BlueGreen Architecture Inc. – Organic Holistic Architecture : Environmental Psychology and the Unseen Power of Buildings

Discover the “invisible” underlying factors that allow people to feel good and prosperous in their buildings. London-based architect Christian Kyriacou RIBC MCSD will take participants through 3,000 years of intense distillation of ancient knowledge drawn from the wisdom of many cultures as practiced by the master builders, adapted to contemporary relevance for use in the design processes. Enhance your core architectural design skills to maximize aspects of well-being, health, wealth and abundance for your clients. Discover a design approach based upon what the site, or an existing building, is “saying” to you. Learn an intuitive approach fused with exact and scientific detailed methods based upon ancient holistic architectural principles, from the construction process right through to the fine-tuning of the finished building. It includes aspects of environmental psychology, “house whispering”, sacred geometry, music, feng shui, vastu and geomancy. This three-day workshop takes place Thursday, May 31 to Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Equinisity Retreats, Gateway 2 Ranch, Kamloops. For details and to register, go to http://www.equinisity.com/retreats.html#Genetic.

20 Core LUs

Alternative Solutions Resource Initiative – Eco-Sense Tour

Eco-Sense, a load-bearing cob home located in the highlands near Victoria, was the first residence to achieve partial Living Building status from the International Living Building Institute. This tour will encompass the range of innovations implemented by owner/builders Ann and Gord Baird, including:

• full code-compliant load-bearing cob (earthen) structure;
• grey water treatment;
• rainwater harvesting;
• green roof system;
• wood gasification boiler;
• earthen interior finishes;
• composting toilet;
• solar thermal radiant floor heating; and
• grid-tied photovoltaic system.

Following the tour there will be a technical presentation on the findings of a one-year, VanCity-funded monitoring program where internal and in-wall temperature as well as humidity were monitored and compared with external conditions. The cost is $50 with group transportation provided to and from the site. Space is limited and open only to seminar participants. It takes place Saturday, March 24, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Register online at http://www.asri.ca/events.html.

3 Core LUs

Alternative Solutions Resource Initiative – Bruce King: Engineering Outside the Box (Victoria)

Through a series of three modules, Bruce King, P.Eng of the Ecological Building Network will examine the rationale for using alternative building materials in construction, and present solutions to the technical, regulatory and logistical challenges of stepping outside of conventional practice. The details:

• Module 1: Alternative Materials & Systems – The State of the Art

Most building professionals are familiar with the conventional materials presented in the building codes, yet for many reasons more and more people are building in ways not well covered by the building codes – also known as “alternative materials and systems.” This module will review the many systems, both manufactured and “natural”, in use today including what we know about theirdesign, durability and life safety purposes.

• Module 2: Getting it permitted – Alternative Building Materials and the Codes
  This module will examine the regulatory requirements of building “to code” with both conventional and alternative materials, taking into consideration seismic, fire, moisture, durability, ventilation and thermal performance. The session will review case studies and present success stories with building permitting as well as looking “beyond the code”.

• Module 3: Integrative Design – The Art of Cat Herding
  Integrative design means keeping a lively eye on “the big picture” through communication. This module will look at strategies and guidelines for keeping a team working in harmony towards the goal of a good building.

It all takes place Saturday, March 24, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Social Sciences & Mathematics Building, 3800 Finnerty Road (Ring Road), University of Victoria. Register online at http://www.asri.ca/events.html.

3 Core LUs

Alternative Solutions Resource Initiative – Bruce King: Architecture After Oil – Natural Building in the 21st Century (Victoria)

In this presentation, Bruce King P.Eng, founder and director of the Ecological Building Network, will discuss how natural building may be a valid response to environmental, social and economic conditions of the 21st Century. He will show how we must learn from nature (biomimicry), design intelligently to make the most of the resources we have, and learn from other cultures as well as the past. It takes place Friday, March 23, 6:30 – 8.00 p.m. at the Bob Wright Centre, 3800 Finnerty Road (Ring Road), University of Victoria. Register online at http://www.asri.ca/events.html.

1 Non-core LU

Architects on Affordable Housing

The City of Vancouver has launched an initiative to tackle the growing issue of housing costs, with the intent of increasing the supply of affordable housing in Vancouver with a broad range of dwelling types to meet the needs of the city’s increasingly diverse population. Part of the Mayor’s Task Force on Housing Affordability is a working group led by select members of the architectural community along with leading local developers. The Working Group on Form and Design’s primary goal is to identify existing design and building code requirements that may be unnecessarily adding to the cost of various forms of affordable housing including social housing, laneway housing, rental, and home ownership units catering to more modest income households. It will also be considering other building form and design issues that may assist the task force in its deliberations.

