AFHTO - Lecture Series

Architecture for Humanity International (AFH)is a charitable organization, founded in 1999 to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises. Through workshops, competitions, forums and partnerships with like organizations, they are able to create opportunities for designers and architects to help communities in need around the world.

Last year, I joined the Toronto Chapter of this organization - Architecture for Humanity Toronto (AFHTO). Having been inspired by the International group, I was excited to find one in the city I was living in. Although AFHTO began a number of years ago, it has not been until now that we are getting on some solid ground and building a higher profile. This is the point where I mention our upcoming lecture series.

NOVEMBER 26, 2007 6:30 PM start

BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY:

GREEN BUILDING IN AN URBAN SETTING

In collaboration with the Gardiner Museum, Architecture for Humanity Toronto is pleased to present a compelling series of lectures exploring the development of sustainable communities.

In this lecture, Dr. David Moses, structural engineer specializing in timber engineering, will discuss some of the biggest challenges when considering sustainable alternatives to standard building practice.

Please also join us in an open-participation discussion in the lounge immediately following the lecture.

Gardiner Museum, Jamie Kennedy Attrium

111 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario

FREE

Anyone is welcome. I hope you can come!

We are all volunteers of AFHTO, dedicated to using architectural and design solutions to support and sustain a positive setting and living environment in Toronto. After joining and being involved in what I first perceived to be a disorganized and ineffective organization, it is now so exciting to be part of this growing process! Definitely a lesson in sticking it out when you believe in the good of something, I can honestly say that I am proud to be involved with Architecture for Humanity Toronto, to have gotten to know and collaborate with some wonderful people, and to call myself a member.

Beautiful Children of Denmark

This is Idun. One of my favorite moments was watching her open her present and narrate each step out loud.

"First there's the black paper..."

"Then the yellow paper..."

"Det er en kat!"

Lagom

While doing some research about Scandinavian design a few years ago, I stumbled upon the Swedish word 'Lagom'. Pronounced like this, (LAW-gome)the word captures the Swedish way of living and design which for a long time has been based upon equality, social responsibility and ethical problem-solving. The 'lagom' quality was the conscious effort to balance social and aesthetic demands. The result was design that was moderate, sufficient and above all not excessive.

New to this profession of interior architecture and its vast array of influences and approaches, it is the 'lagom' principals and values that keep penetrating my work and ideas, perhaps soon to become the root of what I design and why I do it.

But these days, I wonder if or how 'lagom' can be applied to my life. Would I describe it as lagom, that is, enough, but barely so? The actual definition of 'the word is translated as "just right", or "exactly enough, not too much nor too little." (lagom.nl). Can this be compared to Ying Yang, the paradoxical chinese concept of balance, something that has been re-iterated over and over again to me since childhood?

The Local, Sweden's News in English actually has an article titled "How lagom are you?" But I am not Swedish nor am I attempting to be that. On the other hand, I have for years insisted on calling myself a Montrealer refusing to be classified as a Torontonian, despite having spent many of my formative years in the latter city.

I never realized that I would end up staying in Toronto for 12 years. But why not? It is the perfect city: organized with a decent standard of living; full of arts and entertaiment; any kind of cuisine; diverse in culture; friendly neighbourhoods with considerate and polite people; and forward-moving for professionals. Yet, something was missing...and now being back, it is still missing. A friend once described Toronto as the default choice of city. But maybe it would be more appropriate to describe Toronto as 'lagom' - not too good, but not too bad. Life is good, efficient, high quality but not great. The truth is, my travels have shown me that when I am here, my true self shrinks and I walk around with a Toronto face on. I am alright, but not quite right. Have I become 'lagom'?

Here's the catch (as there always is one): My consciousness tells me that it is probably better to lead a life of 'lagomness'. But to design with the passion for 'lagom-like', "form follows function" values, I simply cannot be in the 'lagom" state of mind.

How much is enough? Most people do not want just enough. They want more. CertainIy in the USA, the limits of 'lagom' are well exceeded. Gladly I can say that I do not fall into this level of materialism as I walk disgusted through Costco and Walmart. But in other ways, I don't deny my appetite for more, just a different kind of more. So it may take a while before I become the perfect 'lagom-lady', personally and professionally. But at least, I think as a Non-Swede, I realize the beauty of this word and the addition of it to my vocabulary.

Sept 16, 2007 - Wedding Weekend

Q: What happens when a Bratt marries a Dick?

A: They have the best wedding of the year!

Congratulations to Dara and Kieran! I smiled, I laughed, I cried, and I danced my heart out.

Unlike Pato, who is brilliant at taking photos of grand celebrations with dark lighting (see his blog), I on the other hand, am not so good and only have one picture of this event - I was too busy on the dance floor.

At some point during the evening, the reflection of the table centre piece in my place setting became very interesting...

