Blue Sky Living Book Launch

The West Vancouver Museum invites you the that launch of Blue Sky Living: The Architecture of Helliwell + Smith. The publication is edited by Trevor Boddy and features the award-winning designs of co-authors Bo Helliwell Architect AIBC FRAIC and Kim Smith Architect AIBC RAIC LEED AP. It takes place Saturday, June 8, 2013, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Blue Sky Architecture studio, 4090 Bayridge Avenue in West Vancouver. A second launch will take place on Thursday June 13, 2013, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Inform Interiors, 50 Water Street in Vancouver (please r.s.v.p. to michael@informinteriors.com). Both events are free and open to all.

IDIBC Vancouver Island Design Exchange and Table Top Show

The Interior Design Institute of British Columbia – Vancouver Island Chapter invites you to attend its Design Exchange CEU Day and Table Top Show, taking place Monday, June 24, 2013 at the Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleview Street, Victoria. Featured presentations include:

• Keynote presenter Cristi Cook on how to “Unleash Your Genius”;
• Artist Panel with moderator Joan Huzar, President of the Art Gallery of Greater Vancouver; and
• The Signage Contribution to Your Integrated Design Team.

This day-long event is also an opportunity to connect with more than 50 manufacturers, suppliers, interior designers, architects and other design professionals and built industry representatives. The full-day fee is $100 ($75 for professional members). The deadline for registration is Friday, June 14, 2013. For detailed information and to register, click here.

RAIC Award for D’Ambrosio Architecture + Urbanism

Victoria-based D’Ambrosio Architecture + Urbanism has been chosen in the Green Building category of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s 2013 Awards of Excellence. The firm was selected for its work on The Atrium, a seven-storey LEED Gold, mixed use building in downtown Victoria, distinguished for its attention to energy efficiency and environmentally conscious operations. For a complete list of this year’s RAIC Awards of Excellence recipients, click here.

Washrooms on The Edge

By Ian Ross McDonald, Design Quarterly
May 2013

Situated below the cliffs that edge the UBC Endowment Lands and forming part of Pacific Spirit Park, Wreck Beach feels like it is on the edge of the world. Access to the beach is only possible by braving a steep 473 step log staircase that quickly removes any visitor from the sounds of campus life and traffic. It is an experience that belies entirely its proximity to downtown Vancouver. Indeed, once you feel the sand between your toes, you realize that it is just you, forest, ocean… and hundreds of naturalists. This is no ordinary beach – this is Canada’s most famous nude beach. More …

Wreckers of Heritage Building Under Fire at Last: Hume

By Christopher Hume, Toronto Star
May 27, 2013

While all eyes were focused on the Ford Farce last Friday, the city quietly lobbed a bombshell that could change the face of Toronto. The owner of a heritage building at 267 Queen St. E. and the contractor who demolished it earlier this year have been served with a summons that could see them fined $1 million and spend a year behind bars. That’s a long way from happening, of course, but the mere fact the city building division has taken such a step is hugely significant; it means that this sort of casual vandalism will no longer be tolerated. Historically, such acts have gone largely unpunished. More …