In researching and preparing a report for the Mayor’s Task Force on Affordable Housing, this working group, chaired by Michael Geller MAIBC FCIP, invites input from design and construction experts including architects, engineers, code consultants and others who work in the built environment. AIBC members and other registrants are invited to take part in an open forum on Tuesday, March 6, 4:00 to 5:30 at the AIBC Office, #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver.

This is your opportunity to share insight, opinions and ideas for how to improve the efficiency and applicability of standards and requirements that impact the long-term  affordability of housing in Vancouver. To confirm your participation in this important discussion, please r.s.v.p. via e-mail by Friday, March 2 to michaelarthurgeller@gmail.com.

Building Envelope Education Program

For those wishing to complete the AIBC’s Building Envelope Education Program (BEEP), now is your chance. The first offering of the year, BEEP Module II, is scheduled for March 22 – 23, 2012. Go to http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/index.html to check out the course descriptions and scheduled dates, and to register online. You can also access the AIBC’s course schedule and register for select courses directly from the AIBC home page by clicking on the  “Course Registration” quick link. BEEP courses are only offered once a year, so don’t miss out.

12 Core LUs

The WikiHouse Revolution

Will open-source DIY architecture usher in a new age of architectural innovation?

By Jeremy Kingsley, Slate

February 22, 2012

In the early half of the 20^th century, Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold tens of thousands of self-assembly homes to customers across the United States by mail order. A “Sears Modern Home” came in a railroad-delivered kit complete with more than 30,000 component parts, along with nails, paints, and fittings, and a weighty leather-bound instruction manual to help you put together the designs yourself. The plans were designed to be simple enough to be assembled without help from architects, carpenters, or any specialist contractors—in most cases, Sears homes were assembled solely by the buyer, with the help of friends, family, and neighbors, in communal, barn-raising fashion. More … 

Sustainable Region Initiative – Sustainable Community Breakfast: Affordable Home Ownership in Metro Vancouver

The Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues and Sustainability Community Breakfasts are outreach components of Metro Vancouver’s Sustainable Region Initiative (SRI). They involve a series of high-profile debates and discussions intended to help decision makers shape the future of the region by presenting a range of views and stimulating fresh thought on regional issues such as housing, industry, labour and immigration, drugs and crime, regional economy, transportation, energy and agriculture. Please check the website often to find out about future dialogues in your community.

Sustainable Community Breakfast: Affordable Home Ownership in Metro Vancouver

The need for affordable home ownership in the region is increasing, with many families and young professionals being priced out of the housing market. Businesses need to attract employees; without affordable homes to purchase in the region, it will be more difficult to compete for talented workers. What are the economic impacts of this? How can we increase affordability and create financial equity to enable mid-income people to purchase a home so they can live and work in the region? Plan to attend this breakfast to hear about projects, partnerships and innovations that can be part of affordable home ownership solutions. Featured speakers include: Jeff Fisher, Deputy Executive Director – Urban Development Institute; Peter Ladner, Fellow – Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue; Heather Tremain, Principal – Urban Fabric; and Marla Zucht, General Manager – Whistler Housing Authority. It takes place Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. at the British Columbia Institute of Technology – Downtown Vancouver Campus, 555 Seymour Street. Register online at http://apps2.metrovancouver.org/sustainability/Smailing_list/EventRegistration.asp?EventID=161.

Sustainable Region Initiative – Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogue: Dematerialization – Transitioning to an Economy Without Waste

The Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues and Sustainability Community Breakfasts are outreach components of Metro Vancouver’s Sustainable Region Initiative (SRI). They involve a series of high-profile debates and discussions intended to help decision makers shape the future of the region by presenting a range of views and stimulating fresh thought on regional issues such as housing, industry, labour and immigration, drugs and crime, regional economy, transportation, energy and agriculture. Please check the website often to find out about future dialogues in your community.

Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogue: Dematerialization – Transitioning to an Economy Without Waste

Economic growth brings challenges as society attempt to reconcile the consumption of materials with the finite limits of resources extracted from the earth. There is a growing need to increase resource productivity, improve quality of life, and ensure continued economic prosperity that is not based on increased consumption of materials and energy throughput. This need signals significant changes to our current economic system, changes that mark the transition to an economy without waste. What would such a transition look like? What societal impacts might such a transition entail? What is the role of businesses and organizations, for producers and consumers, in transitioning to a new economic system? Panelists at the various lunch sessions include: Werner Antweiler, Associate Professor, Strategy and Business Economics Division, Sauder School of Business – University of British Columbia; Juergan Baumann, Director, Environmental Programs – Port Metro Vancouver; Tracy Casavant, Executive Director – Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre; Maurie Cohen, Associate Professor & Director, Environmental Policy Studies / Science, Technology & Society, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Sumeet Gulati, Associate Professor, Faculty of Land and Food Systems – University of British Columbia; Joji Kumagai, Executive Director – Strathcona Business Improvement Association; Marc Lee, Senior Economist – Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; Richard Lipsey, Professor Emeritus, Department of Economics – Simon Fraser University; Vanessa Timmer, Executive Director – One Earth Initiative; and Peter Victor, Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies – York University.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012      

