MATT HAGEN PORTFOLIO
PROFESSIONAL & PERSONAL WORK, 2012-2023
Architect
Ontario Association of Architects Manitoba Association of Architects
M.Arch B.Env.D
Carleton University University of Manitoba
New multipurpose indoor/outdoor theatre space. Photo by Paul Rivera.
MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM RENOVATION & ADDITION IN HISTORIC BALBOA PARK
2021 San Diego, California
LUCE et STUDIO
Role: Design, Drafting (DD - CD), Permitting, Specs, Construction Admin. + Coord.
PROJECT BRIEF: To transform and update the identity and space of the Mingei International Museum of Folk Arts & Crafts. The client required additional gallery space and functional staff spaces. During the design process, the project scope expanded to include a new multipurpose theatre addition with an outdoor roof courtyard.
The 42,000 sq.ft. museum was stripped down to its bones and re-designed as a contemporary space for both the public and museum visitors. I was involved with the project from construction documents through to construction administration. The project team was composed of only five members, with each of us focusing on specific areas in addition to the overall vision. My focus was the design and detailing of the feature stair/ amphitheatre within the belltower. Also, the new theatre addition and outdoor terrace with a custom picket fence. 2
Amphitheatre and feature staircase. Photo by Paul Rivera.
White oak slabs from Dinesen Flooring were shipped in from Denmark. Specifically crafted with butterfly joints, the wood steps embody the museum’s ethos of handcraft. The feature stairs cascade into an amphitheatre for events and gallery displays. This area of the museum was one that I specifically focused on, from design conception through to detailing.
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View looking upward in the renovated belltower. Photo courtesy of Mingei International Museum.
The existing belltower was renovated with tapering plaster walls to highlight one of the museum’s coveted pieces by Dale Chihuly. The base of the tower is square and tapers up to an oculus, all while twisting 90 degrees. The subtle geometry creates folds and the rotation follows the switchback stair below.
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The new outdoor courtyard atop the theatre with custom metal picket fence. Photo by Paul Rivera.
The outdoor courtyard sits atop the new theatre addition. I was involved in detailing and specifying finishes such as the Tyndall limestone pavers, which are arranged in a pattern reminiscent of Ellsworth Kelly’s art. The bronze picket fence was designed in collaboration with the fabricator Zahner; the pickets were twisted out of raw 1” thick metal.
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Left: Sculpted window surround, with cut paper interlayer by artist Christina Kim. Photo by Nic Lehoux. Right: Sculpted ceiling detail at the arched entryway. Photo courtesy of Mingei International Museum.
Various sculpted details were designed for feature spaces in the museum. These shapes took reference from existing elements such as the circular window in the boardroom and the arched entryway. I was responsible for modelling the forms using Rhino and translating them to 2D drawings. 6
Section drawing through the main staircase within the existing belltower.
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Laneway view. A perforated metal screen extends over the ground floor window; an overhanging second floor provides a side walkway. Photo by Ron Adriano.
SYMINGTON LANEWAY HOUSE NEW BUILD RESIDENCE LANEWAY HOUSE
2023 Toronto, ON
Lanescape Role: All phases from start to completion, project management. PROJECT BRIEF: A compact residence for the owner with intention of moving out of the main house and into the laneway house. An extremely narrow site at only 17’ wide resulted in a long, thin plan where every square inch was accounted for.
This small residence took on a unique layout, with kitchen and study on the ground floor, and the bedroom and living upstairs. In order to bring daylight to the center of the plan and create visual connections across the spaces, a skylight was introduced above a playful switchback stair. A peek-a-boo interior window sits at the landing of the staircase, borrowing light from the skylight into the study. A perforated metal screen spans across the laneway window for added privacy and dappled light shadows. 8
Left: Peek-a-boo interior window at the stair landing brings light into the study. Right: Central stair with plant-display podium and skylight, view to kitchen below. Photos by Ron Adriano.
