Design Quarterly Spring 2007

SPRING 2007 Vol. 7 No. 4

IDIBC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

PM 40063056

CEI’S JOHN SCOTT KITCHEN & BATH HARDWARE & FIXTURES DOORS & WINDOWS FURNITURE LIGHTING

contents SPRING 2007 Vol. 7 No. 4

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www.designquarterly.ca PUBLISHER

Dan Gnocato dang@mediaedge.ca

MANAGING EDITOR

Cheryl Mah

ACTING EDITOR

Clare Tattersall

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Heidi Balshaw Jens Birkkjaer Heidi Boudreault Susanna Chu Jon Dacquisto Jody De Vine Jennifer Fyfe Rachel Goldsworthy Kevin Gray Teresa Min Yee Hwang Chris Kourouniotis Lauren Kramer Luc Lagueux Alexandra Marshall Sylvia McDonald Sue Rainville David Roth Mavis Truscott Bernard Vachon

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Dennis Chui

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Dan Gnocato 604.739.2115 ext. 223 Lynn Donn 604.739.2112 ext. 230

PUBLISHED BY PRESIDENT Kevin Brown COVER PHOTO COURTESY ED WHITE

ON THE COVER: Designed by MCM Interiors Ltd., the Electronic Arts Campus Expansion garnered an IDIBC Award of Excellence as well as Best of Show.

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Designer Profile

John Scott One of the founding principals of CEI Architecture Planning Interiors, John Scott says team spirit and the company’s mantra — Listen, Respond, Realize — is behind the firm’s success.

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Industry Focus

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The purpose of Design Quarterly is to reflect and represent practitioners and professionals in the architectural, interior design, design resource and facilities management communities throughout British Columbia.

SPRING 2007 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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From the Editor

Designer Dreams Few people know that upon completing my undergraduate degree in criminology and history, I seriously considered studying interior design.

However, once I realized I had to submit a portfolio and it required another four years of post-secondary schooling (something I was not too keen on given I’d spent the last four years studying at the University of Toronto), I decided against it.

Instead I pursued another art and eventually returned to school to study journalism.

While my interior design days are behind me — though I did help my parents redesign their kitchen, dining area and living room, and was my dad’s saving grace as my mother originally wanted to paint the living room an obtrusive mustard yellow (in my father’s words, it would’ve been “the room that never sleeps”) — I can now live vicariously through the interior designers and architects I interview, and the projects I write about, for this magazine.

Design Quarterly also provides an opportunity for industry professionals to admire, learn from and applaud noteworthy projects, something the Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia does at its annual Awards of Excellence. This year, 16 design teams were recognized for their high caliber of design in six categories — workplaces

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

total, single residential new construction, hotels, public and institutional spaces, restaurants, bars and clubs, retail stores, kiosks and boutiques, and health care facilities.

But before we pay tribute to the crème de la crème of 2006, you’ll meet John Scott, one of the founding principals of CEI Architecture Planning Interiors. In our profile, Scott shares more than 25 years of professional experience in the industry with us as well as his early interest in sustainability.

As you flip through the pages, you’ll find a number of features in this issue from kitchens and bath to architectural hardware and fixtures, doors and windows to lighting.

We’ve also decided to devote a section in every issue to furniture as it, in some shape or form, applies to nearly all design projects. In this issue we look at indoor and outdoor residential furniture trends and the art of feng shui. So grab a seat, sit back and relax…it’s going to be a good read!

Clare Tattersall Acting Editor

designer profile

“GREEN” BEFORE ITS TIME

BY CLARE TATTERSALL

G

GROWING UP IN an artistically inclined family, it was only natural that CEI Architecture Planning Interiors partner John Scott develop an affinity for the arts. As a boy in Burnaby, B.C., Scott grew up playing and teaching piano but he also had a keen interest in buildings, construction and technical drafting (a component of architecture), something he’s still passionate about today.

“When I struck on the idea that architecture could be a wonderful future given my interest, I became quite fascinated with the work of architects in general,” says Scott. “But as I was growing up, it was suggested to me that architects may not make that much money and it was a long line to become one, so I ended up pursuing a science degree.”

This he obtained with honours from the University of British Columbia in 1974, all the while taking architecture courses on the side.

Shortly after graduating, Scott headed east to the University of Calgary to realize his dream, where he graduated four years later with a Master of Environmental Design in Architecture with a focus on building science and passive solar technology. Then 26, Scott was a strong proponent of sustainability well before the environmental initiative’s heyday.

“I’ll never forget my first interview that led to my first full-time career job (with Pendergast Peter & Partners),” recalls Scott. “The (interviewer) said, ‘This environmental sensitivity and concern over energy consumption isn’t where we make our money. We don’t do that kind of stuff,’ as if (sustainability) was quite separate, an area of interest, and you either did that or you did the real stuff.”

While it has taken almost a quarter of a century, there has been a real paradigm shift and today sustainability is at the forefront of many people’s minds.

“To me we’ve gone full circle…and it’s fascinating to watch the revival of that concern and the feeling that at long last the movement has real legs,” he says. “Now I find myself in the middle of a huge wave of interest and energy around a field of pursuit that was dear to my heart when I was learning to become an architect.”

He also finds himself being preached to by the office’s younger generation, who have been raised in this “new world of awareness.”

Scott says CEI isn’t only hiring prospective architects who are 100 per cent committed to sustainable design principles — the firm is also working towards internal sustainability.

Soaring To Great Heights After spending two years with Pendergast Peter & Partners, working primarily in residential planning, Scott returned to his environmental roots and sought a brief stint in the early ‘80s with a sustainably-oriented firm in New Mexico, only to return to Calgary and join IBI Group, a multi-disciplinary consulting organization offering services focused on architecture and urban infrastructure.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

It was then that he entered and won a citywide competition to build the first energy efficient, passive solar public housing project in Calgary.

“It was an exciting start to my tenure John Scott with IBI Group,” says Scott retrospectively, who rose through the ranks to become an associate with the firm.

Come the mid-1980s, Scott considered moving to Toronto to join Arcop Architects but, upon learning his father was gravely ill and the firm had a relatively young partner, Richard Bolus, in Vancouver, Scott decided to move back to his home town. Soon after, the two met and arranged a partnership that allowed Scott to continue operating his own consulting entity, InterPlan Consulting Group.

“We really hit it off,” says Scott. “We took on the terminal development plan project with Norr Ltd. for the Vancouver International Airport, which was a job I don’t think Richard would’ve taken on if I had not been there working with him. It was a dynamic and cooperative effort that became the catalyst for our future work together.”

Having dabbled with aviation and aeronautical engineering in university, Scott brought an added area of expertise to the fledgling partnership, which was primarily founded on their mutual interest in multi-family residential, office, industrial and commercial architectural work.

Within six months of their initial meeting, Bolus’ previous office partner, the illustrious Ron Thom, passed away. Two years later, Bolus and Scott bought out Arcop’s assets in Vancouver and established InterPlan Architecture & Planning Inc. “We ended up riding the tech wave as it rose and ebbed…and developed a lot of really dynamic buildings for much larger tenants, including Dominion Directory, Alcatel, Motorola and Spectrum…as well as a lot of single-storey flex space in business parks,” he notes.

Which included the Willingdon Park development on 23-acres of land in Burnaby.

Originally slated to be a small office park, InterPlan won the bid to design a more cutting edge park that could accommodate offices, light industrial manufacturing and distribution for Slough Estates Canada.

“We were rather brash at the time and told Slough Estates, ‘We don’t think your strategy for developing this park is as effective as it could be’,” he says. “So we created a vision that led to a million square feet of high-end industrial, high tech, commercial subur-

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Besides creating architecturally interesting and attractive buildings, such as the Simon Fraser University Chancellor gymnasium expansion, the Prostate Research Centre at Vancouver General Hospital and the new City of North Vancouver library and civic plaza to be completed by 2008, Scott says the firm’s mantra — listen, respond and realize — is the key to its recurrent clientele and, consequently, the company’s success.

“We are the synthesizers of what our clients want,” he CEI & Diamond Schmitt Architects are currently designing a 35,000-square-foot replacement library (above) explains. “We basically lead for the City of North Vancouver. through knowledge, experience and creative drive. We don’t ban office/industrial space and it ended up being the crown jewel direct clients…but instead work as a team with our clients to of Slough Estates’ international portfolio.” make sure they get the best value for their dollar.”

Twenty years later, Scott is in the final stages of developing the This democratic policy has also been implemented internally. last phase of the park.

Scott says everyone is treated equally whether they’re a principal, “Richard and I developed a very strong commitment to our associate or staff member. relationships with clients out of the work we did with Slough “We are not about a single person or a couple of people,” he Estates,” he says poignantly. notes. “The whole idea is that a little further down the road, we Something CEI has maintained to this day. can turn around and pass the torch to highly skilled, very well experienced and mature second stringers…who by then will be Passing The Torch seasoned professionals.”

It has been almost 10 years since partners Scott and Bolus joined CEI offers a stipend for ongoing education and has developed forces with Alberta-based Cohos Evamy Partnership and since a professional and personal development program to assist its then they haven’t looked back. In 1998, the pair separated from employees. The partners assess employees twice a year to identify the firm — bringing Bill Locking (who became the third foundcareer goals and determine where each employee best fits. ing principal) and a few others onboard — to become a fully However, this does not mean staff is pigeon holed. Staff may independent British Columbia practice, adopting the acronym move freely from sector to sector within the company.

CEI representing Cohos Evamy InterPlan.

In the early days, the firm focused primarily on residential, Number One Priority commercial, aviation facility infrastructure and acute care medAs CEI’s grown, so too has Scott though his design philosophy ical facilities, the latter being Locking’s area of expertise. has remained the same. At 54, Scott still firmly believes there is Today, CEI’s 70-plus staff is split between two offices, never one right answer to a design challenge and, as a result, has Vancouver and Victoria, and includes six partners (Mark Hentze, never espoused a singular design aesthetic or formulaic approach.

Jim Aalders and John Neilson joined the mix in 2005), eight asso“I believe in identifying a strong conceptual direction as a ciates and more than 45 professional staff. The firm provides foundation for every project I work on and then building the expertise in eight sectors for its wide client base: health care and design out in a collaborative process that draws heavily on input laboratories; education; recreation, leisure and culture; office, from our talented professional staff as well as our clients, not to commercial and retail; multi-family residential; industrial and mention the evolving technologies available to the industry,” he high tech; aviation and transportation; and interior design. Key says. “While design leadership and experience at the table are services include architectural design, interior design (led by critical to ensure cohesion and integrity through the design director Heidi Matthews), master planning, site analysis, space process, it is always a team effort.” planning and programming, facilitation and negotiation, feasibilFamily is also a team effort and that’s why Scott tries to spend ity studies and sustainability analysis. as much time with his wife, Mary Ann, (who is also an architect “There tends to be a thread in our clientele,” says Scott, who though she’s presently focusing on her writing career) and his sixdirects the firm’s specialized airport facility planning and design year-old son Aidan. consulting, and co-directs the firm’s business park planning, inte“He’s my extra-curricular passion at the moment,” says Scott, rior design and commercial and institutional architecture sectors. who also enjoys skiing, fly-fishing, cruising on his sailboat and “The heart and soul of our business as a practice is a pool of playing the piano. DQ

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

IDIBC Awards of Excellence

A Special Supplement to Design Quarterly

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence

Spring Forward I am saddened to let all members know president Jim Toy is on an extended medical leave. We all wish Jim a complete recovery and a speedy return to his work and IDIBC. As a transition measure, the IDIBC board appointed me interim president at the board meeting Feb. 21. I am happy to say there is a great team with lots of experience on the board, so the business of IDIBC is in good hands. I would like to thank everyone who offered their support and assistance during this transition.

The year started off with a flurry of activities to confirm sponsors and sign up new ones. The sponsorship committee did a fantastic job finalizing all sponsor commitments by mid-January. This was crucial because sponsors play a key role in our delivery of programs. We recognize their generous contributions by acknowledging them at the IDIBC Awards of Excellence and Design Northwest. We greatly appreciate all our sponsors’ support and want to thank the sponsorship committee for their hard work.

Another big thank you and congratulation is in order to the awards and events committees for delivering a fantastic awards event this year. It was a great venue, with good food, wine, company and fantastic design. Congratulations to all designers who entered their work.

The booth at Design Northwest was also a wonderful success. We had lots of people stop by to chat, students expressed interest in joining IDIBC, suppliers offered to volunteer and a number of sponsors signed up in those two days. We particularly want to thank Inform, one of our Silver Sponsors, for loaning us their furniture — it sure was an eye-catcher.

And it doesn’t stop there. The AIBC graciously offered their gallery space to showcase the designs entered for the 2006 Awards of Excellence. The opening night of the exhibition was Mar. 1, after which the show opened to the public for a month. This was a great way to display all the fantastic work submitted by our members.

I always feel renewed energy at the first signs of spring and, thankfully, the season is upon us. I am looking forward to a busy next couple of months of work, school (the dreaded Code course) and play, and encourage everyone to come out to events, volunteer and support your association. We have a wonderful design community, so get involved as we only get better by working together.

Happy spring everyone!

Judith Horvath, RID, IDC Interim President Interior Designers Institute of B.C.

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High-Tech Heaven

BY CLARE TATTERSALL PHOTOS COURTESY ED WHITE COMPUTER AND VIDEO games have come a long way since Spacewar!, one of the first games ever conceived. Today, gamers enjoy 3-D graphics, complex visual effects and increasing levels of realism. Kids and grownups alike can step into the shoes of their favourite movie hero like James Bond in From Russia With Love, or sports celebrity, such as Pittsburgh Penguin Sidney Crosby in NHL 07, both games created by the world’s leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software, Electronic Arts (EA).

Since its inception, EA has been heralded as a trendsetter and this reaches beyond the gaming industry. Completed in 1999, its Burnaby-based Canadian headquarters was designed by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership and MCM Interiors Ltd. to motivate and inspire the company’s employees. And that it did. With time,

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

Client:

Electronic Arts (Canada) Inc.

Location:

Burnaby, B.C.

Interior Design Team:

Mark Whitehead, Edith Wormsbecker, Lara Pisicoli, John Parkinson, Ken Bunn, Sarah Nelles, Nicola Law

Architect:

Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership

General Contractor:

PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.

Square Footage:

175,000

Project Completion:

June 2006

the company grew in size and was in need of more room to house its current, as well as next generation of, creative employees.

Naturally EA turned to MCM to design its 175,000-square-foot campus expansion.

“The client really pushed us to develop something that hasn’t been developed before,” says senior designer Lara Pisicoli. “But they also wanted to continue the language of the architecture and interiors done in Phase 1 in Phase 2.”

Which is the case. The spectacular project earned the firm a gold award and the Best of Show at the 2006 IDIBC Awards of Excellence. Judges praised the project for its innovative design, with one judge commenting, “I wish I could say this was my design.”

“I was happy,” says Pisicoli about the firm’s win. “I know there was a lot of work that went into the project and it ended up looking really cool in the end…so it was a nice pat on the back for everyone involved.”

The design concept was inspired by EA’s game development and draws parallels between elements that are just as important to creating interactive video games as they are to creating architecture and design: light, movement, colour, graphics, pixelation, scale, super reality, texture and nature. Each floor highlights one of these themes through the use of finishes, materials, lighting, art graphics and specialty designed workstations located in key focal areas.

On the ground floor, the atrium space spans the entire length of the building and includes shared campus amenity spaces — RecrEAte fitness, health and wellness centre complete with a NBA regulation sized gymnasium, Think Tank café lounge, catering kitchen, 175-seat classroom-style theatre, conference centre and EA university training facility.

“The design of the atrium space helps to create that sense of interactivity because you feel connected through the atrium,” explains Pisicoli. “You can see via the atrium all the levels and people moving through the various floors.”

Glass was used throughout to create transparency. MCM designed a series of footbridges to link the various workspaces and a central spiral stairway to connect the five floors.

“The stair is the epicentre of activity and from that the energy radiates outwards,” she notes.

In the center of the stairwell is a photo-luminescent blue light tape that flips, twists and turns, creating an interactive experience as one travels from floor to floor. Inspired by one of EA’s games in which a snowboard’s movements are tracked by a blue light as the boarder races down the mountain, the light tape serves two other purposes: it emphasizes one of EA’s corporate colours, which is also found in the Think Tank café lounge, and the theme of movement (that’s played up on the third floor too).

Texture is accentuated on the second floor, pixelation on the fourth and light on the fifth.

The design team encountered a number of challenges on this complex, lengthy project, which spanned almost three years.

Pisicoli says it was difficult to create the same level of interactivity EA’s staff was accustomed to in the games they design, as well as meet the fast-track project schedule, rising construction costs and budget. However, the design team persevered.

Large-scale, backlit art features were incorporated into the interior to create conversational pieces, interest and focal points.

In fact, one of EA’s own artists designed the four-storey high sports-inspired graphic found in the atrium.

“One of the most amazing things about this project was the opportunity to collaborate and work with some of EA’s top creative talent on the design of the large scale art,” she says.

Special lighting effects provide drama, add a dreamlike quality to the space and create a cool atmosphere at night. Across from the Think Tank café lounge, designed to be a place of inspiration and retreat, is a quartzite stone wall embedded with the latest and greatest in audio-visual technology.

“There are a number of quotes incorporated into the walls, acrylic panels and along the edges of the ceiling (of the café),” Pisicoli points out. “They’re all quotes of famous artists or sports-related athletes that talk about innovation, challenge and creativity.”

Another challenge was designing the building to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standards.

“EA has some huge electrical usage requirements based on the individual equipment everybody has on their desks so, given how much infrastructure is built-in, it was interesting how we were able to meet some of the energy efficiency categories,” says Pisicoli.

MCM incorporated a multitude of environmentally responsible solutions into the design of Phase 2, including: low-flow fixtures for toilets; faucets with sensors; low voltage light-emitting diode (LED) lights; a radiant cooling mechanical system; water detention tanks; wall panel products made of recycled aluminium; fly ash concrete and bamboo flooring; gypsum board; wheat board millwork; low volatile organic compound (VOC) adhesives, sealants, finishes and paints; and energy efficient appliances. DQ

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SPRING 2007 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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PROSCENIUM ARCHITECTURE AND Interiors Inc. successfully

fused clean, contemporary elements with the existing architectural charm of this warehouse to garner the design team a gold award at this year’s IDIBC Awards of Excellence.

Judges applauded the “fantastic transformation” of the 7,400square-foot space and proclaimed “the designers delivered the goods.”

“It’s always wonderful to be recognized by your peers,” says Proscenium principal Hugh Cochlin following the awards ceremony.

The interior renovation project involved updating the office space to make it more aesthetically pleasing and to encourage communication while allowing for acoustical privacy, upgrading the existing structure to meet current seismic, accessibility and life-safety codes and creating a more functional warehouse.

“Conceptually we came up with an idea of basically stripping the skeleton back to its bones and keeping things as open as possible and trying to get as much light penetration as possible,” explains Cochlin.

Freestanding walls were layered throughout the second floor in conjunction with floor-to-ceiling glazed offices to maximize light and create an airy feel.

Proscenium retained the second floor loading bay to maintain the integrity of the warehouse as well as the existing fir wood and steel ceiling with exposed beams, which was sandblasted back to its original beauty.

According to interior designer Kerri Shinkewski, one of the most challenging aspects of this project was the flooring.

Aggregate was added to the concrete mixture and then, once it cured, “was polished to such a state to make it look like (grey) terrazzo,” she says, adding some of the floor was inlayed with walnut wood to create an interesting dichotomy between the rough, cold concrete and the beautiful, warm wood.

“In the end it turned out really well.”

Another challenge was the creation of a steel and cantilever glass bridge directly above the main entry, connecting the second floor office to the loading doors, which served a dual purpose — in the summer they can be opened up to allow “volume through.”

