Right A woman’s face by Alex Katz directs sleepy kids towards bed. Lower left Regine Schulman’s parade of neon blocks brightens one side of the dining room, while a large canvas by Dorion Scott takes up the wall opposite.
In spaces large and small, the art interacts with its surroundings: in the living room, another big canvas, a high-realist painting of a tree stump by Sky Glabush rhymes with the sylvan view of the garden through sliding patio doors next to it. In the more intimate environs of the upper hallway, two smaller paintings (in both size and subject) make for more contemplative viewing: a striped piece in acrylic and handwoven wool, and a portrait of an old house hidden in the leaves.
would become an impressive collection of Canadian and international art, they hadn’t turned their attention to remodelling right away. While there were some larger spaces where art could be hung, the original layout worked neither for art nor for a growing family. The designers started from scratch, gutting the house to the studs. Then instead of just adding walls back, partitions with wide archways help to organize the space without enclosing it. But what really sets the space apart is how it “quotes” contemporary artists.
“We’ve done other houses that were the same square footage, but not with the same openness,” Graham observes. “But it’s not at all cavernous or empty; it’s actually very intimate. It’s designed not just for art, but for people.”
The island that fronts the kitchen features a quartet of boxy stone squares, a nod to Donald Judd, one of the fathers of the Minimalist movement. The ridged wall of cabinetry that runs the length of the room recalls the monochromatic lines of Canadian abstract painter Agnes Martin. Other pieces interact with the space playfully, like Robert Longo’s dancing hipsters, who seem ready to sashay right out onto the open dance floor between family room and kitchen.
Photography: Jeremie Warshafsky
Room for Growth: Shallmar Residence So often there’s a fear that when you have young children, valuable art pieces need to be kept out of harm’s way, or even out of sight altogether. That was obviously not a concern in this wonderfully artistic space by StudioAC, where the art is not only front and centre (and even, in the form of two sculpted figures in the living room, literally joins the party) but in some places actually inspired the design itself. According to StudioAC co-founder Jennifer Kudlats, the couple had moved here in the 2000s, but although they had already begun what
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There’s plenty of room to play and live in the new space, and the art is fully included in family life. “The home feels refined and elegant, but flexible, and at times playful,” says Kudlats. “In many ways, these characteristics reflect the clients, their family, and the art collection.” 5/6 2022 CANADIAN INTERIORS
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Pullin Back t Curta
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The acousti considerations behi Tom Patterson T
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In 1952, Tom Patterson had a vision that nomic engine of his hometown of Stratfo town’s name, shared with the birthplace of wanted to create a six-week Shakespeare came a reality, with the Festival eventually for-profit theatre in North America. With welcomes half a million theatregoers each million since its first season in 1953.
By Payam Ashtiani and Doron
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ulling ck the urtain
e acoustical ons behind the new tterson Theatre
had a vision that would help spur the ecometown of Stratford, Ont. Inspired by the the birthplace of William Shakespeare, he eek Shakespeare Festival. That vision beestival eventually becoming the largest noth America. With four venues, the Festival theatregoers each year and more than 28 on in 1953. Ashtiani and Doron Meinhard
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Previous spread Custom seating for the auditorium designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects and the festival surround the elongated thrust stage with no seat greater than 8.5 metres (28 feet) from the action. Above Looking out of the Tom Patterson Theatre across the Avon River in southwest Ontario. Right Lazardis Hall is a flexible event space for up to 250 people with two 4.9-m. high (16-ft.) custom walnut acoustic doors that allow the space to be open to the lobby or acoustically separated for concurrent events.
Originally constructed within a repurposed curling rink, the previous Tom Patterson Theatre had cramped seating, limited backstage areas and no space for patrons to mingle before and after a show. This spring welcomed a new $72 million, 7,150-sq.-m. (77,000-sq.-ft.) theatre that corrects these shortcomings and adds a wide array of amenities including a light-filled lobby, café, members’ lounge, education lab and a forum performance space called Lazaridis Hall. At the centre of it all is a state-of-the-art, acoustically advanced auditorium designed to enrich the theatrical experience as well as be a landmark for the city of Stratford and a symbol of its renowned festival. The building was on track for inauguration in 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of Tom Patterson’s birth, but the pandemic delayed the tribute, and now opens for the Stratford Festival’s 70th season.
Aesthetically and Acoustically Magnificent
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Built on a raised bank overlooking the picturesque Avon River, the new Tom Patterson Theatre glimmers like a jewel. Set in a lush riverside landscape, its long, low façade of undulating glass dissolves the line between indoors and out. Bronze mullions give emphasis to this organic form which takes inspiration from riverside plant life and the patterned flow of water.