In an effort to provide a sense of openness to the compact space, views across the building were created using glass cutouts at the top and bottom landings of the stair.
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Dining nook with sliding doors to rear garden. Photo by Ron Adriano.
Built-in furniture such as the dining banquette provided storage along with saving space in the narrow home. 10
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The layout of the home was driven by the clients desire for privacy at the laneway side, and providing the best views from the living area on the upper floor. Compact urban infill dwellings such as this provide opportunities to explore new arrangements of domestic living. 11
Exterior photograph of Skybox during a busy day on the frozen river trail. Photo by Evan Taylor.
SKYBOX WARMING HUTS COMPETITION THE FORKS SKATING TRAIL
2014 Winnipeg, Manitoba
MATT HAGEN w/ Ryan Lewis & Evan Taylor
Role: Design development, concept drawings, construction, media & press.
PROJECT BRIEF: The Forks Market in Winnipeg hosts an annual international architecture competition for the design & construction of shelters along its “World’s longest skating trail”. The competition calls for 8’x14’ pavilions that provide a space of rest for skaters along the trail.
Recognizing the sublime qualities of the Canadian prairie winter skies, we aimed to create a pavilion that engages and connects the 300,000+ visitors that experience the river trail during the winter season. Through the use of mirrored aluminum set at a 45-degree angle, the sky is reflected into the space and creates a unique prairie-sky photo opportunity. The angled plane of polished aluminum is folded to form a bench which runs the full width of the pavilion. A mirrored vertical plane stands opposite of the reflected sky, allowing visitors to see their reflection sitting amongst the clouds.
A blackened cedar exterior contrasts the light-filled interior, concealing a visual surprise along the frozen river trail. In 2014, Skybox was featured at the Winnipeg Art Gallery where it collected a unique batch of summer skies.
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Photo by Evan Taylor.
Mill-finish aluminum was used for the walls, while the polished aluminum was set on the 45-degree plane. The ever-changing prairie skies filled the interior space. Our team of three designed and constructed the project. 13
Photo compilation from social media #SKYBOXWPG.
My early experience of designing in small-scale and at fine detail during Skybox influenced me to pursue compact residential architecture later in my career. 14
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View from the laneway with Norwood Park behind. Project nearing completion with hardscaping pending. Photo by Nanne Springer.
NORWOOD PARK LANEWAY x3 NEW BUILD RESIDENCES LANEWAY HOUSES
2023 Toronto, ON
Lanescape Role: Schematic design through to completion, project management. PROJECT BRIEF: Our client owned two adjacent properties and convinced his neighbour to join the project, thus creating three laneway homes in a row. The projects were designed as high-end rental properties with a focus on views to the park and ample space for families.
The Norwood Park residences uniquely front a public dog park, allowing for more privacy at the laneway facing side. Considering the opportune views, the floor plan was inverted, putting living space upstairs and bedrooms at grade. The three properties were developed “as-of-right” which meant they complied with the local zoning bylaws. This presented a challenge as grade changed across the site along with the maximum building height and other alignments.
Roof access was provided to each unit via staircases and large custom-made operable skylights. My role included schematic design work, overseeing design development coordination, and managing the project through the final stages of construction.
Despite having similar exterior materials, the interior design of each home varies. 16
Garden-facing elevation, with brick-clad dormers and terraces off the second floor living space. Photo by Nanne Springer.
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View from the second floor facing the park. Stair provides roof access via an operable skylight. Photo by Nanne Springer.
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Eastern unit with cantilevered corner. Photo by Nanne Springer.
The eastern property’s dimensions resulted in a smaller laneway house than the other two. In order to still provide parking at the lane, a large cantilevered corner was designed. 19
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The homes were designed with an inverted living arrangement, allowing for views to the park, terraces at the rear, and direct access to the roof. The eastern residence is more compact due to required separation distances between the laneway house and primary building.
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Low strip windows provide glimpses of running feet on the treadmills. Photo by Nicholas Gammon.