“I think the loading bridge is probably one of the most striking features as it married the functional requirements of the space with the overall design aesthetic,” she says.

Other distinguishing features include the folded-plate steel, walnut and Wenge wood staircase that showcases the owner’s horse sculpture, which stands underneath the stairwell.

Accentuating The Architecture

BY CLARE TATTERSALL PHOTOS COURTESY ED WHITE

W O R K P L A C E S T O TA L G O L D PROSCENIUM ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS INC. – VANCOUVER OFFICE

Shinkewski describes the final product as “warm and inviting,” just like the colour theme chosen for the space. Warm white walls adorn the space, with greys, browns and black used as accents. In the lobby, chocolate brown leather chairs await those coming and going, while smooth black leather and mesh chairs can be found throughout.

“The owner was very open minded, willing to do things and provided input, which helped make the project a success,” says Shinkewski. “There was also funding behind (the project), which was key.” DQ

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

Location:

Vancouver, B.C.

Interior Design Team:

Hugh Cochlin, Jennifer Stanley, Kerri Shinkewski, Kori Chan, Jordan Van Dijk, Beth Denny, Jacqueline Wiles

Architect:

Proscenium Architecture & Interiors Inc.

General Contractor:

Darwin Construction Ltd.

Square Footage:

7,400

Project Completion:

October 2005

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West Coast ‘Wow’

BY CLARE TATTERSALL PHOTOS COURTESY PHILIP JARMAIN

AT 6,000 SQUARE feet, this Kitslano private residence wasn’t the

largest interior design project Lesli Balagno’s ever tackled but it was certainly one of the most rewarding. With the client working and living abroad in Hong Kong, Balagno was able to reveal the completed residence to the homeowner in its entirety, a rarity in this industry.

“That was probably one of the most exciting parts for me, being able to present the house finished, fully furnished, fully detailed, everything installed and ready to go. He just had to bring his suitcase,” says Balagno, owner of HB Design Consultants in West Vancouver. “It doesn’t happen very often that you can put flowers on the table and the client walks in and says, ‘Wow’.”

Built from the ground up, the three-storey, three bedroom abode sits on the water’s edge. Two large patios provide ample space to entertain or simply enjoy the breathtaking coastal view.

Having travelled the world for both business and pleasure, the client (a Vancouver-native) wanted the home to be refined in

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

detail yet comfortable in design, with enough space conducive to entertaining guests.

“The client wanted sophistication but he wanted to feel he could sit down on the sofa and put his feet up on the coffee table,” explains Balagno.

It was also important the space be fully functional for his mother, who would primarily reside in the relaxed yet elegant residence, the exterior envelope relate to the interior design and, having lived abroad for quite some time, the home abide by feng shui principles and include a mix of modern and Asian elements, wishes Balagno fulfilled.

It was this that led to HB Design Consultants winning a gold award at the IDIBC Awards of Excellence. The judges praised the project for its interesting mix of Japanese and contemporary design, well thought out details and overall sophistication.

“The house was so successful because the client didn’t question everything I wanted to do,” says Balagno. “Once he trusted that I

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had a vision, I understood what I was doing (and) I was qualified, he let me do my job and that’s where you get the best product at the end of the day.”

Consistency also played an important part in the project’s success, she adds.

“We changed the materials a little bit but the actual detailing was very uniform from room to room.”

From top to bottom, clean, symmetrical architectural lines, rich materials and Asian aesthetics abound. All decorative hardware is done in an oil-rubbed bronze.

Warm Brazilian cherry wood can be found throughout on the floors and millwork, with great big, beautiful wood sliding doors used to separate rooms and inject an Asian-feel.

Balagno chose a predominantly earthy colour palette to reflect the outdoors. She painted much of the house a beautiful cream and used turquoise blue tones reminiscent of the sea as accents.

The main level is built around a large entertainment area, outfitted with a stateof-the-art audio visual system, a sophisticated lighting and security system, bronze fireplace and large plasma television, which is the focal point of the room.

Warm, golden brown custom designed chenille and mohair furniture surround an impressive, bronzed coffee table, which sits atop a custom made, hand knotted rug from Nepal.

Location:

Vancouver, B.C.

Interior Design Team: Lesli Balagno Architect:

Formwerks Homes Inc.

Architectural Team:

Howard Airey, Kathy Henry

General Contractor:

Keystone Projects Ltd.

Square Footage:

6,000

Project Completion:

July 2006

A second Nepalese rug can be found in the dining area along with a custom designed, large plank walnut dining room table that seats eight. The blue-green Hawaiian-inspired dining room armchairs add a touch of whimsy to the subdued space. A large Holly Hunt Altar Light hangs from the ceiling, its candles illuminating the beautiful grained woodwork that extends into the kitchen.

The kitchen features the latest high-end appliances, including Gaggenau’s new steam oven. The sleek design of the technologically advanced Wolf Range compliments the rest of the stainless steel appliances supplied by Midland Appliances.

The backsplash is made of tumbled glass reminiscent of beach glass, which plays up the west coast, outdoors feel. A large, Asian-inspired four-post island can be used for prepping or plating food.

A sitting room, bedroom and powder room adorned with silk walls and furnished with an Asian-influenced chest, copper bowled sink and large wood mirror complete the main floor layout. The basement includes a full theatre, a wine cellar, powder room and laundry room.

Upstairs is the guest bedroom, his and her offices, and master bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The focus of the master bedroom is yet another Asian-inspired piece — an expansive headboard with built in millwork. Cotton and mohair linens in shades of aqua and camel add richness to this cozy room. A separate tub room was incorporated into the second floor layout to provide a spa-like experience. Cherry framed windows anchor the room along with the grand Asian-style light fixture that hangs overtop the freestanding tub. LED lights were installed in the floor to light up the beautiful blue silk wall covering. DQ

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SPRING 2007 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence

H O T E L S , P U B L I C & I N S T I T U T I O N A L S PA C E S G O L D / E N V I R O N M E N T A L PENNER & ASSOCIATES INTERIOR DESIGN INC. – CPR ARBUTUS LANDS PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

Client:

Canadian Pacific Railway

Location:

Vancouver, B.C.

Interior Design Team:

Shelley Penner, Robin McIntosh, Saleem Khattak

General Contractor:

Mona Construction

Square Footage:

1,212

Project Completion:

Summer 2006

Laying The Groundwork

BY CLARE TATTERSALL PHOTOS COURTESY MARTIN TESSLER ONCE A BUSTLING railway line used to transport passengers

(prior to 1958) and ship freight, the click-clack of the Arbutus Lands corridor train tracks was silenced in 2001. After more than 100 years of good use, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) decided to discontinue service on the line as it was no longer economically viable.

Five years later, CPR launched the Arbutus Lands Visioning Process to engage the public in deciding the underutilized land’s fate. Committed to environmental, social and economic sustainability, CPR enlisted Penner & Associates Interior Design Inc., a proponent of environmentally sensitive principles, to design a community drop-in centre, where people could gather and provide input on the future of the land.

The client wanted the Arbutus Lands Information Centre to not only be attractive, inviting and comfortable but to be as sustainable as possible, a definite challenge considering it was a temporary installation — a one year lease to be exact.

However, Penner & Associates pulled through, planning the space not only for the present but keeping in mind how the various elements in the space could be used by the client and community in the future. This, in part, earned the design team a 2006 IDIBC Gold Award of Excellence as well as an Environmental nod. The judges applauded the holistic approach the design team took to the project and affirmed “it was not just good environmental design but good design period.”

“We were absolutely thrilled (we won),” says director of design Robin McIntosh. “We successfully met the client’s requirements to attract public attention and provide a warm, welcoming space for people to drop in and share their views on how they’d like to see their neighbourhood develop. So, for a short while anyway, it felt like it was part of the neighbourhood.”

Situated on the corner of West Boulevard and West 38th Street, the 1,212-square-foot storefront community centre was originally a restaurant. The new fit-up included a flexible meeting area and conversational seating space with lounge chairs made from 25 per cent recycled content. Once the lease was up, approximately 90 per cent of the materials and products were salvaged and donated

by CPR to local non-profit organizations.

“A wonderful thing about this being a short-term lease is you’re not concerned as much about something having to stand the test of time,” explains McIntosh. “So, it was a really good opportunity to test different materials.”

Including strawboard, used to construct the reception desk,

computer podium, “flip-flop” tables in the meeting area and countertops. Manufactured in Elie, Man., this wheat fibreboard is made from the waste product of an agricultural crop and then finished with beeswax.

“We mixed the beeswax with lavender so it had a nice smell to it,” she notes, adding the beeswax gave the strawboard a warm, rich, luminous look.

A warm straw colour was chosen for the walls to compliment the reception area and cinnamon-red, reminiscent of the Arbutus tree’s bark, was used in the wool carpet tile and on the walls in the cork-floored washroom that was outfitted with a dual-flush toilet, low-flow faucet aerator and a salvaged fir wood vanity.

Greys and browns were also used throughout the space, echoing the outdoors. To reduce gas emissions and protect indoor air quality, all paints, primers, finishes and adhesives used had no or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Penner & Associates worked with an industrial designer, Saleem Khattak, in the creation of display panels to showcase graphics generated by public workshops and attract the curiosity of walk-by and vehicular traffic. A linoleum product made from natural renewable materials, such as linseed oil, cork, jute and rosin, was used on the face of the bulletin boards.

Of all the intricate detailing that went into the space, from the salvaged fir suspended ceiling boards and column to the repetition of horizontal bands in the ceiling, floor pattern and linear lighting that alluded to the now-defunct rail line, McIntosh says the corridor aerial photo was possibly her favourite aspect of the finished space.

“It was fun for people to come in and find their house located along the (Arbutus) line,” she says. “It was also an interactive space.”

The backlit aerial photo, which ran the length of the space, was mounted to slip-in Plexiglas panels that could be easily removed and installed in another location.

Other “green” products and principles incorporated into the design included energy-efficient T8 fluorescent ambient lighting, Energy Star-rated appliances and pre-fabricated modular units that could be taken out and reused.

“An important part of the (project) was to see that the materials used could be reused in other ways,” notes McIntosh.

Which goes for the landscaping work too. While Penner & Associates wasn’t responsible for designing the landscaping, the firm did arrange for it on behalf of their client, CPR, who presented it as a gift to the community at the end of its lease. DQ

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence TWENTY-FIVE YEARS ago, the first Earls restaurant opened up in

Edmonton, Alta. Today, there are more than 50 of the timeless, casual dining establishments throughout Western Canada, Arizona and Colorado, and now there’s another one in Winnipeg, Man. Located in the St. Vital shopping centre, the 350-seat restaurant is known for its good eats and tasty treats, as well as it being Earls’ first stand-alone prototype building. The goal was to develop a standard (or flagship) building envelope and innovative interior design for all future stand-alone structures and, more importantly, create an atmosphere that lends itself to an unforgettable customer experience.

“Everybody wanted to make sure this was really the best restaurant in Winnipeg,” says lead project designer Maria Kim of E+ Design & Construction, a division of Earls Restaurants Ltd. The beautifully designed and well thought out restaurant earned the design team (who is also, in essence, the client) a gold IDIBC Award.

The judges were impressed with the project’s sophistication, the use of a wide variety of materials and the overall impact of the design, adding the project team did “great work taking advantage of the expansive volume.”

At more than 6,900 square feet, Earls St. Vital is as grandiose as any of its other establishments. The west coast inspired design includes magnificent sweeping ceilings, a gargantuan dining area, large dangling chandeliers and a massive bar.

However, what’s unique is the metal and oak wood “barrel vault” suspended ceiling in the upper dining area, designed to differentiate the space from the rest of the open concept floor plan, create visual interest and reduce the ceiling height level.

“The highest point of the (slanted) roof is 22-feet, so we wanted to bring down the space and make it more comfortable,” explains Kim. The design team used a lot of warm wood — oak and cedar — in the space to keep it cozy. Ipe, an incredibly strong, durable Brazilian walnut wood, was used on parts on the floor and parallam beams were chosen to support the roof.

“A lot of the materials were driven by wanting to keep that west coast feel…and trying to bring the outside-in,” she notes, adding the restaurant contains a lot of exposed, beige-coloured brick.

Classy Casual Dining

BY CLARE TATTERSALL PHOTOS COURTESY ROGER BROOKS

R E S TA U R A N T S , B A R S & C L U B S G O L D E+ DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION (A DIVISION OF EARLS RESTAURANTS) – EARLS ST. VITAL

Grey porcelain tile was used in the entryway, which is flanked by a custom made double-sided fireplace, vinyl, chocolate brown bench suspended from the wall and a like-coloured “floating” wood display table.

Upon entering the dining area, a 10-foot high, wood framed, backlit wine display is sure to catch customers’ eyes, both inside and out. The 30-foot wide display spans an entire wall and is covered with clerestory glazing.

Client:

Earls Restaurants Ltd.

Location:

Winnipeg, Man.

Interior Design Team:

Maria Kim

Architect:

Romses Architects Inc.

General Contractor:

Pre-Con Builders

Square Footage:

7,534

Project Completion:

July 2006

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

Large, circular metal and plastic chandeliers hang from the ceiling, adding another point of interest.

Eight flat-screen televisions surround the stone-faced, solid quartz topped bar, providing entertainment for patrons.

Warm creams and chocolate browns can be found throughout the space — on the walls, vinyl furniture and in the striped carpet.

The design team worked closely with Romses Architects Inc. over the course of a year to develop the stunning $3.5 million structure. The major challenge was coming up with a tight floor plan. “We were trying to get the most seats and tables into the restaurant as possible, so it took a couple floor plans to get it right,� explains Kim. Looking back on the development process, Kim says she’s satisfied with the results. “It was great to go to the site after the restaurant was open and running,� she says. “We got goose bumps when we saw all the people in there. It was an emotional moment.� DQ

Located in Winnipeg, Man., Earls St. Vital is the first stand-alone prototype building.

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence

R E S TA U R A N T S , B A R S & C L U B S G O L D M STUDIO DESIGN CONSULTANTS INC. – OCEAN CLUB

North Shore Suave

BY CLARE TATTERSALL PHOTOS COURTESY ROGER BROOKS LOCATED ON THE northwest side of the Lions Gate Bridge just

minutes from downtown Vancouver is one of the coolest restaurants to crop up on the North Shore. The Ocean Club’s “ocean wise” certified, west coast cuisine, featuring Alaskan scallops, Ahi tuna, iced oysters and seared sockeye salmon, is accentuated by the coastal colours and materials used in the restaurant/lounge design.

“The clients wanted to have an upscale, hip club that would belong in downtown Vancouver but actually be in West Vancouver. That way, they didn’t have to cross the bridge to have that (uptown) experience,” says M Studio Design Consultants Inc. principal Marilou Rudakewich.

The design team incorporated warm finishes and fixtures with “sensual” materials, mood lighting and an intimate layout to create a high-end, sophisticated yet casual setting that reflected the menu and clientele.

Natural walnut wood and oyster slate ledgestone were used in an understated yet modern way throughout the space to create textural interest and a west coast feel. The light-coloured, straight grain, walnut veneer wood can be found on the dining tables as well as the curved wall that cocoons the dining space.

The bar, which serves up a bevy of beverages, is topped with white marble that ties in with the contemporary white leather furniture, chosen for its “breezy feel.” A see-through gas fireplace was installed between the entryway and the VIP lounge to add warmth to the space.

As for lighting, Rudakewich says it was kept simple and used strategically throughout the design.

“Instead of light fixtures being the focus, lighting was used to

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

illuminate furniture, tabletops and walls,” she explains. “It was used to create a nice ambiance and only things that meant to be lit were lit.”

Such as the strong, moody black and white photography of ocean scenes taken by a local artist and prominently displayed in the niches on the curved wall.

Much work went into the planning and design of the coveted 3,300-square-foot Ocean Club, which rivals the best of Vancouver for food, service and atmosphere. Set within an existing office building and surrounded by a parking lot, the space had to be completely gutted before the design team could get to work.

The challenge was to make the restaurant/lounge fit into the site.

“We didn’t want people to come into the space and feel like they were in an office tower in a parking lot,” says Rudakewich.

“We had to put that little bit extra into the interior so that as soon as people were in the space they were transported somewhere else.”

The same went for the outdoor patio, which overlooks the Capilano River.

Client: Derek Pink & Dave Kershaw Since it physically Location: West Vancouver, B.C. sits in the parking Interior Design Team: Marilou Rudakewich, May Cheng lot, M Studio built a Architect: Peter Chu Architect semitransparent General Contractor: New Generation Construction Ltd. wood screen around the patio to Square Footage: 3,300 make it feel special Project Completion: April 2006 and more secluded. DQ

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence FUNCTIONALITY, FLEXIBILITY AND a nurturing atmosphere is a combination you don’t often find in a call centre. But when Kasian Architecture Interiors & Planning Ltd. was called on to design and decorate a 35,000-square-foot call centre in Surrey, B.C., for the Canada Revenue Agency’s Vancouver client services division, the company was determined to create a space that married those three factors.

Kasian ensured there were relaxing quiet rooms that could serve as an oasis from the cubicles and telephones, and provide space for personal calls or one-on-one meetings. They designed a space that had maximum access to natural light, kept workstation walls low and managed to achieve optimum sound control without blocking visual contact.

W O R K P L A C E S T O TA L S I L V E R KASIAN ARCHITECTURE INTERIOR DESIGN & PLANNING LTD. – CANADA REVENUE AGENCY CALL CENTRE

A Formative Approach

BY LAUREN KRAMER PHOTOS COURTESY ED WHITE

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

The result earned the firm an IDIBC silver award, with judges remarking the open environment had strong personality, one that was both calm and airy.

“We maximized people’s access to light and views by pulling any hard wall spaces into and around the core,” says Carol Jones, principal of interior design. “That means that on all three sides of the building, people were exposed to light and to a beautiful view.” Workstation walls were kept low, with translucent panels on the top to add privacy without blocking the light. And a sound masking system in the ceiling and high quality carpet worked together to block noise as much as possible.

“We offset the orientation of the employees slightly to interrupt some of the flow of noise,” says Jones.

That meant workstations with 120-degree planning, as opposed to 90-degree planning. The Kasian team also ensured there were adequate circulation corridors in-between the stations and used ergonomic chairs, workstations and storage units to ensure comfort, flexibility, ease of adjustment and support throughout the space.

One of the most important areas for Kasian was the shared staff space.

“It performs a valuable service by offering people a respite,” explains Jones. “The nature of call centres is that people tend not to leave the floor often. They’re encouraged to take their breaks on the floor, so it was very important for them to have an amenity space for staff that felt nice, was clean, modern, inviting and had a slight residential character to it — not unlike a living room.

Jones and her team used contemporary lounge seating, adding a nice kitchen area. They positioned the staff amenity room along the window so employees could look out over the beautiful views.

A raised counter with seating faces out towards the view, giving staff an option of counter seating for a quick lunch or to relax with friends in the low seating living space.

“Kasian did a great job of integrating the project vision and the objectives throughout the design by providing appropriate and innovative solutions, such as the multi-functional training space and kitchen/lounge areas, which maximized the functional capacity of the space,” says Janice Lilley, regional manager of architectural services for Public Works and Government Services Canada, Pacific Region. “The 120-degree ergonomic workstations have the right balance of openness and privacy, (and) functionality and flexibility that we were looking for in the design.”

Another important feature of the space was the quiet rooms, which were decorated in neutral colours to add a serene touch.

“Quiet rooms are being used more and more,” says Jones.

“So, if someone needs shortterm privacy, this is a place they can retreat to,” “A call centre can be a stressful place to work as people are on the phone all the time, sometimes with unhappy customers,” she continues. “If you’ve had a bad call, the quiet room is a place where you can go and decompress.” DQ

Client:

Public Works & Government Services Canada

Location:

Surrey, B.C.