Specifically plum for Dara

Liveable Cities

Based upon the level of crime, instability, threat of terrorism, and transport and communication structure, here is a list of cities rated as most liveable in the world. And Canadian cities appears twice!

(Image taken from Economist.com - Aug 22nd, 2007)

What do you know? My top three are on the list! I live in Toronto, I just came back from Vancouver and I want to go to Copenhagen.

WWII Urban Planning

During WWII, the The US Army Corps of Engineers was given the task of hiding a Lockheed aircraft factory in Burbank, California from air visibility, so Japanese bombers coming off the Pacific wouldn't spot it. They did it by camouflaging the entire area with a subdivision of houses, trees, streets, cars etc.

Before

After See the whole set of photos of this fantastic transformation here

Planes, trains, automobiles

Finally, the 13 hour travel from Victoria straight to work in Toronto included:

1 CAR -------------------------------- Depart Vic noon-5pm

1 FERRY BOAT ------------------------ 5-6:30pm

2 BUSES ------------------------------ 6:30-8pm

1 PLANE ------------------------------ 8pm-6am

1 BUS---------------------------------- 6-6:15am

1 SUBWAY TRAIN -------------------- 6-7:00am

1 PAIR OF FEET ---------------------- 7-7:30am

1 SHOWER---------------------------- 7:30-8:30am

1 BICYCLE----------------------------- 8:30-9am report to work downtown Toronto

I love travel!

Gate 41

It was only 8pm and Gate 35 was already filled many passengers, eyes glued to a blarring TV, waiting for the 22:35 AC flight 156 back to Toronto. Damn it! My feet kept walking. It wasn't yet time to be in the same space with other travellers. I had just spent the last 1 1/2 hours on the ferryride starring into the Pacific ocean horizon.

Airport lounges are interesting spaces, always humming with activity or dead silent except for the sound of the floor polisher. Nevertheless, a place where my energy and emotions run high and low. My vacation was over, I had to say goodbye and the solitude of Gate 41 was more appealing that night.

Victoria Favourites

Home of the newly wed and nearly dead

The impression of Victoria for many Canadians as quoted from a West Coaster at heart: "When I was a kid Victoria was a sleepy little backwater town known as the 'home of the newly wed and nearly dead' - since everyone went to get married in the pretty grounds of the Empress / and old fogies went there to retire and enjoy the quiet pace and sunny warm climate and sip afternoon tea with watercress sandwiches" .

So, maybe people are sleepy there...

and the old do like meeting for tea and sandwiches!

But no matter old or young, the café of choice was Bean Around the World, where the atmosphere is cozy and unique, and where you can sit in an old phone booth and drink the best soy lattés ever!

Besides being a sleepy town , Victoria was also a thriving Tourist spot. Even on cloudy rainy summer days, the vibrancy of flowers baskets, kitchy painted buildings and yellow cabs stood out boldly. I think this colour palette is part of the grand city promotion plan.

Me, I prefer this kind of colour scheme and building.

Saanich

My last day in Victoria was spent touring around the Saanich Peninsula, a long stretch of land spanning from Victoria in the south to Sydney in the north (map). The area is full of hills, valleys, farmhouses, agricultural heritage, protected parklands, and a fine mix of rural and residential. Add to that, long coastlines and views of ocean, islands and mountians. Wow! Sounds perfect n'est-ce-pas? Unfortunately, like any other growing community, urban development takes over. This is slowly happening as Victoria expands and Saanich is penetrated with condos and buildings.

As we drove up Highway 17 towards Swartz Bay, a blue TOURIST ATTRACTION sign flashed by. I had spent my time in Victoria doing a good job hanging out in the local scene, usually my preference. Time for a bit of tourism.

The Saanich Historical Artifacts Society is a volunteer organization "dedicated to collecting, restoring, housing, and demonstrating artifacts from the rural past".
The museum holds an extensive collection of working steam engines, tractors, agricultural machinery, and household and industrial artifacts.

Money Sorting Machine

Industrial Photography at its' best!

Viewspoints

There are several vantage points in Victoria and I got to see all of them, daytime and nightime. I think that grey and hazy skies also make for spectacular views and good photo opportunities.

Victoria Bound

BC Ferries began in 1960 and is known as for "safety, spectacular scenery, and a proud maritime history".

The journey starts from the Tsawwassen terminal in Vancouver to Swartz Bay, Victoria. In the summer, the ferries run every hour. We travelled on an even hour (noon) boat which meant taking an older Queen ferry, without bells and whistles and with safety announcements nobody can understand. No matter. For only $11.95, I got to enjoy 1 1/2 hours of ocean air, and horizon, mountain and island vistas, all on the starboard sunny side of the vesssel!

Others did the same

Active Pass is the body of water we travelled through between Galiano Island and Mayne Isalnd. It was one of the most picturesque moments of the journey.

Apparently, a wide variety of wildlife such as seals and sea lions can be seen in the pass. I looked... (bhah!)