Twelve Modern Houses
Graham Livesey, Mike McMordie and Geoffrey Simmons, Curators
Reviewed by Ingrid Demeyere & Leo Lejeune
In an attempt at unmasking the identity of the low-profile yet
prestigious Canadian Architectural Archives, (a unique collection of
original architectural drawings, models and photographs housed here at the
University of Calgary's MacKimmie Library), curators Graham Livesey, Mike
McMordie and Geoffrey Simmins have assembled a series of Canadian designs
for the Twelve Modern Houses Exhibit at the Nickle Arts Museum.
The intention of the Twelve Modern Houses Exhibit is twofold: to
emphasize the role of architecture in Canadian culture; and to present
various approaches to the incorporation of landscape within residential
design solutions.
Upon entry into the exhibition, the visitor is offered a glimpse of the
earliest (1945) and latest (1985) projects, suggesting the chronological
sequence of the designs within. The material of the twelve houses, is
presented in the form of conceptual drawings, construction drawings and
photographs. Supporting these are examples of modern furniture and
sculpture, as well as a slide presentation.
To those having studied architecture, the material is provocative and
is comprehensively assembled. Of special interest are the original
sketches produced by the likes of John and Patricia Patkau, Arthur
Erickson and Ron Thom. However, despite the intention to demystify
architecture for the public, observing the visitors seemed to indicate
that the construction drawings were less successful than the conceptual
sketches and photographs in achieving this end.
The theme, which explores the relationship between residential
architecture and its landscape, is most clearly evident in the comparative
series at the end of the exhibition. Here, the floorplan of each of the
twelve houses is displayed at the same scale and in the same orientation,
allowing the most effective understanding of the evolution of Canadian
residential architecture.
A catalogue of the exhibition is published by Aris Press. See article on Aris Press.
![](images/fraser.gif)
Plan from Ron Thom's
Fraser House from Twelve Modern Houses
A Practical Guide to Environmental Management on Canadian Campuses
Dixon Thompson & Serena van Bakel
The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy have
published A Practical Guide to Environmental Management on Canadian
Campuses by Dixon Thompson and Serena van Bakel.
Universities and colleges in Canada must respond effectively and
efficiently to increasing demands to reduce their adverse impacts on the
environment, and to bring down the costs of those impacts. This book will
help campus decision makers to respond these challenges. It outlines the
environmental management tools and systems that can be applied at
universities and colleges to tackle environmental challenges in areas such
as management and decision-making systems, environmental auditing and
assessment, energy, water, solid waste, hazardous materials, and
transportation. It is available for free from the National Round Table
Office in Ottawa.
Discovering Design: Explorations in Design Studies
Richard Buchanan & Victor Margolin, Editors
Reviewed by Glen Hougan
The eleven essays which make up Discovering Design offers insights into
the field and the various forces that shape our material world.
These essays had their start as papers delivered at a conference,
Discovering Design, held in Chicago in 1990. Most of the authors are from
academic circles representing political theory, philosophy, and design
study programmes.
The editors, Richard Buchanen and Victor Margolin, who are also editors
of Design Issues, have grouped the essays into three areas: how to shape
design as a subject matter, how to distinguish the activity of designing,
and how to address the basic questions of value and responsibility in the
practice of design. Topics range from; the role of consumers in design
decisions to the place of design in social action.
Don't expect this book to be an easy read. Brevity and clarity are not
the hallmarks of many of these essays. But if you can get past some of the
language there are some interesting insights. Of particular note is Nigel
Cross's description of the understanding of the nature of design ability
and Victor Margolin's essay "The Product Milieu and Social Action", which
describes how everyone participates as a designer.