Interior Design Team:

Carol Jones, Judith Horvath, Vivian Hsiao, Lori Atherton, Debbie Day

Architect:

Kasian Architecture Interiors & Planning Ltd.

General Contractor:

Edifice Construction

Square Footage:

35,000

Completion Date:

January 2006

Decorated in neutral colours to invoke a serene feel, the quiet rooms were an important feature of the Canada Revenue Agency call centre.

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence

A “Green” Vision

BY CLARE TATTERSALL PHOTOS COURTESY MARTIN TESSLER

THE CANADA GREEN Building Council (CaGBC) was created in 2002 to encourage the design and construction of green buildings across the country, so it’s no wonder the national organization wanted its Vancouver office to practice what it preaches.

It’s also not a surprise that the CaGBC commissioned one of its members — Penner & Associates Interior Design Inc. — to implement its “green” vision.

“We wanted it to be a place that was comfortable for them to work,” says director of design Robin McIntosh. “We (also) wanted it to be a bright and open feeling space because it is a very small (space) and they are a rapidly growing organization.”

At 722 square feet, the CaGBC’s Vancouver office is only slightly bigger than the city’s average one-bedroom apartment. However, five employees call it home.

W O R K P L A C E S T O TA L S I L V E R PENNER & ASSOCIATES INTERIOR DESIGN INC. – CANADA GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL VANCOUVER OFFICE

Client:

Canadian Green Building Council

Location:

Vancouver, B.C.

Interior Design Team:

Shelley Penner, Robin McIntosh

Square Footage:

722

Project Completion:

September 2006

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

The design criteria for this project encompassed providing workspace for the client’s employees, including a reception area, three open workstations, one enclosed office and one meeting room/coffee station, using recycled materials and employing “green” strategies to obtain a high level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and soliciting “green” products, such as furniture, lighting and carpet. “(The CaGBC) is a non-profit organization so we were not only working with a tight budget,” says McIntosh. “We also had to solicit donations from manufacturers and suppliers that wanted to feature their exceptionally green products and technologies, which added another layer to the project.”

And added more value. With all the donations, the space is now worth more than $70,000 and it shows. The Vancouver office is outfitted with clean lined, aesthetically appealing furniture, lots of technologically innovative lighting and modern detailing to compliment the heritage character of the building, including solid Douglas fir millwork and recycled glass mosaic backsplash tile.

Walking into the space, McIntosh says the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood and steel reception desk is the most striking feature.

“It showcases the beauty of the wood and it relates to the old fir beams that are exposed in the ceiling,” she notes. “It also solves the functional problem of the entry…which was a bit narrow and convoluted.”

The design team created a curved wall at the entry to improve a less than ideal orientation of the door and awkward circulation flow.

Another eye-catching feature is the exposed red brick wall, however, what’s most impressive is the large number of natural products — pure wool felt upholstery fabric, bio-based PLA fibre in the carpet tile, hemp fibre countertop, linoleum tackboard, grasses laminated into clear resin, and FSC-certified cherry veneer finished furniture containing no added urea-formaldehyde and made of strawboard core and panel fabric with recycled content — and environmental strategies employed in the space.

Daylight and occupancy sensors with dimming ballasts on fluorescent lighting, low voltage light-emitting diode (LED) accent lights and Energy Star-rated appliances and equipment conserve energy. To reduce water consumption, the design team selected a low-flow faucet aerator.

Composite wood and laminate adhesives containing no added ureaformaldehyde, polyvinyl chloride-free shades and low volatile organic compound (VOC) adhesives, sealants, finishes and paints were used to improve indoor air quality. High-reflectance colours, such as the warm white used on the walls, were chosen to maximize daylight. Green was used as an accent to tie the client’s corporate colour into the office. DQ

Global Dishes, Local Design

BY CLARE TATTERSALL PHOTOS COURTESY BOB MATHESON PEACH BELLINIS, PASSION fruit margaritas and fresh pome-

granate mojitos are but a few of a slew of signature cocktails customers can sample at Joeys Grill Lounge Patio. The tropical drinks conjure up memories of heavenly holidays and so too does the cabana bar on the rooftop patio. Faced with white limestone and capped with an under-lit blue acrylic bar top, the 16-foot bar seats eight though countless others can crowd around the resplendent space and admire the light brown stucco bar wall with inset mirror panels.

“The patio is one of the most popular places in the restaurant,” says Urban Design Group Architects Ltd. principal Rick Jones.

“As soon as the weather warms up it will be packed.”

Covered with a louvered glass roof, flagstone flooring, tiki torches and fitted with built-in radiant heaters, the patio is, in fact, open well past the summer months. Guests can relax in one of the bar’s bamboo seats or resort-style lounge chairs and take in the awe-inspiring white textured marble wall waterfall and grandeur of the Vancouver skyline.

Inside, the 200-seat restaurant offers new world cuisine in a west coast setting.

“We wanted something that would provide consumers with a favourite place to be at with a casual, warm atmosphere,” explains Jones.

And the client, Joeys Restaurants, wanted the new building to standout in a crowded and competitive restaurant market and

Client:

Joeys Restaurants

Location:

Vancouver, B.C.

provide a point Interior Design Team: Richard Kolodziej, David Wong, of difference in Robin Noble, Ron Vornbrock the experienced Architect: Urban Design Group Architects Ltd. eyes of its new General Contractor: Bird Construction Company customers.

Square Footage: 9,108 Constructed of Project Completion: June 2006 arched Glulam beams, cedar decking and tapered stone columns, “people really can’t pass by the building without noticing it,” says Jones, adding the design team carried the warm, inviting exterior indoors.

An abundance of wood can be found throughout including the lounge, which is adorned with a curved, cedar ceiling with Glulam beams. Comfy black vinyl booths, tables and chairs are fabricated with dark stained millwork.

Besides the architecturally interesting exterior roof, the most striking feature of the restaurant is the maple and walnut stained and upholstered panelled bar in the lounge. Located behind the black granite topped bar is a backlit liquor shelving unit that spans the entire 24-foot bar, which rests upon a 12-inch by 24inch dark brown striped tile floor.

A three dimensional, textured wall adds interest to the space as well as the large glass windows separating the lounge from the 102-seat dining area, providing “sound control.”

Circular and pendant lighting imported from New York and Bangkok illuminate both areas, creating a tranquil setting. DQ

R E S TA U R A N T S , B A R S & C L U B S S I L V E R URBAN DESIGN GROUP ARCHITECTS LTD. – JOEYS GRILL LOUNGE PATIO

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence

Simplicity Sells

BY SUSANNA CHU PHOTOS COURTESY MARTIN TESSLER

R E TA I L S T O R E S , K I O S K S & B O U T I Q U E S S I L V E R SEETON SHINKEWSKI DESIGN GROUP LTD. – ROGERS WIRELESS

THE ASSIGNMENT: TAKE a 673-square-foot, cluttered cell-phone

store with 20-foot high ceilings and, using 3-D branding, turn it into a sophisticated, high-impact flagship outlet. By the way, a giant four-foot by four-foot pillar sits in the middle of this retail space. It’s a high-profile downtown corner location and the exterior is all glass.

“My first impression was of a glass cube,” says Gerry Shinkewski, describing the re-branding of the Rogers Wireless outlet on Robson and Seymour streets. “We had to work within the proportions.”

A principal at Seaton Shinkewski Design Group Ltd., Shinkewski set out to write the story of what the space could be.

Gone were the cluttered, mismatched colours, signage and ads with their jarring, glaring print.

“We wanted the place to stay clean and pristine in the design detailing. By eliminating the visual garbage, we could concentrate on the item the store was selling — the cell phone.”

Everything had to be simple and uncluttered — and solidly fixed to stay that way.

“Our primary goal was to make the space sculptural so the (sensory) appeal was immediate…Shapes were angular, clean, fixed — and every once in a while we had fun” says Shinkewski.

“Every item that we chose, we chose it for its sculptural feel.”

Rather than set the service counter demurely to one side, Shinkewski drove it at an angle into the heart of the store.

“Bang! It comes out strong and bold. Then everything else

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

plays off that strong element. From there, everything is simplicity itself. There are two telephone displays and that’s it for parts.”

The angular counter, with its equally sculptural, fixed seats, has the mass to balance the pillar dominating the space. Dressed in nothing but thick, corporate red Plexiglas, the backlit column piques the curiosity of passersby.

On the functional side of the space planning, Shinkewski brought a wall forward to create a storage system, which also hides a large, unsightly electrical panel and anchors the service desk.

The eye candy came in the ceiling detail, an Armstrong system of suspended white arcs.

“We just hid it with light so it looked like a light fixture, just to stop the eye from travelling up to the ceiling above. It’s an eyestopper.”

Like the seating, the highly sculptural light fixtures are strong enough to stand on their own but still tie into the overall design direction. The lighting plays off display items to create shape and volume.

“The cell phone is the Client: Rogers Wireless most important (part of Location: Vancouver, B.C. the sales message),” says Interior Design Team: Gerry Shinkewski, Arnold Kee Shinkewski. “But how do General Contractor: Reotech you get the emotion hapSquare Footage: 673 pening so that you zoom Completion Date: July 2006 in on one phone? Every purchase is an emotional

buy. It is part of the image you’re putting out.”

Further reinforcing the brand, the seating and central pillar pick up on the red of the Rogers logo.

“But everything else is white-on-white-on-white as we could get it — to increase the impact from the street.”

Indeed, everything from the display units to the computers had to be all white. The client did not even object to turning the Rogers logo into a whiteon-white glowing watermark.

This striking palette complements the project’s luxury retail finishes. Shying away from traditional plastic laminates, Shinkewski opted for a heavy, half-inch thick, solidcore material similar to countertop finishes.

“It has a softness to it to create a textural feel.” DQ

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence

Leading From The Edge

BY SUSANNA CHU PHOTOS COURTESY JOE BORELLI

WHEN WAS THE last time you compared your dentist’s office to a spa? Yet that is exactly the visitor experience Karo Design wanted for the University of British Columbia (UBC) Oral Health Centre.

“UBC wanted to make this the most customer-friendly environment, so the user experience was at the top of our agenda,” says Barry Marshall, the project’s creative director. “Most patients are semi-anxious when they arrive.”

Inspired by UBC’s vision of “Leading from the Edge” (a wordplay on “leading edge” and the oceanside location), the colours, materials and imagery throughout the clinic reflect the West Coast’s shoreline: a soft palette of forest, beach and ocean hues; textured features such as a woven, natural cedar wall; and Graham Osborne beach and rainforest photos. This coastal rain-

With pragmatic concerns driving the design, the sea of 144 identical, sanitized workstations could easily have become cold and intimidating. The Karo team broke down the large, openplan space into colour zones, which tie into to the palette. They also added graphic imagery on glass. Each aisle’s end panel has a different foliage pattern to help with wayfinding while reinforcing the rainforest metaphor.

H E A LT H C A R E F A C I L I T I E S S I L V E R KARO DESIGN – UBC ORAL HEALTH CENTRE

forest metaphor creates a spa-like atmosphere of calmness and rejuvenation conducive to customer care.

Meanwhile, a design motif etched onto some of the features represents the three-pronged crystalline pattern of hydroxyapatite — the primary substance of tooth enamel.

As one of the world’s largest dental health training facilities, the Oral Health Centre demanded a sophisticated, efficient space for learning, community service and research.

“It’s a showcase for UBC… If your environment isn’t confident and current, the customer might think your techniques aren’t,” says Marshall. “(Contemporary health facilities) are much more open-plan, engaging, organic and certainly softer. Warmer — that was key.”

“Warmth definitely,” adds lead interior designer Karen Sorensen. “A large focus of our concept was to bring in natural materials and textures.”

In the operatory, however, the warm woods and natural textures had to give way to seamless Corian and stainless steel.

“The entry has a lot more West Coast finishes…but once you enter the operatory, the primary focus is cleanliness,” explains Sorensen.

Location:

Vancouver, B.C.

Design Team:

Barry Marshall, Karen Sorensen, Graham Walker, Patty Kantymir

Architect:

Walter Francl, Graham Merritt

General Contractor: Stuart Olson Square Footage:

40,000

Completion Date:

March 2006

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

With a “fir-esque” plastic laminate for the building’s central core and vinyl flooring the colour and texture of wood, the operatory is warm but still meets stringent hygiene requirements. The low partition walls between workstations, although solid to preserve privacy, are open at the bottom for ease of cleaning.

Meanwhile, there was the challenge of seamlessly integrating the extensive mechanical and electrical systems, audiovisual systems and specialized dental equipment. Tenant-improvement architect Walter Francl worked hard with the engineering team to hide the infrastructure. They raised the floor by two feet and added several hatchways down each corridor for easy access.

“Right at the beginning there was a decision to integrate and bury the service infrastructure in the raised floor,” says Karo’s Marshall, who found the close collaboration with Francl’s team very satisfying. “For all of the delivery systems, there is no open piping,” In fact, the only thing you do see are the structural columns.

Clean, crisp and professional, the resulting space resembles a high-end dental practice more than a public clinic.

Over the course of the project, the equipment and infrastructure costs rose as new technology came onto the market. Interior design had to compete for budget. Working with a large committee, including faculty, UBC operations, consultants and end users, made keeping Karo’s priority recommendations on the table challenging.

“The primary consideration was that all the infrastructure had to be solid,” says Marshall.

The furniture and finishes had to be modified and some distinctive elements, such as a water feature, had to be cut. DQ

A Healthy New Look

BY LAUREN KRAMER PHOTOS COURTESY ED WHITE Client:

Fraser Health Authority

Location:

New Westminster, B.C.

Design Team:

Carol Jones, Wojciech Brus, Milton Gardner, Ricky Gruetz, Terry Smith, Jodi McKeown

Architect:

Kasian Architecture Interior Design & Planning Ltd.

General Contractor: Halse-Martin Construction Co. Ltd. Square Footage:

20,500

Completion Date:

June 2006

H E A LT H C A R E F A C I L I T I E S S I L V E R KASIAN ARCHITECTURE INTERIOR DESIGN & PLANNING LTD. – ROYAL COLUMBIAN HOSPITAL RENAL UNIT WHEN THE DESIGN team from Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. first saw Royal Columbia Hospital’s renal dialysis unit redevelopment, they knew they had their work cut out for them.

“The patients and families who use this facility need to come several times a week for long periods, so they need it to be a home away from home,” explains Carol Jones, interior design principal of Kasian’s Vancouver office. “To spend that amount of time in a very institutional setting, which is what it looked like before we started work, would be very depressing.”

Kasian was called in when the hospital underwent two related renovations — one being the third floor of its health care centre, the other being leased space dedicated as a pre-dialysis clinic. The renovations would allow the hospital to increase the number of in-centre renal stations as well as consolidate and co-locate all the renal stations in one area.

The haemodialysis section contains 30 partial stations with 27 open-plan pods, each with a sub-nurse station. Isolation patients are accommodated in three private stations. The peritoneal dialysis section has one four-bed room and four private rooms.

Support spaces include patient waiting rooms, counseling space, staff offices, a reverse osmosis water supply room, a biomedical engineering workshop and a renal technician laboratory.

For Kasian, the interior design goal was to meet the functional needs of the staff in terms of budget, maintenance and durability, while creating a healing environment for patients.

“We tried to incorporate residential elements into the design,” says Jones, whose team used comfortable seating in the waiting area, adding a fireplace, plasma screen television, snack bar and magazines to make the waiting room more like a living room, where patients’ families could relax and socialize.

For the patients, who are required to lie back or recline for their dialysis, Kasian incorporated curving bands in the ceiling to create some interest. The use of warm, natural colours, such as sand and stone, give the rooms a soothing effect, and the small, glazed glass tiles in the backsplash above the snack bar add sparkle.

Since the flooring needed to be a high quality, easily maintainable material, the designers chose linoleum with a mixture of wood grain.

“We cut different colours and textures into the floor, and the wood grain introduced pattern to break up the long corridors,” she says.

“The concept was derived from nature, translated into a recuperative environment that supports life, growth, nurturing and caring.”

And it’s working, says Marco Buccini, director of facilities and planning for the Fraser Health Authority.

“From the staff point of view, the design of the space allows them to be more efficient and effective in their treatment of patients,” he says.

Adequate spacing between renal chairs and stations has helped as has setting the nurse station back, so that the nurses can see all the pods rather than having the nursing station in the middle of the room.

Since the Kasian team completed their work, much more daylight filters into the renal dialysis unit.

“It’s deinstitutionalized with a more comfortable, home-like patient lounge thanks to the use of softer fabrics and fireplaces,” says Buccini. DQ

Proud to be associated with Kasian Architecture in our capacity as Construction Manager/General Contractor on numerous Health Care Projects.

Halse-Martin Construction Co. Ltd. 1636 McGuire Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, V7P 3B1 604-980-4811 fax 604-980-4871

SPRING 2007 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT | 2006 idibc awards of excellence

A Dramatic Performance THE GOAL WAS to fast-track the design and construction of a

“media-rich” environment and complete the project within 15 months.

Having already worked with Simon Fraser University (SFU) on a variety of projects, Raven Design Consultants was familiar with the client’s needs and, consequently, was able to hit the ground

Another striking feature is the curved ceiling made of perforated, corrugated stainless steel and backed with black acoustic batt insulation. It rises from the carpeted floor, up the wall and

RAVEN DESIGN CONSULTANTS WITH OMICRON AEC – SFU SURREY THEATRE

running. In September 2005, with the help of Omicron AEC, the lecture theatre opened its doors almost a year prior to the rest of the permanent facility.

With the exception of the roof and exterior walls, the multimedia space had to be built from scratch. Unforeseen project challenges included integrating a poorly planned base-building mechanical system into the tiered floor and ceiling, and correcting insufficient acoustic insulation of the shell space.

Since the “stainless steel wrapped box” theatre stands out from the rest of the Central City project, Raven Design principal Stephen Emmerson wanted the theatre’s interior to be as unique as its exterior. So, the design team painted the teaching theatre a classic, rich red to represent the heart of the new SFU campus, and outfitted it with 200 red upholstered, movie theatre-style seats.

“The beauty of red is it loses its chroma when the lights are dimmed, so it essentially (becomes) a black box…even though with the light it’s anything but neutral,” says Emmerson.

across the top of the theatre, undulating to the back of the audience in waves representing sound, light or thought.

Behind the instructor’s console — a deceptively simple floating red box suspended on structural glass panels ingeniously designed to a house a wide array of audio-visual equipment and controls — is a large sloped elliptical screen for overhead projected images.

Located at the back of house is the projection booth. Its exterior window surround gives the appearance of a massive camera lens, and the tilted forms on the wall look like a bellows camera.

A Hole In One

To create visual interest and individualize the second floor spaces, which includes the members’ lounge, dining room, men’s lounge, mixed grill area and banquet halls, Omicron incorporated approximately nine different yet complimentary fabrics into the design.

“The palette (and fabrics) were chosen to give the client quite a bit of flexibility within the club because as we know furniture travels around,” says Omicron principal Lori Billson. “By changing the fabrics (in the different rooms), it helped to define the areas…but if you throw all the pieces together in one room, they all work together.”

The design team updated the club by replacing all the existing painted mouldings and trims with real wood. Warm, cherry stained fir can be found throughout the space. Lighter maple and walnut brown stains were also used on some of the furnishings and in the construction of the 40-foot, granite-topped bar, one of three focal points. Other striking features include the raised granite and wood hearth situated in the centre of the dining room, and the ceiling treatment that spans the second floor lobby and dining area.

Omicron went above and beyond and improved on the traditional functionality of the space by installing movable wall systems at specific points on the floor plate. The club now has the capability to open up the entire second floor and create one large room to accommodate large events.

