We are currently seeking a talented Design Technologist, passionate about residential architecture and looking to establish a career in this industry to join our team.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Focus on new construction and renovations projects for single family dwellings
• Site review, and neighbourhood study
• Conceptual layouts and bubble diagrams
• Make presentation ready drawings for client review, digital 3D modeling
• Develop working drawings and details suitable for building permit submission
• Liaise with clients, builders, municipalities, consultants throughout the project
• Continuous application of creative design skills combined with technical knowledge to create a superior end product and ensure smooth design/construction process

REQUIRED SKILLS

• BCIT graduate from the ABET program (architectural option preferred)
• Solid understanding of BCBC Part 9 and wood frame construction
• Advanced drafting and rendering skills (Vectorworks, Sketchup preferred)
• Demonstrated interest in career growth and passion for architecture
• Photoshop, Illustrator knowledge an asset
• Strong communication skills and ability to express ideas

ABOUT ARCHITRIX DESIGN STUDIO:

• Residential design company located in Gastown, Vancouver
• Rich portfolio of projects ranging from 500 sqft accessory buildings to 4,000 sqft custom homes
• Forerunner of laneway house design – a growing trend in residential development in Vancouver and North Vancouver
• Modern studio with fun and creative working atmosphere (dog friendly)
• Macintosh platform
• Visit architrixstudio.com for more details about what we do

HOW TO APPLY

• Submit a cover letter, resume and pdf samples of some of your work to info@architrixstudio.com
• Application deadline: Feb 25th, 2012
• All applications received will be acknowledged (no phone calls please)
• First round of interviews will be arranged for the first week of  March 2012
• See this link for a download-able PDF: Architrix Job Posting 2012

In the Gothic quarter of Barcelona where we stayed, almost every door, doorway and security gate was painted on. Some of which was plain old graffiti, but much of which was highly skilled artistic expression. At street level many of the retail stores had metal roll down security gates that provided security but otherwise would be visually bland. The majority of these gates, whether intentional or not, was graffitied on. It appeared to be that many of these stores commissioned or allowed graffiti artists to paint on their gates. The security gate became a billboard for the store but also a framed canvas within the gallery space that was the street.

The streets acted like a gallery for the street artist. I appreciated this as it portrayed a strong character for the city and its support, and not suppression, of art. As this tone was set visually at street level, it became apparent that the entire city was filled with edgy art and architecture. Click here to see more doors in Barcelona.

In Florence, a small almost resort city, the tone was set by its impressive historical significance and renaissance art/ architecture. Home of Michelangelo’s David, and countless other renaissance masterpieces at the Uffizi Gallery, Florence portrayed a more calm, conservative and established tone. Florence felt more like a polished display case for classical art. At street level, the doors, doorways and security gates were all meticulously maintained and/ or replicated to mimic the surrounding architectural style. Where extra security is needed, intricate wrought iron gates are placed. Virtually no graffiti was seen on buildings or doorways.

Almost every door was unique in size, design and detailing with an array of knockers and handles. To me, the doors represented mysterious passageways to the past, or grand entrances to holy spaces or intimidating, impenetrable gates to some very wealthy residences, it became apparent that Florence was a place of profound preservation. Click here to see more doors in Florence.

This observation of how a doorway can so drastically effect the tone of a city can be used when thinking about the front door of your home. This element of a home can be looked at as an important part of the overall character of the home and can start to describe the personalities behind the front door. What does your front door say about you?

The City of Vancouver and VanCity Bank have teamed up to test a pilot program called the ‘Greenest City 2020 Home Energy Loan Program’. The program is aimed at providing easy and affordable financing for energy efficient upgrades/ renovations to your home. We’ve looked over the list of eligible upgrades, the terms and conditions that must be met in order to qualify, and the financing features, and it appears to be a no-brainer that if taking out a loan to do some or all of the eligible upgrades is the route you’re considering, then this is definitely an option to look into.

Vancity’s Home Energy Loan key features:

- low fixed interested rate of 4.5%
- 10 year amortization period
- 4.5% rate is available for loans approved prior to April 13, 2012 while rates for loans approved after this date are currently undisclosed

Should that not entice you enough to pursue such energy-smart purchases/renovation, there are a couple of rebate programs, both at the provincial and federal government levels, to be had which can be used to pay down your VanCity (or other) loan for your energy-efficient upgrades!