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Acoustics were a top priority throughout the new facility. Doubleglazed curtainwall panels prevent noise outside from interfering with activity within. A wood-slat ceiling system in the lobby, forum and café conceals absorption materials that ensure the acoustics are warm and intimate and can facilitate conversation among patrons.
dience. This is a critical issue in theatre where speech intelligibility is a necessity. While there is a sound system, the priority is for unamplified spoken word so that every patron can hear clearly regardless of where they are seated.
The festival had tried to improve the acoustics in the original theatre, but to no avail. One goal of the new theatre was to be able to create moments of silence on stage which could bring ‘magic’ to a performance, emboldened by a room that can achieve total darkness.
Because speech intelligibility is affected by the ambient sound level in the room, the noise from building systems like the HVAC had to be rigorously controlled. To avoid any additional sound, the theatre is also equipped with a silent, all-LED lighting system and liquidcooled spotlights.
The new auditorium pays homage to its predecessor in one respect: the unique elongated thrust stage is back and provides actors with runway-like access into the audience chamber. Surrounded by 615 seats, with only eight rows of seating surrounding the stage on three sides, the experience is immersive, providing intimate connection and proximity of audience and performer. Yet this configuration complicates acoustics when an actor is facing away from parts of the au-
Carefully designed wood reflectors further enhance speech intelligibility. Placed beneath each of the three catwalks, these angled reflectors create a shorter path for reflected sound to reach the audience. The shape of the reflective surfaces was designed to direct early sound behind the actor. The design went through several iterations and testing to ensure when an actor is downstage, the audience closer to the stagehouse enjoys a high level of auditory comprehension.
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Acoustical Considerations of a Multi-Use Facility
A Canadian Cultural Destination
The goal for the new facility was to enhance program versatility and also the festival’s bottom line by being able to host a variety of events and programming simultaneously. However, ensuring a quiet theatre with many other activities taking place in the building requires significant sound isolation. This meant providing acoustic separation from the lobby to adjacent program areas.
The re-imagined Tom Patterson Theatre goes beyond a place to perform. Its design enables people to gather, discuss and connect, whether it be for a play or a panel discussion or a cocktail reception. Its architectural design has been recognized globally with the Best of the Best Award in cultural architecture from the Architecture Master Prize in Los Angeles, from Britain’s Civic Trust Award that celebrates architecture and its integration in the urban environment, and the Design Excellence Award from the Ontario Association of Architects. The design is winning over the public as well, named the People’s Choice Award at the recent OAA conference.
Double concrete walls, noise barrier ceiling designs and sound and light locks at all entrances were incorporated to contain the performance inside the auditorium from crossing over into the surrounding spaces. Two, five-metre-high reverse engineered sliding walnut doors acoustically isolate Lazaridis Hall to allow for smaller performances or private events, then open to become an extension of the lobby and café. Several layers of sound gaskets, sweeps and stops were added to the doors, while the hall was also fitted with multiple layers of curtains which can be opened or closed as the programming needs shift between speech and musical performance in this 250-seat space. CANADIAN INTERIORS 5/6 2021
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Tom Patterson set out to reinvigorate his local economy and put Stratford on the map. The new Tom Patterson Theatre will surely do the same. Not only is it acoustically fine-tuned and architecturally advanced, this LEED Gold-registered building is also constructed with sustainable and natural materials. This facility sets a high bar for other cultural landmarks to follow and will no doubt play a significant supporting role in the Stratford Festival’s future success.
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Doublespace Photography
Above left The theatre café has indoor seating for 55 people beneath a glass skylight with custom furniture and fireplace and opens onto the Alonzo Terrace overlooking the river. Above The Spriet Members’ Lounge features a contemporary fireplace in a dramatic setting with wraparound glazing that gently tapers beneath a wood-clad ceiling. Right The theatre’s interior front entrance.
Payam Ashtiani is a professional engineer and a principal at Aercoustics Engineering Limited, a privately-held firm that specializes in fostering innovation in acoustics, vibration and noise control.
Doron Meinhard is Associate Partner with Hariri Pontarini Architects, a leading practice dedicated to producing works of lasting value. His extensive experience on institutional and cultural buildings includes managing the complex and multi-award winning Bahá’í Temple of South America.
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How equity fatigue is anesthetising a global awakening that has the potential to reshape a generation.
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Are we already exhibiting equity fatigue? After all, aren’t we an industry that has been trained to meet the minimums?
represented students or equity-seeking organizations doing the “boots on the ground” work in design such as BAIDA (Black Architects & Interior Designers Association Canada). All these are good signs for impacting change.