OMICRON WAS RESPONSIBLE for the interior and exterior upgrade of the 34,000-square-foot Marine Drive Golf Club that lays on 105 acres of member-owned land adjacent to the Fraser River. The scope of the $1.8 million project included renovating the majority of the member areas on the second floor and upgrading the first floor entrance lobby (flooring, ceilings, walls, carpet and creation of a small reception area).

Being a fairly traditional club, the goal was to maintain the functionality of the space while enhancing the original architecture and marrying the interior design with characteristics of the building’s traditional exterior. Omicron added wood trusses to the existing peaked ceiling and chose warm, earthy colours — deep olive greens, rusts, browns and yellow ochre — and materials found in nature to achieve this end.

Client: Simon Fraser University (SFU) Location: Surrey, B.C. Interior Design Team: Sally Emmerson, Stephen Emmerson, Bruce Knapp, Lance Peters General Contractor: Bird Construction Company Ltd. Square Footage: 2,960

RESTAURANTS, BARS & CLUBS B R O N Z E OMICRON – MARINE DRIVE GOLF CLUB PHOTO COURTESY ED WHITE

Client: Marine Drive Golf Club Location: Vancouver, B.C. Interior Design Team: Lori Billson, Sally Mills, Greg Richardson, David Forget-Bowkett Square Footage: 34,000 Project Completion: April 2005

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

PHOTO COURTESY SIMON SCOTT

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industry focus KITCHEN & BATH

ALTERNATIVE APPLIANCES Choosing the right appliances for your clients. BY SYLVIA MCDONALD

R

RENOVATING OR BUILDING a new home? There are more choices than ever before when it comes to kitchen appliances. But how do you know what are the right appliances for your client?

As an interior designer, the first thing you should do is look at your client’s lifestyle. How many people live in the home? Is there more than one cook in the family? Does your client entertain often or cater? What types of foods does your client typically prepare? And, most importantly, what is your client’s budget?

Combine this information with the overall look of the home and space allotted for the kitchen and this will get you started.

It is not only important to have an overall concept plan for the kitchen but to bring that with you when shopping for appliances.

Refrigeration

Cooking Again, there are many excellent choices. You may choose a onepiece range in either gas or electric or a separate cooktop and wall oven.

One of the biggest questions is: gas or electric? This is really a personal choice. However, gas cooktops provide excellent performance while electric convection ovens are best for even cooking results.

An often overlooked element in the kitchen design is the ventilation. Choose ventilation based on your client’s cooking choice.

Remember, a professional style gas range requires a professional style hood fan with a high CFM blower.

There have been some new, exciting technological advances in appliances, with induction and steam cooking taking centre stage.

Induction elements have been available in Europe for many years, however, this technology is relatively new in North America. The principle behind it is magnet induction.

Today, induction is available in many brands of cooktops, including Diva, Gaggenau, Thermador and Viking.

Steam cooking is a perfect choice for healthy cooking.

Combination steam ovens, such as the Gaggenau Steam CombiOven, introduces steam into the cooking cycle, allowing your clients to cook foods in a highly humid environment. The foods will retain their flavour as well as nutritional content giving you perfect spa-cuisine.

Lifestyle Products Think about lifestyle products such as automatic coffee machines, beverage units, wine coolers and icemakers when designing the

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

PHOTO COURTESY THERMADOR

All refrigerators are not created equal. Think modular and think integrated. A handful of manufacturers are now producing modular units. Rather than allowing for a three or four foot space to house a fridge in your kitchen, you can instead separate the fridge and freezer, place them in different areas of the kitchen and completely integrate them into the cabinetry.

There are also beverage refrigerators, wine coolers and refrigerator drawers. Each refrigerated unit should serve a useful purpose. By breaking the refrigeration into different areas, you can create a more interesting and efficient space.

kitchen. Automatic coffee machines are wonderful additions to a kitchen. These can be built-in or portable units. Ariston from Italy has a new built-in machine that can be plumbed to water and installed in an upper cabinet. With the single touch of a button, it makes delicious espressos, cappuccinos, lattes and more.

Portable units are less expensive and work just as well. There are many excellent portable units from Saeco.

Beverage units and wine coolers are also great ideas. Think about what the client might store in these units. If you need strictly wine storage, choose wisely. These units vary in price greatly. Units from Sub Zero, Liebherr and Dometic will store and protect your wine properly over long periods of time. For short term-storage, beverage units are practical. These units can store wine as well as other beverages such as pop, beer and bottled water.

Kitchen Clean-Up If your client entertains often or has a large family, think about incorporating two dishwashers into the kitchen instead of just one. You can also use single Fisher & Paykel dish drawers in different areas of the kitchen for efficient clean-up.

For the entertainers out there, Asko makes a dishwasher called just that — The Entertainer. This dishwasher is designed exclusively for glasses, whether it’s stemware, glassware or coffee cups.

Remember, shop for appliances with an open mind. There is a lot to choose from and there is always a right product for your clients and their lifestyle. New technologies, designs and energy attributes have made the appliance choices better than ever! DQ Sylvia McDonald, designer and architect contact for Midland Appliance, has been in the appliance industry for 20 years, having learned the business from her father. Now is an exciting time in the industry as so many new and innovative products are being introduced to the market. Sylvia can be reached at 604.608.0600 or smcdonald@midlandappliance.com.

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industry focus KITCHEN & BATH

FROM CO-ORDINATION TO CUSTOMIZATION

BY HEIDI BOUDREAULT & JENS BIRKKJAER

T

THE OPEN DESIGN concept has been prevalent in new home design for many years and has had a significant impact on the kitchen industry. The days of a one cook kitchen tucked away in a 10 by 10 corner of the home — where the chef and her creations are not seen until they are served — are behind us unless, of course, you put a Butler’s pantry into the same category. Kitchens are now incorporated into large living spaces, the chef is the center of attention and the space is inviting for all.

Incorporating kitchens into a larger great room has also changed the way they are finished. Islands are often made to look like a piece of free-standing furniture to complement other furniture in the greater room. We have seen a trend towards contemporary, casual kitchens with two or more finishes, lacquer (painted) on the perimeter with an island in a dark rich wood.

The ‘less is more’ philosophy has been adopted by many designers and homeowners.

People want a house that is completely different from their next door neighbors, so they are turning to custom cabinet manufacturers who offer custom tailored contemporary kitchens, bathrooms, built-in fireplaces, entertainment units and walk-in closets in exotic flat panel layout veneers, including teak, rift cut oak, zebrawood, flat cut and rift cut walnut commonly stained in a dark walnut with a sheen or natural clear coat with soffit closed to the ceiling. If you prefer a traditional kitchen, a Shaker door in cherry or maple with crown moulding is still very popular but there are many choices, including using a custom solid wood door and moulding offered in different types of woods such as African mahogany, alder and bamboo.

A kitchen can be nicely dressed with custom hoods, crown mouldings, onlays, posts, light valances, reveals, curved valences, corbels and bead boards made of the same veneer/wood/lacquer to match fronts or in something completely different depending on the look you are trying to achieve. Curves and custom corbels transform hoods into a piece of furniture with the use of woods, stainless steel and copper.

Custom wood work in Butler pantries and wet bars add a distinct look as well as diagonal or square wine racks and stem glass holders. The use of framed doors with clear or stained glass inserts adds a sleek feature to the design. Combining fireplace mantles with entertainment units fills limited space in smaller homes yet allows home owners to enjoy a cozy feel by incorporating custom mouldings, false fronts and furniture toekicks into the design. Retractable doors allow you to hide electronics to keep mess to a minimum. Speakers are covered behind a door frame with wire mesh or speaker cloth to allow a clean look yet functional space to entertain guests.

Homeowners are making better use of existing spaces by increasing the amount of drawers and pull-out accessories, all

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

with full-extension hardware. A kitchen’s beauty is now so much more then skin deep — what is inside the cabinets has never been more important. The open design concept has also increased the necessity for soft close hardware, making drawers and even doors close with very little noise.

Built-in appliances, including built-in coffee makers, clean up spaces and integrated appliances with panels decrease the impact of the appliances.

Some homeowners are opting for one large single sink instead of two smaller sinks, giving them a sink that can handle even their largest items.

Granite is still the king of countertops but engineered stone offers a crisp alternative. Specialty granite edges are being used to add impact but can sometimes double the cost of the countertop.

Granite countertops on islands often have specially ordered wood corbel brackets.

There’s been more attention to lighting, which has a huge effect on the overall feel of the kitchen, with LED lighting being the light of the future. DQ Denca Cabinets is a family owned business in Calgary, Alta.

Throughout the past 30 years, people have come to know Denca for personal service, quality and Danish-style. Our all-inclusive one-stop service for new or renovated kitchens, bathrooms, entertainment centres and bars includes design, construction, built-in high-end European and North American appliances, countertops, installation, electricians and plumber and tile setters — a combination that means the utmost flexibility in taking your vision “from concept to completion.”

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industry focus KITCHEN & BATH

WHAT’S CHIC IN KITCHEN SINKS

Ease-of-maintenance is increasingly important. This Silgranit sink, made of natural rock-hard granite, adds a splash of colour but is also highly scratch-resistant — a distinct advantage over any stainless steel sink.

BY ALEXANDRA MARSHALL PHOTOS COURTESY BLANCO

T

TEN YEARS AGO, selecting a kitchen sink probably involved very few considerations. Cabinet space and price may have been the primary decision drivers, while fashion, quality, functionality and brand would have rarely entered the picture. Today, these considerations are at the forefront of kitchen sink selection and purchase. Well aware of new consumer demands, sink manufacturers now follow home design trends as intensely as if they were designing for the next Paris spring runway show. Complete with accessories, today’s catalogue of kitchen sinks reads like a fashion magazine. Here are some of the latest trends.

Integrated Kitchen & Living Areas While not practical for every family, the trend toward open concept kitchens where eating, dining and living are integrated is still going strong. This new integrated living area is the centre for friends and family to gather and a focus for entertaining. With the sink and faucet now centre stage, manufacturers are offering more sink styles and options.

Two hot design trends are perhaps best described as modern with an industrial edge and country chic. The first, a kind of urban minimalism, is characterized by clean lines and square or

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

linear design. Stainless steel sink bowls with straight sides and tight radius corners are often seen in kitchen showrooms. Their unfussy style offers a minimalist look adaptable to both urban modern or country chic. Also hot is the apron front sink ideal for the country chic kitchen.

Quality Features Quality kitchen products are strongly in demand. A premium stainless steel sink is characterized by features that affect durability and aesthetics. An 18 gauge stainless steel (versus the more commonplace 20 or higher gauge) is thicker and stronger. As well, 18/10 chrome-nickel content (18 per cent chrome and 10 per cent nickel) is a minimum for durability and corrosion-resistance. Different manufacturers offer different finishes, which are evident should you compare their sinks side-by-side. A satin brush finish offers a more high-end, lustrous sheen than the more commonplace, harsher finishes that are available.

Premium sinks also offer many practical and stylish design details, such as recessed sink rims in drop-in sink models around the bowls to prevent water spillage. Deeper and more spacious bowls with straight sides and tight-radius bowl corners add to

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gas or electric cooktops, energy consumption is considerably less.

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industry focus KITCHEN & BATH capacity. Finally, some sinks offer rear-positioned drain holes which allow more space under the counter for storage as well as more usable bowl space.

Perhaps the ultimate in a premium sink is a handcrafted line called SteelArt. Extensive handcrafting of premium stainless steel provides a level of quality that some consumers value even more with today’s growing proliferation of mass manufactured products.

Undermount Sinks Are In Whether stainless steel, granite or any other material, undermount sinks are favoured over drop-in models particularly at the high-end of the market.

The growing popularly of solid surface and granite counters is driving this trend.

The big, single sink is hot as consumers shake off preconceived notions about the traditional two-bowl sink and realize all that’s really needed is one big bowl.

Big, Big Sinks Larger sinks are highly practical as most small items are placed in the dishwasher. Large pots and cookie pans are often left to do by hand, so big sinks are ideal. Premium sink manufacturers often offer deeper bowls (nine or 10 inches) as well as tight bowl corners and flatter bottoms to increase bowl capacity.

Perhaps the hottest trend is the growing interest in single bowl sinks. Large, single bowls not only offer bold style, they are also highly practical. Watch as more consumers shake off preconceived notions about two-bowl sinks and realize all that’s really needed is one big bowl.

Little (Secondary) Sinks In an open concept kitchen, sometimes more than one sink is needed. Some manufacturers offer a wide range of mix-andmatch models where consumers can select a bar or entertainment sink designed to match the main kitchen sink. The new Performa sink line offers the widest range of models in one premium sink line in North America — with a harmonized selection of bar and main sink models.

Granite For Beauty & Strength While stainless steel remains the most common choice for the kitchen sink (it doesn’t chip, it’s easy to clean and it provides a hygienic surface), even the best quality stainless steel will show some scratches over time. Today, granite is fast becoming a popular alternative in Canadian kitchens. Other coloured-sink materials include enameled cast-iron and solid surface, however, Silgranit, made of 80 per cent natural granite, is the leading coloured sink brand in Canada with a strong track-record of easy maintenance, stain and scratch resistance and durability.

Available in seven colours, Silgranit sinks can add a splash of colour or can complement the counter or cabinetry.

Functionality & Easy Maintenance Some sinks now incorporate special features, such as drainboards, which provide a hygienic surface for defrosting foods. A wide range of accessories can often be purchased to extend the practicality of the sink and some manufacturers offer custom accessories made to fit the sink model for a professional look. In particular, stainless steel sink grids which sit on the bottom of the sink are good investments as they protect the sink bottom.

Colanders, cutting boards and dish racks are also available.

Brand Finally, brand name is not something that traditionally was associated with sinks but with more and more products on the market, some consumers are relying on the brand to stand for quality and credibility. Like any other consumer product, the kitchen sink can vary considerably in quality, aesthetics and value. Brand trustworthiness is likely to become more important in the future. DQ Alexandra Marshall is marketing manager for Blanco Canada Inc., a subsidiary of BLANCO GmbH + Co. KG headquartered in Oberderdingen, Germany, and a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of kitchen sinks and workstations. You can contact her at amarshall@blancocanada.com.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

available at:

WORLD MOSAIC (B.C.) LTD.

West 7th Ave., Vancouver, BC Tel: 604.736.8158 Email: info@worldmosaictile.com

industry focus KITCHEN & BATH

PHOTO COURTESY KOHLER

LUXURY IN THE LAVATORY

BY RACHEL GOLDSWORTHY

F

FROM THE BEGINNING of time until approximately 50 years ago, bathrooms were considered a luxury. From the era of Roman engineering and ingenuity through to stone-walled rooms in drafty castles, lavatories provided privacy, comfort and a new level of hygiene. Then in the second half of the 20th century, they became common enough to be taken for granted.

While consumers could choose harvest gold or avocado fixtures, ceramic or acrylic tub surrounds, that’s all most homeowners cared about — choice. As long as there was enough hot water and a good mirror for shaving and applying makeup, bathrooms were relegated to the back seat of an increasingly fast-paced lifestyle. Now, in the 21st century, bathrooms have resumed a

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

prominent place in North American homes. They’ve even taken on a whole new role.

Once upon a time people went to club steam rooms, gym saunas and indulged in spa massages to release their tensions.

Today, those same individuals would rather do these things in their own castles — though not necessarily alone.

“People want to have luxury at home,” says interior designer Katarina Litva of K3 Design Studio Inc. “They want to turn the master bedroom and bath into a retreat.”

Michael Bull, president of Cantu, agrees.

The trend to create a spa experience at home is especially pronounced in the upper part of the market, he says. This might

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PHOTO COURTESY KOHLER

Kohler’s WaterTiles — the square showerheads emerge from the wall at an angle.

mean adding a few scented candles or going to extremes with a steam generator hooked up to a shower, a home sauna, an air-jet bathtub or even a massage table.

But Litva argues the trend is not limited.

“There are so many new products,” she says. “The spa experience is not just for high-end homes.”

Today, items like wall-mounted heated towel bars can fit into even the smallest bathrooms — free-standing models suit larger spaces — and in-floor heating is also desirable, though not always a simple addition.

Michael Wandschneider, Kohler’s senior product manager for performance showering, points out that master suites are evolving. We are moving away from separate bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms towards an open concept approach that completely opposes the urge for privacy of the previous century. Often in new custom homes or large renovations the only function that has any screening is the “WC.” More homeowners, for example, are installing stand-alone tubs in the middle of a space, sometimes even ignoring the time honoured tradition of having a linoleum or impervious stone surround and laying wood floor instead. The use of such materials highlights the lavish aspect of the project — consumers must have time and money to make that kind of statement.

On the other hand, some bathers want luxury without having to make any extra effort. For those who want to wash away the cares of their fast-track life without even having to fiddle with the tap, Kohler has come up with the solution. People who installed whirlpool baths are increasingly realizing they don’t use them as much as they originally expected. So, they’re focusing more attention and thought on showers.

According to Wandschneider, homeowners are “elevating the shower from a routine.”

Manufacturers have responded by adding a wide array of options: handheld nozzles, body sprays as well as various types of showerheads.

“Suites are getting larger, we’re adding more components in more elaborate combinations and every one needs controls,” he says.

But doesn’t that counteract the desire for a relaxing bathroom?

Not with today’s digital technology.

Kohler’s new Digital Thermostatic Valve (DVT) replaces all

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

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PHOTO COURTESY BAIN ULTRA

your complex controls with one sleek, intuitive, easy-touse menu that controls six separate functions (and it saves them all as personalized settings). So, with no further effort on the consumer’s part, the instruments differentiate the morning cleanup from the post-workout or the prenightclub. Wandschneider sees this — the use of novel devices to simplify other controls, and even multimedia experiences, within the shower — as an ongoing trend.

Rhod Ross of Robinson’s Lighting and Bath Centre points out that Kohler’s WaterTiles are also becoming more popular. The 22 or 54-nozzle square showerheads emerge from the wall at an angle, while the WaterTile Rain shower panel is ceiling-mounted (creating the smooth appearance of tile) for a rain shower effect.

“The minimalist look continues to be very strong although it might be getting softened a bit at the edges,” says Cantu’s Bull.

He says we’re starting to move from the straight rectangular and square shapes of the past few years toward more rounded,

organic — yet still elemental — shapes. To accentuate the “simple look,” faucet finishes are most often polished chrome, brushed nickel, or satin-finished stainless steel.

As part of the overall sleek appearance, wall-mounted cabinetry and toilets popular in Europe are making their way across the Atlantic to North America. “(The wall mounting) is nice for cleaning and it gives a lighter, airier feeling especially in small places,” explains Litva of K3 Design Studio. “When all the products float, it creates a clean line in the room.”

The lack of under-counter obstacles and vanity posts also ease wheelchair accessibility. New products facilitate homecare, which is a growing issue for many of Canada’s baby boomers who are looking after parents and for seniors who want to remain in their own homes as they age.

Bidets are showing up more often in North American shelter magazines and those who do their research will discover that multifunction toilets fit into existing bathrooms. The Home Tech Feel Fresh bidet, for example, provides a heated seat, push-button control panel, a warm air dryer and a memory system that controls water pressure and temperature.

Beyond pure function, however luxurious, comes function with a whole lot of style. Kelly Inglis, American Lighting Association (ALA) lighting specialist with Robinson’s Lighting and Bath, says the most intriguing new items she saw at a lighting show in Dallas, Texas, this past January were chandelettes.

These scaled-back modernized chandeliers are ideal in powder rooms, Inglis says.

“They’re traditionally shaped but they come in new colours — polished chromes, black or red (and) jewel tones.”

Schonbek has created three sizes made with glass instead of crystal. They are available in a variety of colours, including solid red, aqua or moss green, navy blue and yellow. Picture a traditional chandelier but the whole thing — metal arms and glass pendants — in a single colour.

“They’re transitional pieces,” says Inglis. “They can go with traditional or contemporary styles in a room.”