ACTIVE LIVING CENTRE ADDITION KELVIN HIGH SCHOOL
WINNIPEG SCHOOL DIVISION
2019 Winnipeg, Manitoba
david penner architect w/H5 Architecture
Role: Design, Drafting (SD - CD), Consultant Coordination, Construction Admin.
PROJECT BRIEF: A high school required a new flexible space for fitness activities, weight lifting, and extended physical education curriculum. In addition to the active living facility, the school was in need of an elevator addition which made the existing three-storey school fully accessible.
This project is a 2400 square-foot active living centre and elevator addition to an existing high school. I was involved with the project from schematic design through to construction administration. The project team included 2 designers and a principal Architect.
The building’s angled form begins beneath the canopy of an existing tree and slopes upwards toward the school and new elevator shaft. The curtain wall slopes perpendicular to the exterior form of the building.
The dark-brick addition was designed to operate independently from the existing school for after-hours programming. The addition was also positioned to create a courtyard with new tree plantings and space for outdoor activities. 22
Elevator addition clad in polished aluminum cladding reflects the prairie skies. Photo by Nicholas Gammon.
A small courtyard was formed between the new addition and the existing school. The angled curtain wall tucks back in an effort to reduce impact on the existing tree.
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Photo by Nicholas Gammon.
My role included the design and detailing of a perforated brick screen which allows dappled light to pass through to the glazing beyond. A polished aluminum soffit beyond creates the illusion of a double height brick veil.
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Photo courtesy of H5 Architecture Inc.
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Rendering by Norm Li.
BRIGHTWATER TOWNS PORT CREDIT WEST VILLAGE BLOCK I
2021 (IN CONSTRUCTION) Port Credit, ON
superkul architects inc.
Role: Design, Drafting (SD - DD), Consultant Coordination, Site Plan Application.
PROJECT BRIEF: The first phase of a larger masterplanned community along the waterfront in Port Credit, consisting of 6 blocks of townhouse units. Each townhouse unit should feel individual and unique, and the blocks should have depth and variety within them.
The project includes a series of designs for several blocks of three-storey townhouse units ranging in width from 15’ to 23’. The design was driven by the sloped roofline and relationship to a required firewall condition halfway through the block. The pitched rooflines are accentuated by alternating the third floor terraces between the front and back of the units.
While at superkul architects, I was involved with the project from schematic design through to design development. I was responsible for design, drafting, client correspondece, and consultant coordination throughout the Site Plan Application.
The units were given a sense of individuality by ungrouping the entry doors, offsetting the front facades, and varying the materials between units. A mixture of dark brick and white cement board are used to add contrast between the two-storey and three-storey volumes. 26
Rendering by Norm Li.
One of three townhouse block designs. This design featured brick corbel detailing and a large rooftop terrace with views of Lake Ontario. 27
Rendering by Norm Li.
The second of three townhouse designs, taking on a coastal influence in its plank cladding and steeply pitched rooflines. 28
Construction photo October 31 2023, courtesy of Tim MacDonald.
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Photo by Evan Taylor.
BLASST BENCH MAKE COFFEE/STUFF GROUP
“THE BENCH” INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
2017 Winnipeg, MB
inFuture Projects Role: Designer PROJECT BRIEF: The competition’s goal was to promote the street as a public space through a designed seating-surface. Designers were required to design a bench that can engage and transform the dynamics on the street.
This project was informed by the theory that we cannot predict how a bench will be used, but we can predict how it may be constructed. BLASST is a bench formed by the cross-collaboration of builders, citizen booties, and squishy foam - creating a frothy gold nugget for the public to rest upon. The bench’s gold colour is a playful reference to its Winnipeg’s iconic five-metre tall “Golden Boy” statue which is located just a few blocks away. 30
Photos via Instagram.
“Urban Beaning” became a popular term for sitting on the golden squishy bench throughout the summer. 31
CONTACT email web
matt.hagen@live.ca ifprojects.ca