South of the Fraser

Eaglequest Coyote Creek Golf Club, 7778 152nd Street, Surrey

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012       

Vancouver

Segal Graduate School of Business, Simon Fraser University Vancouver Campus, 500 Granville Street

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012    

Central Northeast

Inn At The Quay, 900 Quayside Drive, New Westminster

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012       

North Shore

Hollyburn Country Club, 950 Crosscreek Road, West Vancouver
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Unbuilt

You are invited to “Unbuilt”, an exhibition of selected works by Fall 2011 M.Arch graduates of the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture. There is an opening reception from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24 followed by a one-day public exhibition on Saturday from 12:00 noon to 6:-00 p.m. It all takes place at 1727 3rd Avenue West, Vancouver (formerly the Third Avenue Gallery). For more information, e-mail unbuilt2011@gmail.com.

Flatiron-style Tower Proposed for Howe-Beach

By Tracy Sherlock, Vancouver Sun

February 17, 2012

The developer that built Vancouver’s tallest building, the Shangri-La, has applied to the city of Vancouver to build a 49-storey condominium tower at the corner of Howe Street and Beach Avenue near the north end of the Granville Bridge. The tower proposed by Westbank Projects Corp. starts as a triangle at the lower level and then becomes a square as it rises above the bridge. More … 

I Love Architecture

For the next four months, Architecture for Humanity is hosting an “I Love Architecture” campaign, an opportunity for those in the profession to remind themselves of why they love architecture … and to let the world know. Participants are invited to express their passion for architecture – though such means as letters, videos, playlists and personal favourites – in order to elevate the conversation. You can sign up by contacting Project Ambassador Kristen Schlott (kristenschlott@architectureforhumanity.org). For more on the campaign, go to http://architectureforhumanity.org/ilovearchitecture.

AFH Seattle Food Cart Design Contest

Urban food trucks are fast becoming the hot way to get great food fast. Even so, it can be a tough task to find a place to eat your street food. With that in mind, Architecture for Humanity Seattle is sponsoring an open design contest to help develop affordable, attractive shelters for mobile food trucks. Architects and other designers are invited to submit ideas for mobile food truck dining shelter prototypes. The structure should be suitable for up to 10 people, mobile and temporary in nature, and with no restrictions on materials. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 16, 2012. For additional information including submission criteria, visit http://seattle.architectureforhumanity.org/opportunities/2222. You may also contact Project Manager J. Benjamin Dorris at jbendorris@hotmail.com or (206) 225‐8615.

Sustainable Region Initiative – Sustainable Community Breakfast: Affordable Home Ownership in Metro Vancouver

The Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues and Sustainability Community Breakfasts are outreach components of Metro Vancouver’s Sustainable Region Initiative (SRI). They involve a series of high-profile debates and discussions intended to help decision makers shape the future of the region by presenting a range of views and stimulating fresh thought on regional issues such as housing, industry, labour and immigration, drugs and crime, regional economy, transportation, energy and agriculture. Please check the website often to find out about future dialogues in your community.

Sustainable Community Breakfast: Affordable Home Ownership in Metro Vancouver

The need for affordable home ownership in the region is increasing, with many families and young professionals being priced out of the housing market. Businesses need to attract employees; without affordable homes to purchase in the region, it will be more difficult to compete for talented workers. What are the economic impacts of this? How can we increase affordability and create financial equity to enable mid-income people to purchase a home so they can live and work in the region? Plan to attend this breakfast to hear about projects, partnerships and innovations that can be part of affordable home ownership solutions. Featured speakers include: Jeff Fisher, Deputy Executive Director – Urban Development Institute; Peter Ladner, Fellow – Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue; Heather Tremain, Principal – Urban Fabric; and Marla Zucht, General Manager – Whistler Housing Authority. It takes place Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. at the British Columbia Institute of Technology – Downtown Vancouver Campus, 555 Seymour Street. Register online at http://apps2.metrovancouver.org/sustainability/Smailing_list/EventRegistration.asp?EventID=161.

New Registered Educational Provider

The AIBC is pleased to welcome BlueGreen Architecture Inc. to the institute’s Registered Educational Provider Program. BlueGreen Architecture Inc. is a team of committed professionals who share a personal commitment to fuse client’s unique needs and desires with a deep respect for site and environment. The firm’s philosophy follows the tenets of sustainability, commitment, innovation and community. For more information on this and other AIBC Registered Educational Providers, visit the AIBC web site at http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/professional_dev/CurrentREP.html.