Fuss-free rules apply to lighting as well as fixtures. Clean-cut wall sconces and small hanging halogen lamps are taking the

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PHOTO COURTESY KOHLER

place of the old Hollywood-style light-bar above the mirror.

Inglis points out that with bathroom dimensions increasing, users need more light. So even within the shower, recessed potlights are providing new light for shavers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you have them you wonder, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;How did I ever live without them?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;,â&#x20AC;? says Inglis.

Increasingly popular dimmers in the bathroom hark back to the spa experience, providing extra control for ambience, tasks or simply general lighting. But while dimmers allow consumers to extend the life of their bulbs and save on electricity bills, light quality is more important to most people.

Energy-efficient full-spectrum fluorescents are improving but, at the mid-market price point, are still not flattering to the face.

Neither is the amber glass thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showing up in powder rooms after an absence of three decades. Amber glass casts a warm light and some consumers are making the trade â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at least as far as their guests are concerned â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but, for the most part, water conservation and energy efficiency are still not at the top of the priority list.

Dual-flush toilets are mandated by many municipalities for new construction, especially large developments like condominiums. The communities of Canmore and Cochrane in Alberta have such regulations and Ross of Robinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lighting and Bath expects Calgary will soon follow suit. But many people miss the strong pressure in the kitchen sprayer or bathroom sink when they try to decrease water volume. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most customers are not as happy with the end result,â&#x20AC;? says Cantuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bull. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And the bigger rain shower heads canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be lowflow.â&#x20AC;?

Also, new deep tubs simply take more gallons of water to fill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Overflowâ&#x20AC;? tubs allow bathers to sit comfortably immersed up to the shoulders while an encircling drain and opulent surround keep water off (un)real. the floor. Air-jet tubs, like Bain fruit and veggies.

Ultraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, pump out soothing or greens, plants, & trees. decorations for christmas. stimulating streams of bubbles Ă&#x20AC;RZHUV LQ SDQWRQHÂŽ colours. to tired muscles. all created by natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imageÂŽ.

Both consumers and manuhome & garden dĂŠcor by berdestoneÂŽ. facturers are veering away from frost-proof ÂżEUHJODVV VWDWXHV IRXQWDLQV whirlpool tubs, which took the ZDOO GpFRU ÂżQLVKHG LQ PHWDOOLFV VWRQH water from the tub and cycled it through the system to create soothing jets.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

PHOTO COURTESY KOHLER

products were designed for therapeutic uses but now appeal to mainstream consumers.

Accommodating both halves of a couple at one time is a growing trend in many (although not all) areas of the bathroom. Twoperson showers and tubs are gaining popularity, joining the dualsink vanities that have been around for decades.

Finishes are becoming more global and sophisticated. As stone and tile become easier to quarry or manufacture and less expensive to ship from abroad, granite counters are showing up with greater regularity in mid-priced homes as well as high-end custom kitchens and bathrooms. While tiles are disappearing from foyer floors in favour of laminate and wood, they’re taking over in the bathroom. Larger rectangular tiles — ceramic, porcelain and stone — contribute to the expansive, clean look of floors and tub surrounds.

“Cantu customers will often have tile or stone in every bathroom now,” says Bull. “In the old days, they were in the master bath only. Also, today the shower is more likely to be tiled.”

The modern look is enhanced by the tiles themselves, which tend to have a flatter surface and smoother finish. Fewer bevelled or curved edges and less grouting allow the eye to travel uninterrupted across the counter, wall or floor. High feldspar content in new glazes makes for easier cleaning.

The shiny or matte metal finish of taps can be reflected in ceramic tiles covered with a very thin stainless steel layer for a brighter look overall or for an accent.

Kohler also markets a cast iron sink with a hot enamelled, highly glassy yet three-dimensional finish in neutral tones to complement stone, wood or metal surfaces.

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Kohler’s new Digital Thermostatic Valve (far left) replaces all your complex controls with one sleek, easy-to-use menu that controls six separate functions.

And for an unusual metal look, cast iron sinks with an enamel glaze of pink, aqua green or blue “vapour colour” are very interesting, says Ross of Robinson’s Lighting and Bath. The glass component of the enamel allows the translucent colours to take on a dramatic role in the room.

Glass plays a part in other areas as well. Translucent or clear vessel sinks mounted atop a vanity can be down-lit by halogen pendants for extra effect, giving the functional bowl the status of art.

Italian glass light fixtures are still beyond the reach of most North American consumers. Yet those who can afford them can enjoy the extraordinary quality of the glass through which the light evenly glows with no obvious signs of the bulb inside.

“There are organic designs like tree branches or bubbles but they’re very expensive,” says ALA lighting specialist Inglis.

As they have been for the past few years, colours are still accents rather than used all over in most rooms. Neutral paint hues and natural looks like the black-and-tan sinks, stone and tile are the norm.

“We’re not seeing a lot of bright colours,” says Litva of K3 Studio Design.

Jewel tones are still reserved for accents only and dark burgundy, navy and forest green are still off the radar screen.

However, Litva says blue seems to be eternally popular.

Wood is beginning to edge into the bathroom again. Exotics like zebra wood, with its stripes of dark and light within the grain, can add texture to a neutral room, says Litva who’s been using it in vanity facings as well as on countertops as long as it can be protected from moisture.

And that could be part and parcel of the return to the exotic beauty of the painted china basins, mahogany commodes and tub surrounds of early bathrooms, when style migrated out of the drawing room and into more functional spaces in the home.

“We haven’t seen the end of the traditional,” says Cantu’s Bull.

However, it is a new twist on convention, extending the cocooning trend of the ‘90s. Instead of just bringing luxury items into the bathroom, we’re expanding the sumptuous feeling from within, with space, light, materials and opulence that even the Romans would have envied. DQ SPRING 2007 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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industry focus KITCHEN & BATH

THE REVITALIZATION OF RESTAURANT RESTROOMS

BY CHRIS KOUROUNIOTIS PHOTOS COURTESY TERRY BOURQUE/WOLSKI DESIGN LTD.

I

I HAVE BEEN designing restaurant space and, in turn, “designer washrooms” for more than 10 years. I have always believed restaurant washroom design should share the same level of elegance and energy as the rest of the establishment but I have had many clients tell me not to “throw away money” on this “back of house” area. Thankfully, the trend today is to treat washrooms as “front of house” spaces. “Designer washrooms” in restaurants are finally receiving the treatment and attention they deserve.

Previously the neglected spaces within a restaurant, hospitality washrooms are now fresh, luxurious, state-of-the-art retreats from the busy dining area. Today, restaurant clients expect more than just clean lavatories — guests look for bright rooms with large mirrors, sensor faucets, branded amenities and an overall spa-like experience. Restaurant washrooms are not just a place where guests go to wash their hands. Instead, they are an extension of the atmosphere and theatrics established within the dining room. In some cases the restaurant washroom design may rival the design of the dining room and may even receive more favourable reviews than that of the dinner menu!

Our clients want their washrooms to look clean and opulent, yet smart and innovative. Old school restaurant washrooms with orange metal toilet partitions and unflattering fluorescent lighting have little in common with the current “designer washroom” look and feel. Clunky, ceiling-mounted fluorescent fixtures and cove-lighting bulkheads have given way to wall lights

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

and recessed incandescent fixtures that are sleek and compact.

Rectangular dark red floor tiles or small, offensively colourful mosaics that used to be the norm have given way to imported porcelain and polished concrete. Partitions are often now fullheight walls with custom wooden doors or, in some cases, even glazed aluminum doors. Yellow plastic laminate counter tops with typical cast iron sinks can’t compare to metallic solid surface tops and vessel sinks.

Common washroom design elements today include natural stone floor finishes, elegant wash basins, automated elements, custom lighting, detailed accessories and electronic gizmos.

Vanity tops and adjacent areas have seen the biggest design advances. Quartz counter tops, custom stainless steel troughs and glossy porcelain basins are leading this change. Finishing touches in these areas include hands-free faucets, auto soap guns and touch-free paper towel dispensers. Many water closets are now standardized with touch-free sensors and self cleaning seats.

Beyond this norm we see finer dining establishments offering single-use, imported-cotton hand cloths and hotel-like laundry baskets for a more luxurious feel. Fine dining establishments have extended their pampering by offering guests complimentary grooming aids. Although these are not technically interior design elements, items including hand creams, mouthwashes and deodorants are making a unique spa like presentation. These ultra-elegant features and amenities make a big impact; the end

goal of these elements is to make guests feel clean, comfortable and pampered.

In the end, while I may “know” what is in fashion, what the end user wants is all that matters. So, today’s washrooms are not just about design trends, they also need to meet the changing needs and demands of the customers who visit them. There are many washroom standards that must be observed to meet local codes and demographic demands. A good designer always addresses universal accessibility, which means making special concessions so that all guests can make use of this space regardless of any mobility limitations. To properly meet these needs, building codes dictate details like size of doors, toilet compartment sizes, water closet placement, vanity height, faucet types and other accessory mounting heights. As far as demographic trends go, designers need to pay special attention to our country’s current economic boom and subsequent baby boom. The hot economy has brought many more young families into these popular “new” eating establishments and as designers we need to meet the needs of these young families within these washrooms.

Restaurant washroom design still must overcome the same challenges designers come across in all types of design: budget, space and client expectations. Often time constraints and size can interfere with creating the ideal washroom. Every dining concept will dictate the type and amount of design needed in the washrooms, and often this is a deciding factor. Taking a space that’s no

larger than 200 square feet to a higher level of finish that meets the physical and demographic needs of all our clients’ customers is a restaurant designer’s most challenging task. Successfully meeting this goal will positively influence the end user’s dining experience and it will also leave a lasting impression. An inviting atmosphere combined with an excellent culinary experience will lead to a happy guest who will tell others of their excellent restaurant experience (both in and outside of the restaurant bathroom).

So, as an interior designer or architect, the next time you go out to a new dining establishment, take a minute to visit the washroom — look deeper into the design concept, see how it meets your needs as a guest, let it trigger your senses, calm and refresh you. If the designer has done an excellent job, you should be returning to your table relaxed, inspired and ready to enjoy the culinary journey that awaits you. DQ Chris Kourouniotis is currently a senior designer for Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. He has 10 years of experience on a variety of projects ranging from hospitality and retail to workplace and special projects. His designs have received many Edmonton Restaurant of the Year awards. His more signature hospitality projects include Blink Supperclub Calgary, Delux Burger Bar Edmonton, Chicago Chophouse Calgary, LUX Steakhouse Edmonton, Lazia Edmonton and Century Grill Edmonton. Chris’ current focus is on design direction, new business development and project/team management.

SPRING 2007 | DESIGN QUARTERLY

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industry focus ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE & FIXTURES

ADDING VALUE & VISUAL APPEAL

BY LUC LAGUEUX PHOTOS COURTESY RICHELIEU

W

WE STILL SEE all too often in showrooms today well constructed cabinets matched with inferior quality, commodity hardware.

Decorative products on display should be the exact opposite — they should offer that “decorative experience,” display trendy features and offer inspiration for enhancing cabinet exteriors.

Just like fine exotic cars, professional appliances or the latest plasma television unit, custom cabinetry should display superior quality, showcasing the most fashionable hardware available in the marketplace. But unfortunately we still find $2 knobs on a $40,000 cabinet.

Would you expect a newly purchased BMW to come with a no name built-in CD-ROM player? Wouldn’t the thrill of owning that car fade in a few short months due to a commodity

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

feature in such a luxurious purchase?

Commodity cabinet pulls or knobs with common features would never provide the value perception, long-term satisfaction or wear resistance in an exquisite kitchen environment.

With the influence of hardware reproduction at lower costs comes the quality you can expect from a product. Essential criteria to specify a suitable product are the type of material used, where it was manufactured, the hardware’s overall quality as well as the uniqueness of its finish.

As they say, choose the right hardware for the right cabinet without the cost factor being the ultimate or sole decision made.

Nowadays, hardware is available in a variety of finishes and constructions that, when selected appropriately, bring together and offer that fin-

ishing touch to today’s beautifully remodeled kitchens. Manufacturers offer more than 60 different finishes to complete the various and different cabinet styles.

Traditional finishes such as antique iron, rust, pewter and burnished brass still remain the most popular finishes for North American residential kitchens. However, a strong European wind of influence coupled with use of stainless steel in today’s kitchens has attracted a growing number of younger prospective buyers to contemporary styled hardware. Currently, chrome is the choice of the European market, whereas brushed nickel and stainless steel is the obvious American preference. However, new buyers are always searching for an original and exclusive style with a modern feel. This push in market trends comes from the technological age in which these new buyers have been born and raised.

The new kitchen buyers, mostly driven by a growing renovation market, will demand more versatile products with upgraded, larger architectural hardware features such as the new appliance

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pull trend. Bigger is perceived as better and no longer will a regular cabinet handle, readily available in any retail outlet, suffice for today’s savvy new homeowner. Distinctiveness is the new symbolic rule for design. More versatile and fullyintegrated storage efficient kitchens with longer and larger drawers are definitely driving today’s market demands, so the decorative hardware choice must meet those same expectations.

The bright chrome, longer center-to-center and subtle pull and handles are among the next generation of stylish hardware. Cleaner and simpler hardware designs are bringing products from the traditional to a cozier look. But that doesn’t mean the end of traditional hardware. Retrothemed, historically-styled kitchens will remain the inspirited hardware from our ancestors. DQ Luc Lagueux is product manager for Richelieu Hardware, a specialized hardware company for the kitchen and bath industry with 42 facilities located across North America. He can be reached at llagueux@richelieu.com or 514.336.4144.

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industry focus ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE & FIXTURES

DRESSING THE WINDOW WITH DRAPERY HARDWARE

BY JENNIFER FYFE

O

ONE OF THE greatest challenges faced when designing a window treatment is choosing the appropriate drapery hardware.

Windows are getting larger and bay and bow windows are becoming more prevalent. These types of windows can pose problems when dressing the window because not all drapery hardware is suitable for wide spans or angles. As a result, drapery hardware has had to evolve in order to satisfy the demands of larger, more complicated windows.

Simple tracking systems and decorative metal or wood rods are not always suitable for functioning drapery treatments on oversized, angled or curved windows. Motorization for drapery hardware is the solution to many of these difficult windows. Motorized drapery tracks have been around for many years but never before have there been so many new, innovative tracks and customization options for the motorized treatments.

With a wide range of tracks available, motorized drapery hardware offers limitless possibilities for dressing windows. Tracks can range from small profile tracks suitable for sheer drapery treatments to heavy duty tracks used for 50-foot wide treatments that can operate up to 200 pounds of drapery. Different combinations of tracks and motors, such as 30 or 45 watt motors or single or tandem motor systems, are available depending on the customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs.

Tracks can be custom curved to fit bow or bay windows and in some cases arch windows. In addition, tracks can be custom painted to match the wall, ceiling or even the drapery colour.

Another option for customizing a motorized drapery track is to insert it into a decorative wood rod. This way, the treatment has the appearance of a decorative rod but has the function of a motorized drapery track.

The appearance of the track itself is not the only aspect that can be customized. Motorized tracks can come fitted with standard glides for pleated drapes, glides with hooks for grommeted drapes or with snap glides for Ripplefold drapes.

Motorized drapery tracks also have the added feature of multiple control options. Tracks can work with radio frequency remote controls, IR remote controls, hardwired wall switches or wireless wall switches and timers. Motorized drapery tracks can also be integrated with building management, home automation or theatre systems. Timers and integrated drapery systems have the added benefit of providing security and reduced heating bills by controlling the movement of the drapes throughout the day. This also helps to protect fabrics, wood floors, furniture, artwork and plants from harmful sunlight when there is no one around to operate the drapes.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

Heavy duty motorized track by Textile Trimmings can be curved for bay and bow windows.

Drapery panels are not the only type of window covering that can be motorized. Motorized Roman shade lift systems will work with Roman, Austrian, Balloon and Cascade shades. Some motorized lift systems can even be installed around corners and angles with the addition of an angled coupler. One of the most beneficial features of a motorized lift system is there are systems available that have the motor and the receiver built right into the tube so there are no visible components when the shade is lifted. As a result, extra components such as valances do not need to be added to hide the receivers.

Many designers shy away from motorized drapery or shade systems because there are concerns the motorization will complicate the installation process. However, with technical and installation support just a phone call away, motorized drapery systems are quick and easy to install for a trained drapery installer. To help smooth out the installation process, specification sheets and wiring diagrams are readily available for motorized drapery tracks and shade systems.

Motorized drapery systems are ideal for both residential and commercial jobs. Lobbies, pre-function and handicapped accessible rooms will benefit from the ease a motorized drapery track allows. No more struggling with long heavy cords or awkward fling rods â&#x20AC;&#x201D; motorization makes the operation of drapes easy. DQ Jennifer Fyfe is the senior customer service representative for Textile Trimmings, a wholesale distributor of drapery hardware.

For over 80 years, Textile Trimmings has been on the leading edge of drapery hardware and motorized drapery hardware.

Please visit our website at www.textiletrimmings.com.

industry focus DOORS & WINDOWS Alustra Woven Textures.

Pirouette Shades.

THE ULTIMATE VIEW ON A WISE INVESTMENT

BY SUE RAINVILLE PHOTOS COURTESY HUNTER DOUGLAS

W

WHEN IT COMES to their homes, Canadian consumers are looking for an investment that will give them years of increased pleasure and increase the worth of their house or condominium when the time comes to sell. The following key points should be considered when choosing the appropriate product for the window.

Light Source

Knowing where the light is coming from is paramount in the initial stages of determining product selection. North light tends to be cold and clear, suggesting the choice of energy efficient shadings for this application. Light from the south is warm and strong year-round, so light-diffusing window fashions to protect furnishings are ideal. If windows face east, then the bright, warm morning light calls for window coverings that block UV rays. If the light comes from the west, the hot afternoon sun demands a solution that both controls and filters light.

Privacy Whether your client is after full privacy from the next door neighbor or just a little privacy from the central air conditioning unit outside, the range of products — from fully sheer to totally opaque — provide an endless array of possibilities, offering the degree of privacy the homeowner requires.

Style & Colour Determining the correct style — be it traditional, contemporary, relaxed or formal — will help narrow product choices. Coupled

with the wide range of colour possibilities, this will then provide the homeowner with numerous options to suit their design taste.

Difficult Shapes From arches to angles, eyebrows to circles, to windows that are well out of reach, it would appear that homes, both new and old, are being fitted with special windows that add exclusivity to the homeowner’s environment. Many homeowners think these odd shapes cannot be covered, however, it is quite the opposite — there are many options from stationary to moveable solutions for even the most challenging applications.

Child Safety In choosing the appropriate window fashion, child safety must be a key consideration. Whether it is wand controls on vertical blinds, remote control products free of dangling cords or standard products built with child safety in mind, this is a very important consideration when choosing products.

Energy Efficiency With soaring energy costs, your clients can benefit from energy efficient products that not only save money but are beautiful additions to the home. All building materials are assigned an Rvalue according to the product’s ability to resist air heat movement. Ensure your clients understand R-values associated with the products in their home.

The higher the R-value the better the insulation value for the

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industry focus DOORS & WINDOWS Duette LiteRise Kitchen.

home. Most windows have an R-value of 0.9 to 3.0 and can be responsible for 40 to 70 per cent of the heat or cold transfer for an entire home. The following can impact heat loss or gain: • Window Properties. Window frames are typically metal, wood or vinyl. The R-value of a metal frame can be 5 to 20 per cent lower than that of a wood or vinyl window. A single layer of uncovered window glass has an R-value of 1.16.

Advances in glass coatings and assembly methods are improving the energy performance of new windows but as windows age, the quality of construction, condition of the sashes, weather stripping and caulking will impact how much air infiltrates or escapes the home.

• Window Square Footage. The windows in a home will normally account for more than 20 per cent of the traditional home exterior and 40 per cent in contemporary construction.