Minneapolis, 2020. The world awakened to a horrible reality all too familiar to a community plagued by injustice. As a global conversation on race, inequity and the systemic effects of colonialism ensued, leadership in the architecture and design community were challenged to address their own contributions to the disparities evident in our industry. Almost two years into the conversations occurring behind executive doors of design studios, the results are in and the response to this critical moment is redefining what it means to lead or be left behind.
The unprecedented acknowledgment, after years of inactivity, has led to open dialogue and curated sessions to share perspectives to inform and foster understanding. Practices have sought training to address a new lexicon of buzzwords such as “unconscious bias,” “micro-aggressions,” BIPOC and “allyship” — again, all very good signs in support of change.
As leaders engage to account for the disparities present within their organizations, the realization that, for all our industry’s focus on human engagement in our work, leadership in our studios reflects the inequity present in society. Still, our industry remains uniquely positioned to impact pressing systemic issues now under the microscope of public opinion. What is not easily discerned however, is whether our leaders have the fortitude to push through a sense of equity fatigue, subverting conversations, and the urgency to address inequities in our practices.
As an industry, our new awareness has even provoked a thoughtful analysis of how Euro-centric thinking has defined our industry’s measure of “Good” as it relates to aesthetics, academia, design processes and the very profession itself. This broadened perspective over the last 24 months has enabled our leaders to confront the limitations of homogeneity and white supremist views once unquestioned in our industry. This is what change looks and feels like, no?
Whether this thickening fog of fatigue will permanently obscure our view of the human needs at the heart of equity remains unclear. However, as a strategist working with companies to craft meaningful equity engagement for built environments, what is becoming clear is that while some things have changed, many others have not, and both situations warrant closer analysis.
What has stayed the same? The question is: is it enough? Is just being aware sufficient as focus shifts back to previous norms of privilege? Individualism is now quickly displacing the warm sentiments of solidarity espoused in the early months of the awakening. Once-empathetic smiles now strain to conceal gritted teeth at the perceived deference to equity-seeking groups. “Haven’t we done enough? In any case, we all face struggles in the industry, no?”
What has changed? Our new norms have matured over the past 24 months. The rigor of forging a path forward amidst a global awakening has inspired responses from our design industry that are worth examining, as they signal a shift that will have consequences for those at the helm of design practices now and in the future. Design leadership, for its part, has responded positively to the awakening by providing time and space to acknowledge how racism and colonial systems have impacted their associations and corporate cultures. Many have released statements of support, posted on social feeds and joined pledges such as The Interior Design Pledge for a Positive Impact instituted by the ASID, IIDA and IDC. Others have donated dollars to design schools for the first time to support under-
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While conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion continue behind the doors of principals at the helm of design practices, the dulling drone of ruminating sentiments of “let’s move on” are becoming increasingly audible. “It may be time to write another letter or make another donation and get back to work. It’s easy and effective?” No.
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To be fair, we as an industry must understand the sentiment, being careful not to politicize, polarize or punish members of our community. For many leaders the equity discussion is irrelevant. The adage of “Just work hard people!” is shouted inwardly, yet muted outwardly for fear of being perceived as (insert your own adjective here). 5/6 2022 CANADIAN INTERIORS
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We must commit to the work of introspection that uncovers root causes of how inequity serves the business of design. Design leaders who fail to understand that equity strategies equate to business strategies will suffer the slow death of obsolescence. As an industry we must innovate to maintain relevance as LOI’s (Leaders of Industry). To be blunt, there are no more professional streetlamp lighters. Addressing issues related to equity equates to sector growth, new ideas and improved talent engagement that supports healthy businesses. Leaders choosing to dabble in the equity conversation without authenticity will find themselves and their companies falling behind. The world is raising new benchmarks and lagging entities will not be able to keep up.
According to global consulting firm BCG, we must understand that “despite a genuine desire to improve workplace inclusion, it can be difficult for a majority group to recognize and understand experiences of diverse groups.” Many of our industry leaders did not sign up to fix what ails society: they started businesses to manage projects, people and profits. It is as simple as that. Many of our design leaders are not equipped, nor do they have the experience or energy to effectively meet the moment. We all have the power to choose, and it is a choice. We must also accept the underlying advantages of slow progress to the economy of inequity. There are still real economic benefits to colonial racism, favouritism and nepotism: business as usual, for some, is still good business. For others, dabbling in diversity is a favourable approach to safely maintaining internal systems without external scrutiny.
Design leaders must recognize that business-as-usual will not be a viable approach going forward. Expectations in our modern world are changing, and leaders today are measured by authenticity, approachability and their emotional intelligence. The choice to authentically address issues of equity requires personal touches that will inevitably expose a leader’s true intent. Therefore take heed: engage meaningfully on the issues or risk losing any meaningful credibility.
Truthfully, we are an industry that has been trained to meet the minimums, whether for code compliance or “not over-delivering” to maximize profits. However, should our leaders choose to lead or not, as a community of practitioners we cannot rely on formulas to deliver change. We must commit to the work of introspection that uncovers root causes of how inequity serves the business of design.
The past 24 months has seen our world experience great upheaval. Pandemic, war, unrest and the “The Great Reset” has helped to bring what is important in our lived experiences into greater focus. What has become even more apparent is that sound, steady leadership is paramount to meeting the needs of our moment to make change real. To allow light to be cast on past mistakes for the sake of a brighter more inclusive future for all. Leadership in design is uniquely positioned to impact change on a broad spectrum. After all, design is central to every aspect of life.
What every leader should know You are fallible. At leadership tables around the world people sit with the same insecurities, entrenched beliefs and learned behaviours that connect us to this human experiment. Each of us carries the weight of our lived experiences, biases and misconceptions that contribute to the discord in our communities on various levels. This too is a part of our human experience. Design leaders today must grapple with the personal perspectives they bring to the table on issues of equity. This is necessary to challenge current conventions that reinforce the mindsets of their organizations. Companies tend to take on the disposition of their leaders. Hence, to do the work of establishing equity effectively leaders must first work on themselves or run the risk of co-signing inauthentic actions and solutions that signal a lack of real commitment to addressing core issues. Leaders must also stop asking committees of employees to address equity issues. Instead, they must invest time and resources to engage. It must be understood, especially for equity-seeking employees, that they may experience a double portion of trauma when they are made responsible for addressing issues they did not create, while still managing the impact of those issues in their owns lives. Leaders: help shoulder the burden, engage experts, and preserve your people. CANADIAN INTERIORS 5/6 2022
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In this moment we cannot afford to wait to be led. As an industry we must lead and sustain the momentum of change, even if it is not expedient or convenient. It is still true that actions speak louder than words. To my leaders, the future is now: act or step aside and let the mantle pass to the willing. Ian Rolston is a design leader, equity strategist, speaker, mentor and Lead Consultant at Decanthropy, an equity design consultancy delivering social change through corporate equity initiatives that transforms businesses,
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people and places.
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Photo by Jeremy Vandermeij
over & out
The Road Beckons
Vanlife gets a chic upgrade.
By Peter Sobchak
off-grid yet stay slick in Baltic birch and powder pink materials. “The Swift Chalet is a very tiny home, clocking in at 70 square feet of livable space,” says Vandermeij, yet it still houses a full queen-sized bed, composting toilet, fridge, induction cooktop, sink, heaters connected directly to the gas tank (as opposed to the engine) and enough solar and battery power to live and work from the van.
This is what I see when I think “road trip”: an empty highway running in a straight line through the open plains, toward a bright horizon where mountains or mesas rise, stretching from this point to infinity. The sun is already setting but heat still shimmers from the black asphalt, warping the horizon. Soon the evening breezes will nudge tumbleweeds across the pavement. Guilherme Figueiredo and Jeremy Vandermeij probably have a similar vision, but from the enviable position of inside one of their new luxury camper vans. Figueiredo, a lawyer turned hotel manager and his partner, Vandermeij, an interior designer and a co-founder of the DesignTO festival, have recently launched The Van Dads, a custom off-grid camper van conversion company that offers stylish pre-built or custom vehicles with a contemporary minimalistic aesthetic that supports the roadtripper ethos of “take only what you need.” Their current flagship model is The Swift Chalet, a fully winterized Ford Transit able to go CANADIAN INTERIORS 5/6 2022
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“We wanted to build the Swift Chalet for the modern traveller, whether you are a digital nomad or recent retiree. Our van has five batteries, where most camper vans only have two, [and] is equipped with cellphone signal boosters that, when paired with a great cell phone data plan, can serve the needs of the remote worker,” says Figueiredo. “We tested it this summer while travelling to Tofino, B.C. in one of our prototypes. We were both able to work remotely in every location that had cellphone service.”
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Global Agribusiness Company Ash plywood topographic feature wall with LED illuminated bodies of water Designed, developed & delivered by eurOptimum
eurOptimum.com
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design / develop / deliver
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Canadian Interiors.pdf
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5/11/22
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New Silestone With HybriQ+ Technology
Changing the World From the Kitchen More Sustainable. More Silestone.
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99% Recycled Water 100% Renewable Electric Energy MIN 20% Recycled Materials
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