Uncovered windows can break the energy budget if they are on a cold northern wall in winter or a sun-saturated west wall in summer.

• Window Coverings. Heat moves towards the cold. In winter, it is drawn to cold glass and, thus, can escape the home. In summer, the outdoor heat moves towards the windows of airconditioned homes. By choosing a product with a white backing, this will help reflect the sun. Using layers and honeycomb construction at the window can increase the R-value by one to almost five points. In extreme climates, that change alone can save you as much money as replacing the windows with higher efficient ones.

All window coverings help defend the home against summer heat and winter cold. The design, material and construction of window coverings can ultimately help contribute to significant energy efficiency.

Energy efficient products will help: • Cut heat loss in winter and increase the home’s comfort as these products slow the escape of warm air. Window treatments act as insulation, covering glass to keep warm air inside.

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Silhouette window shadings and Luminette privacy sheers.

• Cut infiltration of solar heat, the single largest contributor to the workload of the home’s cooling system.

• Save money on utilities and save the natural resources used to generate energy.

• Save the interior fabrics, furnishings and woods from fading and deteriorating.

While sunscreen protects the skin against damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, window treatments can do the same for the home’s interior. As much as we all love light-filled rooms, UV rays can eventually fade floors, furniture, upholstery, draperies and treasured artwork.

The homeowner needs UV control, especially in winter when the sun reaches further into our home to damage: • Art. While we all like to view art in natural light, UV exposure can destroy these treasures.

• Textiles. Prolonged exposure causes natural, un-dyed fabrics to yellow. It weakens the fibres, making them look permanently old and worn.

• Wood. Sunlight will fade sections of wood flooring and sides of wood furniture that it reaches, creating uneven colouring.

Wood grain can expand with UV exposure, sometimes splitting open due to heat and dryness. DQ Sue Rainville, director of marketing for Hunter Douglas Canada LP, has been involved in the window fashion industry for over 18 years. Hunter Douglas’ window treatments, shadings and sheers to louvers, shades, blinds and shutters are custom built expressly for your windows and manufactured according to the highest standards of quality. Most products will filter out at least 85 per cent of UV rays when in use (closed over double-glazed window). When closed, there is a 99 per cent UV blockage with the entire residential product in Hunter Douglas’ Duette, Luminette, Silhouette and Vignette product lines. For additional information please contact sue.rainville@hunterdouglas.com or log onto www.hunterdouglas.ca.

industry focus DOORS & WINDOWS

DOORS TOP TODAY’S MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES

BY JON DACQUISTO

T

THE BASIC DEFINITION of a door as a movable barrier needs updating. Today’s exterior and interior doors are high performance works of art with a pedigree as strong as their visual statement. Designer styles provide protection from extreme weather — like severe windstorms. And dressed in fibreglass or wood and accented with stunning glass highlights, doors have the functionality to complement a home’s cosmetic look, curb appeal and resale value.

The overall trend is to embellish doors with a greater number of panels, wood that is more intricate and dazzling glass detailing.

Knobs also have gotten fancier, with finishes in exotic oil-rubbed bronze, rustic dark-brown cast iron, hand-hammered Mediterranean or Tuscan styling or smooth satin or brushed nickel.

Seek Professional Help The increasing number of home renovation and home design programs on television is in response to, and helping drive, the trend toward design detail in homes. Manufacturers are responding with new style selections in doors made of wood, metal and fibreglass.

Sometimes those choices can be overwhelming to the homeowner.

Many of these programs point out the importance of seeking the

advice of a designer or architect to help with the process.

Exterior Elegance Never overlook the importance of curb appeal. Exterior doors are often the first detail people will notice. Hardwood doors have a singular richness of character. They provide a natural warmth and rich appearance to match any architectural style. Whether you’re building classic, craftsman or old European, look for exterior doors that meet code requirements and durability in extreme weather.

Steel doors are a practical, low-maintenance and strong choice.

For best performance, look for galvanized steel with custom-fitted polystyrene core insulation. Steel doors have added safety benefits including the ability to meet strict code requirements.

Advancements in detail quality give fibreglass exterior doors the beauty of wood with the advantage of easy maintenance in any climate. Authentic wood grain textures, such as oak and mahogany, will take stain. Smooth finishes are ideal for painting.

Fibreglass doors will not dent, rot, crack or split.

Interior Doors Are A Key Design Component Natural wood interior doors increase design appeal and complement architectural style. Today’s designs are available in a wide range of door sizes and styles, wood species and surface options.

Custom carved MDF (medium density fibreboard) interior doors add a unique design element in standard or customized one-of-akind designs. Moulded panel interior doors provide a cost-effective solution that replicate classic panel door designs. Typically offered as hollow core, these doors are also available in solid core versions that offer better sound control.

Exterior Folding Doors Are Hot French, swinging and sliding patio doors have long been popular options in new homes and remodeling projects. The biggest development has to be the exterior folding door system, which represents a new concept in patio doors. It combines the style and elegance of a classic French door with the updated benefits and features of a sliding patio door. This system operates accordion style — each section slides on an overhead track and neatly folds away for full access to the indoors or outdoors. It also opens the home up to spectacular views and increased natural light.

When selecting custom wood exterior folding door systems, look for quality hardwood options such as clear alder, knotty alder, cherry, oak, genuine mahogany and walnut. Some manufacturers also offer custom fibreglass designs to accommodate climate or architectural requirements. DQ Jon Dacquisto is senior writer at Direct Focus Marketing Communications Inc., which represents Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors. Jeld-Wen is a world-wide manufacturer of reliable window and door products. For more information on Jeld-Wen, please contact Chris Sheldon, Canadian marketing manager, at chrissh@jeld-wen.com.

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industry focus FURNITURE

PHOTO COURTESY VAN GOGH DESIGNS

Loft Sectional.

INDOORS & OUT From the living room to the patio, furniture is modern, multi-functional and well-fabricated. BY CLARE TATTERSALL

O

furniture, not just a place to rest your tired feet. Some can even function as a coffee table.

Another great way to save space is to opt for built-ins.

“By not putting as many items on the floor, such as a desk or bookcase, it gives the illusion of more space,” says Paramount Furniture interior decorator and buyer Jeanette Svendsen.

Choose pieces that can be suspended from a wall or go for something like an armoire that can house an entire entertainment unit and double as a bookcase, making the living room more livable.

While function is important, form and fashion are still key.

Modern, contemporary clean lines continue to abound, however, traditional elements are starting to resurface. When shopping for furniture, designers will notice a subtle curvature in the backs and roll in the arms of many sofas, love seats and armchairs.

Hand-crafted pieces with intricate detailing and hand-woven finishes are also evident, sure to make a statement when paired with modern décor. And, once again, there are definite ethnic influences, this year from Africa and Asia.

“Nowadays it is more about mixing things up…because the trend has more to do with an individual style,” says Svendsen, adding that, unlike in years past, 2007 is about mixing in the unexpected.

PHOTO COURTESY TEAK DIRECT.COM / MATAHARI OUTDOOR.COM

OTHER THAN THE bedroom, the living room is probably the most lived-in room in a home. It is not only the central area used to entertain guests, family and dear friends but a place where you can comfortably relax after a hard day’s work and engage in idle chit-chat, watch your favourite television show, take in the melodic sounds of your stereo or bury yourself in a book.

Once relegated as a sitting room, the living room has evolved and so has the need to choose furniture to fit its multi-functional use. This is particularly important when designing smaller spaces. Condominium living is on the rise with many people trading their high-end, two or three-storey luxury abodes for the comfort of an approximately 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom condo in the city’s downtown core, close to all amenities and, most importantly, work.

“Modularity is especially important in a market like Vancouver,” says designer Jonathan Baker of Van Gogh Designs.

“You only have so much space, so you need to maximize it as much as possible. The compact footprint (of sectionals) makes them ideal for smaller spaces.”

Sectionals provide optimum seating, flexibility and visual interest. Made up of a number of different parts, like Van Gogh’s sleek 11 component Loft Sectional, you can segregate pieces to create individual sofas, change the configurations to suit the space and add and subtract components depending on how much seating is required on any given day.

Cube benches and ottomans also provide extra seating and, because of their compact size, can be stored out of sight when not in use. Some even include storage, such as the Seattle Storage Bench, a luxurious looking, espresso top grain leather bench detailed with a tufted lid and top stitching. More and more, these upholstered “accessories” are being Corner Bench. designed to serve as an extra piece of

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PHOTO COURTESY TEAK DIRECT.COM / MATAHARI OUTDOOR.COM

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D E S IG VA N G OGH TESY O COU R PHOT

“You might have a metal and glass cocktail table with a Bergere chair that’s been executed in a more modern way, for instance, black leather with a white or silver finish,” she continues. “Or you might mix French Country with luxurious accessories like crystal chandeliers and lots of silks…so you’ve got that old and new but you’re unifying the look with colour, patterns and finishes.”

When it comes to colour, furniture is subdued, reflecting natural tones found outdoors. Warm browns, from chocolate to café mocha, tans, greys, creams, blues and greens are the colours of choice, providing a neutral base. Bright coloured cushions in orange, red, turquoise or Granny Smith apple green add pizzazz to an otherwise mellow and relaxed-feeling room. And while brown continues to be the new black, Svendsen says the latter is starting to make a comeback, especially when it comes to lighting and glass.

“For the past couple of years you had a lot of clear glass,” she says. “But now you’ve got coloured glass and black and white, especially for your lamp base.”

As for finishes, chrome can still be found, however brushed finishes, such as brushed nickel and brass, and pale gold are becoming more commonplace.

“Everything’s a lot lighter now and you can mix different finishes where you really couldn’t before,” notes Svendsen.

Large patterns, from stencils to damask and botanicals to toneon-tone stripes, are also prevalent, though smaller prints, such as pinstripes, are still easier to work with.

Chenille, velour, woven tweed, silk and linen cushions and throws add another layer of interest to predominantly suede, leather and microfibre furniture, granted we’re started to see some boucle.

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industry focus FURNITURE

“Microfibre is the next best thing to leather,” says Saleema Remtula, vicepresident of marketing and communications for Yaletown Interiors, EQ3. “You get the same clean look but a plusher feel when you sit and it is more durable and stain resistant. The (main) difference is leather is a skin, so you never wear out of leather whereas any fabric will eventually wear out.”

Remtula says the types of fabrics, colours and textures used in the living room are an extension of the luxurious yet relaxed feel promulgated in other areas of the home. Accessories, such as candles, and pastel colour accents (baby blue and pink) enhance the calming mood and add to the simplistic yet stylish room.

While the outdoors is influencing what’s indoors, the same can be said for the reverse.

According to Al Cameron, owner of Furniture Direct, outdoor furniture is more sophisticated than ever before, mirroring its interior counterparts.

“There’s a huge trend towards Chat sets, which are dining sets but with lower tables that you can eat at,” says Cameron. “There are also sofas, love seats and club chairs to relax at and coffee tables (and) end tables. This is all accented with fire pits or fireplaces (and) big cantilevered umbrellas…outdoor heaters, covered areas (and) cabanas so you can extend your season.”

Cameron adds more durable fabrics and materials, such as cast aluminum, wrought iron and teak, are being used in the construction of outdoor furniture, thereby, extending its life-span.

“You can’t tell the difference between indoor and outdoor fabrics now. The only difference is outdoor fabrics won’t fade, rot, tear or mildew,” he says.

“There’s a huge swing towards aluminum framed products with a PVCplastic weave overtop of it, which is conducive to the weather conditions.

It won’t breakdown or take on water and expand and split.”

Teak wood is also extremely resilient.

“Teak has been coming back steadily for the last seven or eight years,” says Dave Archibald, president of Teak Direct.

If cared for properly and, of course, made correctly — kiln-dried to approximately 12 per cent moisture content, at least three centimeters thick, pieced together with wooden

industry focus FURNITURE

PHOTOS COURTESY PARAMOUNT FURNITURE

dowels or “mortise and tenon” joints and finished with solid brass or stainless steel hardware — “teak is a wood that will inherently last forever because of its natural qualities,” he notes.

Teak comes from a large deciduous tree native to South and Southeast Asia, with Indonesia being the world’s largest producer of teak wood. This hard durable timber has a naturally high oil content and is often used in shipbuilding.

While you may stain teak furniture, it is not necessary.

Unstained teak furniture will last just as long as stained teak, however, staining will highlight the beautiful grain. Unstained teak will develop a silver-grey patina over time when furniture is left outdoors.

“Once you stain teak, you will have to re-stain it on a regular basis,” says Archibald. “A good two-thirds of our clientele don’t want to stain because they don’t want that ongoing maintenance.”

Which is why all of Teak Direct’s handcrafted outdoor teak furWhen shopping for furniture, designers will notice a subtle curvature in niture comes sanded and unfinished — staining is left up to the the backs of many armchairs. client as it’s a personal preference.

Similar to indoor furniture, outdoor furniture is high quality, clean-lined, modern and mixed.

“Wood with stainless steel is becoming very popular,” he notes. “And brushed aluminum with wood will give you a similar effect but at a much lower price point.”

When it comes to colour, chocolate brown and black reign supreme and can be found on furniture and accessories, such as umbrellas. Prints and faint checks are also popular as well as tone-on-tone colouring.

As for size, Archibald sees two major trends emerging for the residential market — oversized and downsized.

“The larger homes like the large chunkier furniture…and tables with leafs that are built-in underneath,” he says. “It’s not only convenient but it allows for more seating.”

Wholesale to Designers & Architects “And then there are the people who are moving out of Traditional & Custom Designs ~ Quality Craftsmanship Guaranteed houses into high-end condos, Warehouse: 220 Donaghy Ave, North Vancouver (nr Cap Mall) particularly in Vancouver, that Ph: 778 846 8325 Toll Free: 1 877 666 TEAK (8325) have much smaller decks so they E: teakdirect@shaw.ca www.TeakDirect.com need more compact furniture.” DQ

elegant, functional, timeless

TEAK DIRECT.COM

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industry focus FURNITURE

THE ART OF SLEEPING

BY BERNARD VACHON PHOTOS COURTESY FLOU

Almà, Design Paolo Piva.

T

THE BED IS our most prized possession. We retire to it every night and spring from it every morning. Since we spend a third of our life sleeping, what is most important in a bed — the look or the function?

The answer is both. People usually go for the look but they are factoring in comfort more and more. Good design should not only be aesthetic but ergonomic.

Three criteria must be met to get the best possible night’s sleep.

First, a bed should have good support to help relax muscles, prevent pressure points and keep the body in a natural position. This involves the proper combination of foundation and mattress.

Second, the natural body humidity that builds up under the sheets must be eliminated. The right sheets and sleepwear help moderate body temperature. Third is the amount of available oxygen in the room, which is needed to rebuild cells and energy.

While comfort is subjective — some people prefer firm support while others prefer soft — if every element of a bed is designed to be perfectly compatible with the others, the potential for optimizing comfort is substantially increased.

Unfortunately, very few companies currently offer all the elements — from the foundation and mattress to the linens, comforters and sheets — needed for optimal sleep. As a result, there is a growing market for product lines that factor in every aspect of a bed and offer better balanced packages.

Some foundations include storage areas under the mattress, featuring an ingenious system with pistons for effortless access and manipulation.

An added value to any foundation is a functional headboard.

By functional we mean comfortable for reading or watching television. Upholstered headboards are extremely popular these days.

When equipped with removable fabric covers, the bed’s look can be updated over the years by changing the colour and texture for a fraction of what a brand new bed would cost, with the added bonus of easy maintenance. An upholstered headboard also prevents injuries related to hard surfaces (wood or metal).

The Mattress The mattress is the “pièce de résistance” in the comfort of a bed, although there is no universal mattress that fits everyone. The choice depends on factors such as weight, body build and gender.

The Foundation The old box spring is no longer the only option on the market.

Today’s foundations can extend a mattress’ lifespan. A foundation reinforced with a central support eliminates the hammock-effect that used to ruin the comfort of any mattress. A good slat system is suitable for most mattress types because it minimizes vibrations while allowing air circulation under the bed, preventing a build up of humidity. The best slat systems can be adjusted to individual weight.

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Nathalie, Design Vico Magistretti.

LIVINGSPACE CONTRACT FURNITURE

LIGHTING

ACCESSORIES

OUTDOOR

188 KINGSWAY@BROADWAY VANCOUVER 604 683 1116 LIVINGSPACE.COM

DEFINING THE MODERN HOME

arper catifa

industry focus FURNITURE

Almà, Design Paolo Piva.

Many mattress companies have developed state-of-the-art technologies for premium support. Correct support means maintaining even body pressure, which is why the mattress must be soft enough to fill empty spots and accommodate full ones. Latex foam mattresses usually outperform spring mattresses. The new visco-elastic foam used in mattresses should be combined with some sort of additional support to prevent heavier users from experiencing the hammock-effect that creates discomfort.

The sheer volume of mattress models and options can be overwhelming. It can be hard to tell what is good and what is a gimmick. Here are a few things to look for: • Quilting. Small lozenge pattern ticking confers optimal elasticity, allowing the fabric to conform easily to body contours.

• Fabric. Look for ticking that is highly breathable and can absorb perspiration.

• Safety. High safety standards will soon become law. Look for fire-resistant fabric such as LuftenTM. • Hygiene. All material should be hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial and moisture-resistant.

• Reinforced edges. Additional lateral support prevents your mattress from sagging.

What about mattress thickness? Thicker does not mean better.

Choose a mattress that is well balanced with your foundation and headboard for optimal comfort and functionality.

In terms of mechanical yield and hygiene, a mattress’ general life cycle is between five and seven years.

Pillows A pillow is the extension of your mattress. The right support for your head and neck is crucial for a good night’s sleep.

Some pillows are filled with down and feathers. Feather is a natural spring recognized for its ability to create optimal support and minimize pressure points. Down simply contributes to the comfy look. The two materials should not be mixed together because the feathers can damage the precious and costly down.

Instead, look for an efficient design that separates the fillings — the outer case should be filled with down and the inner pillow with feathers.

If the outer down-filled pillow case is equipped with a zipper, it can house all sorts of inner cushions, including latex, corn fibre

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or synthetic stuffing.

When picking pillows, choose what your clients find most comfortable. Remember to inform them a pillow’s lifespan usually doesn’t exceed two to three years because it is exposed to more mechanical stress than the other bed elements.

Bed Linens The quality of the fibre used, its weave and finish determine how luxurious a sheet feels. Natural fibre fabrics are the best because they allow maximum breathability and permeability.

When choosing linens, you can’t just rely on the thread count.

Some manufacturers use a form of “thread count inflation,” counting each double-ply strand of a thread twice. Also, more isn’t always better. Some of the world’s finest sheets, including those sold by Frette, the Italian linen house that has supplied some of Europe’s finest hotels and the Vatican, feel sleek and soft with a thread count of just 200. So, look for the feel, the softness and the lightness instead of concentrating on the thread count.

Top quality bed linen fabrics are made in 108-inch width for a seamless top sheet or duvet cover. The best quality fabrics feel better and better the more you wash them. Hardware-free construction (sheets and duvet covers without buttons, zippers or Velcro) will ensure durability over many washings. The best printing uses water-based colouring and chemical-free processing.

Down-Filled Comforters Down is the best natural insulator, which is why we recommend a sheet system that includes a natural down-filled comforter. Down covers the breasts of aquatic birds and consists of a central quilt with spherical filaments that can capture air. A duvet acts as an insulator, keeping your body warm throughout the night while allowing transpiration to the sheets for optimal comfort. DQ Bernard Vachon is the sales and marketing manager for Flou Canada. Flou is an Italian company that was founded in 1978.

Flou Canada has been manufacturing and distributing under license the Italian bed system across Canada, the United States and Mexico for over 17 years. The distribution is made through a selected number of specialized retailers in high-end contemporary furniture, including Living Space located in Vancouver, B.C. For more information, contact Bernard at bernard@flou.qc.ca

industry focus FURNITURE

LEFT: Fire and earth elements can be seen in the painting hung on the wall. RIGHT: The square brown coffee table and the motifs in it, and the little round shapes and circular motif in the centre evoke earth and metal elements.

FURNITURE FENG SHUI

BY TERESA MIN YEE HWANG

T

TRADITIONAL CHINESE FENG shui is based on the study of balance and harmony, in both an internal and external sense.

From the time feng shui first came into existence in China 5,000 years ago, the study of geomancy has been based on landforms and structures that are oriented according to the magnetic north-south compass directions.

In those days, feng shui was used for the purpose of locating the best burial sites (yin feng shui) as the Chinese people practiced ancestor worship. They believed providing ancestors with the most auspicious burial sites would bless their descendants with good children, good luck and good fortune. In time, the ancients realized the same principles could be applied to benefit the living (yang feng shui).

In an external sense, in order for us to live in balance and harmony we have to look at what is in our external environment, whether it is at home, at work or extended to our town and country. In an internal sense, we have to look at what is handed to us in our destiny. With this we can see what is lacking within our spirit and do what is necessary to restore the balance.

Within our environment, feng shui applies the yin (passive) and yang (active) principles together with the interaction between different energies (qi). For instance, in Wu Xing, the Five Elements transformation cycles are used. It also takes into account the important attributes of time and space (Xuan Kong Da Gua and Xuan Kong Fei Xing formulas), along with the people who occupy the space and their Ming Gua and Ba Zi (destiny charts based on their birth data).

The Five Elements include wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

When we live in harmony, there is balance between the yin and yang components of the energies (qi) because they combine and form a harmonious flow between the five different elements of qi in our environment and also within us.

Looking at the practical application of feng shui in the arrangement of furniture, the Five Elements can be interpreted in terms of their shapes and colours.

• Wood is represented by the colour green, ranging from cerulean blue to forest green, and anything tall, rectangular and columnar in shape.

• Fire is represented by the colour red, ranging from orange to purple, and in the shape of triangles.

• Earth is represented by the colour brown, encompassing a variety of earth tones from taupe to dark chocolate, and square shapes.

• Metal is represented by the colour white and anything metallic, such as gold, silver, pewter and bronze, and is round or circular in shape.

• Water is represented by the colour black, ranging from navy to dark blue to jet black, and in wavy shapes, which can also include a series of circles.

According to the teachings of traditional Chinese feng shui, the combined effects of heaven, earth and human qi are the basis of everything happening under heaven and above earth. A building is born at a certain point in time and location when construction is completed by human effort, just as a living entity is born after a certain gestation period. So, the building has its own particular pattern of qi, which is determined by time and space aspects.

By using Xuan Kong Fei Xing — the flying stars school of feng shui formula, which is based on the compass orientation of a building and the time it is constructed — we can determine the natal chart of the building. This is advantageous because designers and architects can then determine the best orientation of the building, including placement of the main entry, doors and windows, to

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industry focus FURNITURE

LEFT: Fire and earth is present in the chair cushions and metal in the round shape of the dining table. RIGHT: This door can be classified as having strong earth and wood elements as it is square in shape, brown in colour and comprised of a number of rectangular shaped panels.

bring in the most auspicious energy and design the interior layout to allow the good energy to freely circulate. A person’s own qi (based on their birth data) is also taken into consideration, along with the function of the different spaces in the building.

In terms of a comprehensive feng shui assessment of a building, here are some general guidelines to take into consideration: 1. Clients should keep bedroom doors closed when sleeping at night, including the ensuite bathroom door. Install a door or curtain if there is no door connecting the two rooms.

2. Sharp corners create poison arrows. Avoid poison arrows that point in the direction people sleep or work. For new home construction or renovations, incorporate rounded corners on cabinets, walls, low beams and pillars to avoid the creation of poison arrows.

3. Straight lines create Sha (killing) qi, so promote the use of curves both inside and outside a building.

4. When designing new buildings, make sure doors do not directly line up with one another or with large windows.

5. Try to avoid using elements of fire and water in the bedroom.

Do not place a bed against a wall that has a toilet or fireplace/chimney on the other side 6. Do not incorporate moving water or large living plants into bedroom design.

7. If you place a mirror in the bedroom, it should never directly face the bed.

8. No television or computer in the bedroom. If they have to be there, clients should cover the screen or monitor before going to sleep, or place them inside an armoire and close the doors at bedtime.

9. Mirrors and large structures should never directly face the front door.

10. Do not hang wind chimes directly above where people might sit or sleep.

11. You should never sit or sleep directly under a ceiling fan or low beam, so be aware of furniture placement.

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12. Beds with a solid headboard are advisable. Avoid placing a bed at the lower end of a sloped ceiling.

13. Red is a very powerful colour, so only use it where specifically instructed.

14. Inform clients that placing fresh flowers in a house helps to activate “romance luck.” The location is relative to each individual.

15. It is advisable not to sleep in bunk beds — too much oppressive qi — so avoid incorporating them in your design.

16. When placing or creating water features, make sure the water flows towards the centre of the house.

17. Advise clients to keep all interior doors open during the day except bathroom doors. Do open windows to let in fresh air at least once a week. This brings the good qi in and allows it to circulate throughout the space.

18. Maintain beautiful forms (structures and colours) outside and inside. This determines the quality of qi people bring inside the space.

As you can see, feng shui is a science that involves scientific formulas based on studies of time and space. It’s also an art as the application of feng shui is a complex study of the form and function of everything in our environment, both inside and outside a building.

A good feng shui practitioner knows how to combine all this information and determine how to promote balance and harmony within the space in order to benefit those living or working there. DQ Teresa Min Yee Hwang was born and raised in Hong Kong, steeped in feng shui traditions. In 1992, all of her adult family members suffered serious health problems, prompting her to study feng shui in earnest. Teresa has done numerous commercial and residential consultations on new construction and renovation projects. She also teaches feng shui professional courses and workshops. For upcoming workshops, seminars, public speaking and consultation information, please check out www.teresahwang.com. Teresa can be contacted at 250.549.1356 or fengshui@teresahwang.com.

industry focus LIGHTING

LIGHTING 101

BY HEIDI BALSHAW PHOTO COURTESY JUNO LIGHTING

W

WHEN THOMAS EDISON invented the light bulb he probably never imagined lighting would become such an intricate part of life. When done correctly, lighting can enhance a space, inspire a mood or create a vision. When done incorrectly, it can render a space flat, unforgiving and unappealing.

The key to lighting a space effectively is to layer the lighting.

Layered lighting involves a combination of ambient, task, accent and wall lighting. By using these four basic lighting concepts, you can achieve the control and interest you desire in any space.

Ambient lighting, also referred to as general lighting, provides fairly uniform illumination. When the right luminaire and lamp are chosen and positioned correctly, extremely beneficial lighting can be achieved.

Task lighting is typically used to provide higher levels of localized light (20 to 50 foot-candles). Task lighting is recommended for kitchens and bathrooms as well as office, medical and retail facilities.

Accent lighting is the use of directional lighting to highlight or emphasize special features, such as artwork, photographs or sculptures. Common lighting fixtures include recessed or track lighting or mono points.

Wall lighting or wall washing is used to illuminate a wall or emphasize the height and size of a room. The placement of wall washing or grazing is critical. If a lamp is too close or too far from the wall, you will ultimately lose the effect. To create a wall washing effect, place the light fixture 12 to 20 inches away from the wall you want to illuminate. Grazing is more commonly used to highlight a textured wall. To create a grazing effect, the lamp should be placed between 6 and 12 inches away from the wall.

Use low watt lamps to achieve the best wall grazing results.

Understanding Lamping Most professionals in today’s lighting industry use the word “lamp.” This is standard terminology used by the industry when referring to the common light bulb. Lamping or choosing a light bulb may seem easy but it can be the most difficult part of lighting. Everything in lighting starts with the lamp. Without understanding what a lamp does, it is impossible to use the lamp to its fullest potential.

The critical information about lamping is in the photometric.

This is the easiest and most accessible way for any designer or architect to find out what they need to know about a lamp. Footcandles are just one of many important pieces of information you can find in the photometric. Foot-candles measure the amount of light that falls on any surface. One foot-candle is equal to the amount of light that falls on one square foot of illumination one foot away from a candle.

Lamping is not just about the technical specification. More importantly, it is about how the space feels. Once you learn the science of lighting, you can control the design in its entirety.

Relaxed and warm or cool and slightly uncomfortable — the colour of the light can change many aspects of the overall design.

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) explains how light appears to the human eye. Colour temperature is calculated using a standard unit called degrees of Kelvin.

But what does this mean for designers?

When choosing a lamp, you must consider the space and what you are trying to accomplish. If you’re going for an icy uncomfortable-feeling room, then a 7500K lamp will create a cloudy winter day effect. However, if a warm comfortable space is desired, then a 2800K lamp is your best bet, creating a warm summer evening effect.

As human beings, we rely on lighting — whether it is artificial or natural — to view the world around us. As the human eye focuses on individual objects, what it actually sees depends on the amount of light that hits the varying surfaces. Since our emotions are heavily influenced by what we see, controlling what we do with light and understanding what it does increases the benefits of lighting and its intended use, so “let there be light.” DQ Heidi Balshaw has an interior design background and is the lighting showroom supervisor for Robinson Lighting and Bath Centre, Vancouver’s premier showroom for all your lighting and plumbing needs. Located on the corner of 7th Avenue and Cambie Street, this award-winning, 17,000-square-foot lighting and bath showroom boasts a full range of products from North America and Europe.

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industry focus LIGHTING

RIDING THE RAIL TO ENHANCED LIGHTING DESIGN

BY JODY DE VINE PHOTOS COURTESY SEA GULL LIGHTING

F

FROM THE HUMBLE beginnings of a “style” that defined a decade, spot and track lighting has re-emerged with trendsetting options designed to overcome lighting challenges and enhance a room’s drama and flair. If “spot lights” conjure images of clunky plastic designs and oversized light bulbs that seemingly cheapen the look and feel of most rooms, think again. Given its versatility and ease of installation, rail lighting — a more stylish, trendier version of track lighting — has become an intricate component of many residential and commercial environments.

The style options have never been more diverse and now include a wide assortment of lighting systems available in numerous finishes ranging from contemporary colours and metals to antique nickel and bronze. The latest configurations have also been developed to comfortably and artistically include nearly any number of pendants, sconces and directional fixtures, which stylishly meet most functional lighting needs.

The mundane fixtures of yesteryear have been replaced by a wide variety of designer looks that include glass shades in a range of colours, shapes and sizes, complementing nearly any décor style. Even the descriptive names of many of the fixtures have become more aesthetic and enticing as noted by the amber rhapsody, blue ellipse, caramel swirl, vanilla crème and opal rain offerings included within the Ambiance® Lighting Systems product line.

Another major benefit of today’s rail lighting is its unrivalled ability to meet complex design needs. Once a common staple of many homes, offices and commercial outlets in the ‘70s and ‘80s, spot lights and track lighting lost significant ground to recessed lighting in the ‘90s due to its ability to effectively deliver equal parts of general, accent and task lighting in a low profile manner.

In recent years rail systems have re-emerged as the choice of many designers given its new, updated style options that provide the utmost in flexibility. In fact, rail lighting has become the choice for many professionals needing to fulfill three tasks with a

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single lighting system. This includes adding drama and flair to virtually any contemporary or traditional setting, while solving intricate architectural problems with a system that meets all the room’s lighting requirements.

For instance, the best lit rooms in any home or office include three forms of lighting to fulfill any number of tasks and activities. This includes ambient or general lighting to facilitate movement and entertaining, task lighting to aid the completion of tasks such as homework, cooking and reading, and accent lighting, which creatively highlights artistic elements and other notable items.

Kitchens, dining areas and office spaces are among the multiuse areas that can benefit from layered and dramatic lighting effects. So, why not combine rail lighting, which can easily be bent and positioned within nearly any space, with conventional lighting techniques to create layered lighting effects that readily accommodate the varied needs of these areas?

When used with dimming controls, rail systems can easily turn the common into the uncommon. This includes delivering enough light during the day to read or cook and then lowering the brightness at night to entertain with soft, glowing atmospheres that resemble candlelight.

As for the performance of other tasks, here are some examples of the ways a well-placed rail system can be used to set moods and accommodate nearly any event, while creatively attracting attention to certain areas: • Pendants and sconces placed above island areas and tables make them more useable for simple tasks while creating the illusion of a larger space.

• Rail lighting mounted two to three feet from the wall and aimed to highlight a particular area creates a wall washing effect that evenly showcases larger artistic elements such as murals and paintings.

• A single light offering three to five times the ambient light in a space will dramatically showcase and draw attention to an object.

Rail lighting systems can add style and drama to nearly any décor while offering designers and other lighting professionals the ability to customize lighting solutions to meet specific architectural and design requirements. Whether using a pre-assembled kit or a build-your-own rail light package, these lighting systems are also easily installed with connections to existing electrical outlets or can be readily reconfigured to accommodate expansions and new needs.

Furthermore, these systems can be designed with low-voltage or Energy Star® qualified fixtures to create additional energy savings for users that are as interested in reducing energy bills and saving the environment as they are in style.

For those less comfortable with low-voltage systems, Ambiance Transitions is a voltage lighting system line offering the same flexibility and design rewards as other rail systems, but operates on 120 volts eliminating the need for a transformer.

When installed properly, low voltage lighting can produce more than two times the amount of light as incandescent track and rail systems, while creating a $7.50 per lamp energy savings based on 1,000 hours of operation at a $0.10 per kilowatt-hour rate.

All of these lighting solutions provide smart, exciting choices that do not underestimate the ability of lighting to affordably make over a room without costly renovations. DQ Jody DeVine, director of brand and channel marketing for Sea Gull Lighting products, is a marketing industry veteran that has been with Sea Gull Lighting for the past seven years. She is responsible for the company’s overall brand strategy, advertising and public relations programs as well as driving the channel marketing initiatives that serve Sea Gull Lighting’s lighting showroom partners. DeVine is also deeply involved with the marketing efforts for the Monte Carlo Fan Company.

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Architects in Alberta

Architecture & Metaphysics: A Personal Journey

BY DAVID ROTH

ONE DAY IN New York changed my life. I met a man whose passport said he was a clairvoyant. He explained how he used extrasensory perception to solve crimes for police forces around the world. His experiences appeared to be credible and I started looking for books about extrasensory perception, which in turn led to a whole range of esoteric subjects. For several months I was obsessed with reading all I could. At one point, I was ready to quit a 20-year career in architecture to explore what I referred to as metaphysics.

Then one day I picked up a book, The Poetry of Architecture, given to me by a friend years earlier. The first paragraph of the introduction ended like this: If we consider how much less the beauty and majesty of a building depends upon its pleasing certain prejudices of the eye, than upon its rousing certain trains of meditation in the mind, it will show in a moment how many intricate questions of feeling are involved in the raising of an edifice; it will convince us of the truth of a proposition, which might at first have appeared startling, that no man can be an architect, who is not a metaphysician.

– Written in 1840 and published in 1890 by Kata Phusin conjectured nom-de-plume of John Ruskin.

I was hooked. I started looking for ways I could apply what I was learning about metaphysics to my design work. So far, I have identified nine areas where metaphysical principles can be applied to architecture and interior design: creativity, geomancy, advocacy architecture, symbolism, numerology, sacred architecture, philosophical geometry, the Tao of architecture and colour.

1. Creativity comes from the super conscious and can be called forth through dreams and meditation.

2. Geomancy refers to the use of subtle energy fields within the earth, such as ley lines, aquastats and vortices, to create architecture that makes us feel better and more in tune with our surroundings.

3. Advocacy architecture uses the positive spiritual energy of the users, planners, designers and contractors to create a more responsive, sensitive and appreciated project.

4. Symbols that have significance to the owners/occupants may be subtly incorporated into the design of a building. This can subconsciously reinforce underlying spiritual beliefs.

5. Numerology, which is based on the notion that numbers have different vibration frequencies with inherent powers and meanings, can be used to create better architecture.

6. Sacred architecture refers to buildings that are designed to reflect man’s spiritual power and energy in physical form.

7. Philosophical geometry is based on the observation that proportional relationships in natural forms are naturally beautiful because they reflect the principles of the cosmic order.

8. The Tao of architecture is an investigation into the negative space created by architectural form as a meaningful creative exercise generated from the philosophy of Lao-tzu.

9. Colour, being another form of vibrational energy, affects us emotionally, speaking the language of the soul.

I believe we are all on a spiritual quest to understand ourselves, life and the universe. I like to find clients who are spiritually aware and looking for a way to incorporate this significant part of their lives into the design of their home. For those who are involved with this spiritual journey, crafting the world around themselves to reflect and reinforce those beliefs becomes an important part of their lives.

So, what makes metaphysical architecture different than any other well designed building? Quite simply, the end product is more meaning-

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The circular form in the ceiling, the light fixture and the countertop symbolizes and reinforces the idea of the family circle, a place to meet, eat, relax and talk about the day.

ful to the client, it embodies important aspects of the client’s beliefs and is a constant reminder and affirmation of their purpose in life. Some buildings get close to that but most clients and designers are not aware of the possibilities.

One of my first commissions may serve as an example. A young couple learned I was working on a government project in their town and asked if I designed houses. Upon explaining I was limiting my house design clients to those who were interested in metaphysical design, they decided to approach the design of their house from this direction.

Soon after I met with my clients and they really liked the idea of using some simple symbolism in the building design to represent their spiritual beliefs. Since they both came from a farming background and believed in reincarnation, we decided to make wheat — a symbol of reincarnation in western culture — the theme. Images of wheat would be incorporated into the stained glass entrance and in a few other locations of the house.

My clients were also intrigued by what a square within a circle represented — that we are spiritual beings with a physical form. After exploring several ideas, we settled on a square house, with the balconies, patios, landscaping, overhangs and sidewalks forming the outline of a circle around the house. From the sky, the form would be obvious but as one moved around the site, the circular features would be less apparent, though it served as a subtle reminder of the impetus for the design.

As work progressed on the design, my clients started reading up on feng shui. I explained I knew what was involved but was not skilled enough in the art to advise them, so I consulted a feng shui expert.

Upon learning that the application of feng shui principles might mean reorienting the building on the site, my clients ultimately decided not to pursue that course of action. That experience taught me an important lesson, namely that the metaphysical principles clients choose to incorporate in their design should be based on core beliefs, not just curiosity or fascination.

I continue to be open to clients who want to explore metaphysical design ideas and am constantly looking for new metaphysical ideas and approaches that can be incorporated in the design process. DQ David Roth MRAIC, MAAA is a partner of the firm of Holland Roth Architects in Edmonton, Alta. You may contact him at david@hollandroth.ab.ca

SPECIAL FEATURE | DesignTrends Edmonton 2007 Show Preview

MAY 8 & 9, 2007 SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE, EDMONTON

Edmonton’s Premier Conference & Exposition for Architecture & Interior Design WITH THE RECENT economic boom in Alberta, Edmonton is clearly showing itself as the gateway to the North and as a thriving urban centre. In its growth, a dynamic wave of leading edge architectural and interior design projects has appeared on the skyline and in the interior domains of this northern city of blue skies and prairie lands.

In response to the Edmonton pulse in the design and construction industries, the largest conference and exposition of its kind in Western Canada, DesignTrends, is launching into the Edmonton market this coming May 8 & 9, 2007 at the Shaw Conference Centre. With sister events, Design Northwest in Vancouver and DesignTrends in Calgary and Seattle, the DesignTrends Edmonton Conference and Exposition is an exciting new addition.

The two day conference will feature leading industry experts who will address current issues and design trends. Architects, interior designers, consultants and other stakeholders will have access to more than 25 AAA/IDA/BOMA/REIC accredited professional development sessions.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and sustainable design continue to be hot topics for architects and design professionals.

Catering to this, the conference is hosting several sessions, with special attention to “Leadership in Sustainable Design: The Private Sector goes LEED

Gold” with feature case study PCL Centennial Learning Centre. Other LEED highlights include “Lighting Toward Sustainable Design”, “LEED Standards for IEQ & Building Durability” and “What’s New in Lighting and Incentives for Lighting Design”.

Also hot on the design palate is “Trends for the Greater Universe of Colour” with Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute.

Leatrice is one of design’s foremost experts on the use and development of colour. She is author to several books and articles, of which some are used in acclaimed Interior Design education programs.

A complimentary industry cocktail reception will be hosted on Tuesday May 8 from 4 – 5 p.m. on the show floor and will provide valuable networking opportunities for industry professionals and exhibitors alike.

DesignTrends Edmonton is being held in conjunction with Buildex Edmonton and Construct Edmonton. Together the three concurrent conferences and expositions will offer more than 35,000 square feet of trade show floor space featuring 150 exhibits showcasing state-of-the-art products, services and technologies available to the industry.

All three shows are endorsed by numerous industry associations including IDA, AAA, IFMA North, AFCA, ECA, Merit, ASET, BOMA, REIC, IREM and others.

Leatrice Eiseman of the Pantone Colour Institute, presenting “Trends for the Greater Universe of Colour” at this year’s DesignTrends Edmonton conference.

Seminar Program For a complete list of seminars go to www.designtrendsedmonton.com

Keynote Presentations DesignTrends Edmonton is pleased to announce three keynote presentations as part of its conference lineup. Having been very well received at past DesignTrends conferences, Kevin Lust, Communications Specialist extraordinaire, has been invited to present “Advanced Communication Skills” (May 8, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon) and “Dealing with the Definitely Difficult” (May 8, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.). His seminars have been greatly appreciated by past conference attendees who have found Kevin to be dynamic and engaging, while the material itself is applicable, understandable and immediately beneficial. If you want to improve your communication style or better handle difficult situations, these seminars may be your best investment yet!

Another keynote presenter is Doug Land, Vice President of Atocrates Inc. Doug is a project management specialist, has extensive knowledge of the construction industry and has been very well received at past conferences. His presentations are

directly applicable to architects and to construction, design and property management professionals who look to effectively and efficiently manage projects from start to finish. Doug’s presentations “Introductory Project Management Mini-Course: 12 Steps to Ensure Success and Avoid Construction Disputes” (May 8, 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.) and “Project Management 201: Trouble Shooting & Managing Project Risks” (May 8, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon) will provide valuable information for gaining competency in project management.

Randy Hnatko, President, Trainwest Management and Consulting Inc., has proven time and time again to provide valuable insight, strategies and advice on the art of negotiation. His keynote presentation “Negotiating with the Savvy Buyer” (May 9, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) has been thoroughly enjoyed and valued by many audiences. Randy offers an engaging and interactive seminar while identifying key concepts that are easy to understand yet not oversimplified.

Kevin Lust

Randy Hnatko

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SPECIAL FEATURE | DesignTrends Edmonton 2007 Show Preview

Exhibitor List

(Current to March 23)

A & B Concrete Pumping Ltd.

Canwest Elevator & Lift.

Fein Canadian Power Tool

Nana Wall Systems Inc.

www.abconcretepumping.com

www.medichair.ca

www.fein.ca

www.nanawall.com

ADP Health & Safety

Carmanah Technologies Corp.

Fire Protection Inc.

National Leasing

www.adp.ca/ohs

www.carmanah.com

www.fireprotectioninc.com

www.nationalleasing.com

Alberta Floor Covering Association All Weather Windows Ltd

CAT, The Rental Store

Firestone Building Products

NEDCO

www.catrents.ca

www.firestonebpco.ca

www.nedco.ca

www.allweatherwindows.com

Chief Architect/Delta Design Technologies

Fitness Town Inc.

Neogard

www.fitnesstown.ca

www.conprosystems.com

Forbo Flooring Inc.

Nerval Corporation

www.forboLinoleumNA.com

www.nervalcorporation.com

Frontier Power Products

Nexen Marketing

www.frontierpower.com

www.nexeninc.com

Georgia Pacific Gypsum

Nordic Engineered Wood

www.gp.com

www.nordicewp.com

Goodbye Graffiti

Norstad Products

www.goodbyegraffiti.com

www.norstad.com

GWP Wallworks Group

Norstar Industries

www.wallworks.com

www.norstarindustries.ca

HAMBRO

Northern Fireplace

www.hambro.ws

www.northernfireplace.com

Hazmasters

Old Iron Studio Ltd.

www.hazmasters.com

www.stairsinternational.com

Hilti Corporation

Paisley Products of Canada Inc.

www.hilti.ca

www.paisleypro.com

Home Depot Supply

Pattar Cedar Products ltd.

www.hdsupply.ca

www.pattargroup.com

ICS GROUP

Pentax Canada

www.icsgroup.ca

www.pentaxcanada.ca

Icynene Inc.

PERMAwest/Eco Alberta

www.icynene.com

www.eco-block.com

IFMA – Northern Alberta

Polyurethane Foam System Inc.

www.ifma-nac.org

www.polyurethanefoamsystem.com

Inland Concrete/Lehigh Cement

Prolux Industries

www.lehighinland.com/inland

www.prolux.com

Innovative Fall Protection

Propex Concrete Systems

www.innovativefallprotection.com

www.fibermesh.com

IPLC Vantera Inc. www.iplc.com

QB Technology Inc. Quantum Murray LP

ISIS Ceramic and Porcelain Inc.

www.quantumgroup.ca

AllWest Commercial Furnishings www.allwestfurnishing.com

American Technical Publishers www.go2atp.com

Amvic Inc. www.amvicsystem.com

ASET www.aset.ab.ca

Award Windows www.awardwindows.com

Beaver Plastics Ltd.-Logix ICF www.beaverplastics.com

Bedrock Granite www.bedrockgranitesales.com

Blachere Illumination www.blachere-illumination.ca

Black & Decker www.bdhhi.com

BOMA Edmonton www.bomaedmonton.org

C.R. Laurence Co., Inc. www.crlaurence.com

Can-Cell www.can-cell.com

Canadian MDF Products Company Canam Group www.canamgroup.ws

www.chiefcanada.com

Creative Door Services www.creativedoor.com

Cummins Western Canada www.cummins.com

D & M Concrete Products Ltd. www.dmconcrete.com

DACS Controls www.dacscontrols.ca

Daltile Canada www.daltile.com

Daro Flooring Construction Inc. www.daro-flooring.com

Days Inn® & Suites www.daysinnpenticton.ca

Designer Glass Signs www.designerglasssigns.com

Duochem www.duochem.com

Durock Alfacing International Ltd. www.durock.com

Edgewood Matting www.edgewoodmatting.com

Edmonton Cellular www.edmontoncellular.com

Edmonton Construction Association www.edmca.com

www.isisdecor.com

I-XL Masonry Supplies www.ixlbrick.com

Jeld-Wen www.jeld-wen.ca

June Warren Publishing www.junewarren.com

K2 Stone Quarries Inc. www.k2stonequarries.com

KJA Consultants Inc. www.kja.com

Kohon Designs Inc. www.kohon.ca

Kraus McMahon Canada www.krausmcmahon.com

Labour Ready www.laborready.com

Langecon Custom Homes Inc. www.langecon.com

Lerch Bates North America Inc. www.lerchbates.com

LP Building Products www.lpcorp.com

Maestro Technologies Inc. www.maestro.biz

Makita Canada www.makita.ca

Manpower Management www.manpowermanagement.org

Marine Containers SVCS Inc. www.mcscontainers.com

Merit Contractors Alberta www.meritalberta.com

Millennium Decking Inc. www.mdecking.com

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Radec Air and Water Solutions www.radecgroup.com

Recycling Council of Alberta www.recycle.ab.ca

REIC/IREM Edmonton www.reic.com

Royal Building Technologies www.rbsdirect.com

SimplexGrinnell www.simplexgrinnell.com

Soler & Palau Canada www.solerpalau.com

SounDivide www.soundivide.com

Sound-Rite Acoustics Inc. www.sound-rite.com

SPECS Ltd. www.specs.ca

Steel Tile www.steeltile.com

Stratacon Inc. www.stratacon.ca

Surveillance Shop www.thesurveillanceshop.com

Takagi Canada Inc. www.takagi.com

Telus www.telus.com

Unicell www.unicell.com

Unisource Canada Inc. www.unisource.ca

United Scaffold Supply Company www.unitedscaffold.ca

Exposition Floorplan Uretek Canada Inc. www.uretek.ca

VertaFile Systems W.R. Meadows www.wrmeadows.com

Waste Management of Canada www.wm.com

Westport Manufacturing www.west-port.com

Whittaker Designs www.whittakerdesigns.com

Wolsely Luxury Bath & Kitchen Showroom Zybertech Construction Software Ltd. www.zybertech.com

Industry Cocktail Reception Network with your peers and check out the latest new products on the tradeshow floor. For more details, go to www.designtrendsedmonton.com and click on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Special Eventsâ&#x20AC;?.

By choosing natural stone from Bedrock Granite Sales, you have the advantage of customizing the stone to your design needs.

Not only do we manufacture Thin Veneers & Full Stone, but, we also manufacture Coping, Pillar Caps, Window Sills, Hearths, Steps, Curbing, Cobble Stones, Water Features, Flagstones, Benches and Custom Sawing to your personal needs.

These products can be found in our Hardy Island Granite, Haddington Island Andesite, Newcastle Sandstone, Whistler Basalt, Squamish Rhyolite and Mountain Chalet.

We can be reached by phone at 1-800-941-7783, fax 604-942-7720, email roy_bedrock@telus.net or by our website at www.bedrockgranitesales.com.

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IDA Master bedroom in a mountain condominium designed

by Sizeland Evans Interior Design Inc.

PHOTO COURTESY JAYSON BRUCE SCHULTZ

Five-Star Treatment THE RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND HOSPITALITY DESIGN. BY KEVIN GRAY & MAVIS TRUSCOTT LUXURY. AN EXPERIENCE familiar to our well travelled clients who regularly frequent five-star hotels. Captivated by the comfort and convenience of the spa-like bathrooms, with oversized showers and infinity edge tubs, to the bedrooms, fitness and food facilities designed to cater to every sybaritic whim, many have chosen to enjoy the same experience in their own home so they can experience luxury on a daily basis. That is one example of the power of hospitality design, influencing the trends in residential interiors.

On the flipside, residential design is also influencing the hospitality market. The average client is more sophisticated than a decade ago, and expects hotel and vacation destinations to offer the same level of luxury to which they are accustomed in their home.

This reciprocal relationship between residential and hospitality design is a trend that will continue. In Western Canada, we see indicators of this in the rising level of prosperity, trends toward spalifestyle communities and the explosion of condominium hotels and resort developments offering private or fractional ownership.

This presents a perfect opportunity for the design professional to respond to the rising demands of the market, by creating inspired design solutions of equally high standards for both the hospitality and residential sectors. For our clients, this will provide a hassle-free transition when migrating between home and hotel. We must strive to exceed the expectations of each client by creating solutions that will generate a ‘wow’ response.

As professionals, it is vital that we exhibit design leadership in order to remain ahead of our clients’ expectations and surprise them. In order to do so, there are some key elements that must be considered.

The bathroom is where most clients desire a luxury experience. It is the space most closely connected with the “spa” concept, and literally embodies the meaning of “Saper per Aquae,” or “health through water.” For the designer, the room is stimulating to design and technically exacting, and offers a high degree of fulfillment. Assert your sense of design and vision by creating an indulgent oasis rather than simply meeting basic functionality.

Design the architecture of the space to contain, rather than overpower, the key functions of the space. Be scrupulous about quality of detailing, quality of materials and specification of equip-

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ment. Incorporate elements to enable cleansing of both body and mind. Accommodate the functions — bathing, showering and washing — and include various options for the user’s convenience. If the space is large enough, consider including a sauna, steam room, inhalation room, meditation room or even a lap pool, or their space saving cousin the current pool. Celebrate the therapeutic benefits of water.

In the shower, take time sourcing and specifying body jets, shower heads and drainage equipment. There is a large variety to choose from and there are subtle differences in quality and function. Design the shower system to give the user the ability to have different off/on combinations between the shower head(s) and body jets. Three settings is a good number as more can be frustrating for the user and it is difficult to find a reliable diverter valve that operates effectively beyond this amount. If the building water pressure is not enough to accommodate the requirements of the equipment, a pump(s) may be required.

Look for trends coming out of Europe which will soon hit the North American market, such as chromotherapy and aromatherapy within the shower.

If using a steam shower, be aware of the system requirements and space required for things like generators and pumps. Also, consider the humidity it will generate — extraction or air circulation may need to be increased. Select finish materials that can withstand the steam environment and research the installation details to ensure the enclosure is soundly constructed.

The bath should be large enough to allow the user to stretch out and relax, with legs completely submerged. Infinity edge tubs allow for indulgent soaking and air bath systems are gentler than the typical Jacuzzi system. If the aerated tub is to cater to the preferences of more than one person, it is advisable to select an aeration system which provides a wider range of settings.

Some baths are now designed as freestanding units, which also provide aeration, less cumbersome than the familiar built-in units and are beautiful to the eye.

Install a high quality sound system, which can be controlled within the bathroom only, separate from the remainder of the property. Provide good lighting around the vanity area and place other

PHOTO COURTESY SICIS THE ART FACTORY

PHOTO COURTESY KOHLER

lighting to avoid causing glare for the user. For accessories, consider concealed wine coolers and cabinets for drinking glasses.

In the bedroom, focus the ‘wow’ on the bed area and around the bed by enveloping it in an environment which makes a strong architectural statement. Place emphasis on the use of tactile functional elements, such as upholstered headboards or upholstered wall panels behind the bed. Create a sitting area for quiet contemplation and infuse the bedroom with natural light. Careful thought is required for the electric lighting, including the ability to control it from various positions as well as remotely. A successful combination is to employ discreet, low voltage or LED wall mounted reading lights on either side of the bed, with table lamps on bedsides and ceiling recessed pot lights around rather than over the bed area. Location and quantity of switches is important. At minimum, there should be a switch inside the door as you enter the room and switch controls at either side of the bed, with dimming capability.

Plan for ample storage and dressing area space. Pay attention to details such as lockable jewelry drawers or safes and adjustable mirrors of various sizes.

Elevate the level of convenience by combining controls for lighting, opening/closing window coverings, and audio/visual into one system with remote control devices.

Remember that luxury is an experience measured by intangibles. Our clients do not pay large sums of money just to build a bathroom or renovate their bedroom, but because they want quality relaxation time in their own unique and exclusive retreat.

As design professionals, we must constantly refine our perceptive abilities so that we quickly tune in to our clients motives and exceed their expectations by providing creatively inspired solutions. It is up to us to raise the bar and generate the ‘wow’ response from our clients. DQ Kevin Gray and Mavis Truscott are both accredited interior designers with Calgary-based Sizeland Evans Interior Design Inc., leading their residential design group. Between them they have 40 years of experience in the design industry, having completed a wide variety of projects. The firm’s current residential work includes private residential commissions and condominiums.

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Design Headlines

Design Northwest A Success Creative Design In Calgary Record numbers flooded the sold out exposition floor at this year’s Design Northwest Conference and Exposition, which took place Feb. 14–15 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Up five per cent from last year, more than 11,000 people attended the two day 16th annual event, which showcased 550 exhibits featuring the latest information, products (including green products), technologies, services and solutions for the design, renovation and retrofit of every building type (commercial, residential, educational, health care, hotels and institutional). While thousands of delegates roamed the sold out exposition floor, countless others attended the informative seminars. This year, 125 speakers offered their professional insight on key issues facing the industry. Of the 80 available sessions, the most popular included: Trends for the Greater Universe of Colour, a look at the significance, background and importance of the newest colour and design trends; Inside the Kitchen: Customizing Made Easy; International Interior Design Roundtable: Exciting Global Project Opportunities; and the International Architectural Roundtable: Civic Design in the Urban Realm.

Other show highlights included the widelyattended industry cocktail reception held at the end of day one, which provided ample opportunity to network with nation-wide peers and congratulate Fontile Corp., the winner of this year’s Best Design Northwest Booth and Best of Show.

Quebec-based Le Groupe Germaine has chosen downtown Calgary as the site of its first development in western Calgary. The architecture, by LeMay Michaud Architecture Design, will feature a 150-room boutique hotel with an 11storey office tower and 42 luxury condominium above two separate buildings. The three components will join in a bridge formation creating an open breezeway in the centre. Situated in the city’s downtown core across from the landmark Calgary Tower, the project is slated for completion in spring 2009. The family owned company currently owns and operates four distinguished hotel properties in Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto.

CBIP Cancelled The federal government has cancelled the Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP), which has provided design assistance and funding of up to $60,000 for eligible organizations based on building energy savings. Since 1998, the CBIP has successfully addressed what some projects have considered “a financial barrier” for creating energy-efficient buildings.

According to the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC), a growing number of building owners, developers and design professionals are committing to building green. To date, more than 500,000 square metres of floor space in Canada has been recognized through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. On average, LEED certified buildings are 44 per cent more

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energy efficient than their conventional counterparts. Today, more than 5 million square metres of new and existing construction projects are registered for LEED certification.

While the largest part of the funding for the improved design of these buildings comes from the industry, continued federal support is essential to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions especially since up to 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada come from the operation of buildings.

RAIC Announces New Award The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has announced the creation of a new award to be presented during the OAA/RAIC Conference and Festival to be held in Toronto May 9–12. The President’s Award in Architectural Journalism will recognize a unique story, article or radio or television piece for its contribution to the wide-spread dissemination of architectural values and ideas.

The RAIC bestows more than 80 honours and awards every year. Established in 1907, the voluntary organization represents more than 3,500 architects, providing a national framework for the development and recognition of architectural excellence.

Correction: In the article Nature Inspires Natural Palette for 2007 (Winter 2007 issue), “eco-chic” was mispelled in a quote by Scarlett Ballantyne, manager of colour and design for Benjamin Moore, on page 18.

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DESIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2007

ADVERTISER INDEX 2nd Century Rug ..............................................IBC Arborite................................................................46 Arcon....................................................................25 Art of Hardware .................................................57 Baer/Wide Plank Hardwood ............................48 Barker Mfg..........................................................62 Bedrock Granite Sales Ltd. ..............................79 Boulder Crete .....................................................21 Bradlee ................................................................35 Cloverdale Paint.................................................42 Coast Wholesale................................................41 Contrast Lighting................................................29 Dacor .............................................................36, 37 Denca Cabinets..................................................39 Design 21.............................................................75 DesignTrends Edmonton...................................33 EMCO .......................................................49, 51, 53 Fontile...................................................................15 Framesource.......................................................81 Halse-Martin.......................................................31 Henderson...........................................................29 ISIS Ceramic and Porcelain.............................78 Kitchens and Bath Classics .............................52 Light Resource ...................................................17 Living Space .......................................................69 Mayhew’s Wholesale........................................50 Moen ....................................................................47 Northwest Stoves ..............................................23 Odyssey Wall Coverings...............................OBC PCL........................................................................13 Pella......................................................................82 Robinson Lighting.......................................IFC, 45 Satin Finish..........................................................11 Sharp’s Audio-Visual ...........................................5 Silent Gliss ............................................................4 Sound-Rite.............................................................7 Teak Direct ..........................................................66 Van Goh Designs................................................65 Vinyltek Windows ..............................................61 Wallworks ...........................................................10 Whitakker Designs/Birchwood Furniture ......67 World Mosaic .....................................................43

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