For residents outside of the City of Vancouver (ie. Burnaby, New Westminster etc), VanCity does provide a similar package, which in conjunction with the province’s LiveSmart BC program, sets out to achieve the same thing – to provide an avenue for financing your homes energy efficient upgrades.

So, go replace that old energy-consuming appliance with an efficient one or commit to that home renovation you have been toying with and be confident that you’ll not only be reducing your carbon footprint and saving money with energy smart upgrades, but you’ll also be making smart financing choices too!

Builder: Odenza Homes

This generously sized traditional home was created for a growing family on an unusually large RS7 Vancouver lot. The program was to create a home that felt both spacious and cozy for both the interior spaces and the exterior deck/ porch spaces.

As you enter the house you are welcomed with big open rooms with many view lines to capture your interest.  As you move through the house the rooms become more intimate and focused. From the street this house appears conservative in size which cleverly hides the bulk of the home as you move through the site.

We believe that the entry stairs are as important as the new door, the new windows, the new cladding, or the new roof that was installed during the renovation. Furthermore, the entry stair is one of the first things that you see as you approach the house, it is also the first thing that you interact with, thus it was critical to address its existing aesthetic. Borrowing material context from the cedar-cladded bay windows and the cedar soffit, the existing structure will be retro-fitted with wood treads that appear to float above the existing concrete steps and sleek frame-less glass guardrails.

The wood to be used may be of a certified pressure-treated variety (ie. pressure treaded 2x’s) or a natural wood species such as IPE or Ironwood. In order to elevate the new wood treads from the original concrete ones (to reduce contact with standing water), cut metal tubing will be installed between the wood tread and the concrete step. Finally to cap the stairs off and to provide a more contemporary feel, not to mention compliance with VBBL regulations, we’ve proposed glass guardrails with polished metal standoffs face-mounted to both sides of the stairs. We feel this will tie the entry stair in with the modern aesthetic that is reflective of the overall renovation.

This modern residence, situated on a narrow pie-shaped lot, presented various challenges during the design & development stage. In the end the overall design was driven and influenced by various contextual cues from the site and its surrounding environment.

The siting of the house on the lot was in part due to the desire to provide ample separation from the adjacent property. This was further achieved by providing a sunken patio for the basement suite off the North side of the house creating an open breezeway between the two properties. Then there was the response to the house’s proximity to the elevated Skytrain tracks that is two-fold: 1) the roof design and orientation minimized the noise pollution from the Skytrain and 2) it  proved promising for the clients as the roof’s orientation fit into their plans of installing solar collection panels on the roof in the future. Lastly, the angled fin walls on the south face of the house were inspired by the Skytrain substation that resides across the lane from the property. The effect produced by the fin walls of the two buildings is a gateway-like presence at the entrance of the lane.

As with all of our designs, there can never be enough emphasis placed on a site’s contextual influence.

Builder: MKL Custom Homes

The two goals for this renovation were:

1. Add usable square footage.
2. Create a unique form.

Rising from the existing foundation and main floor framing, the new framing of the second floor and roof line achieved just that. With an additional 1000sf on the new second floor, spacious bedrooms, storage areas, bathrooms, hallways and a laundry room were added. The bold exterior form resembles the mansion-boxes present all over the Westside but with a contemporary simplicity.

- A new front door was positioned facing the street and gave the house a focal point
- A round attic space oval window replaced the existing square one.  Square having two meanings here
- Single pane windows were replaced with double glazed and characterized windows
- All trim work and cladding was either repaired or replaced and everything was painted new

As a result of the care and detail in executing our plans, Alan and Tara’s restoration at 308 Durham Street was nominated this year at the 40th Annual Royal City Builders Awards for the City of New Westminster.

Our nomination was for the Exterior Heritage Restoration (The Heritage Shield) & Exterior Heritage Renovation Category.

With a rich history and a charismatic mayor seeking to grow the city’s core while maintaining its historic charm, this awards ceremony recognizes and honors homeowners, builders and developers who do just that.

We are proud and honored to have this home nominated.

Builder: Odenza Homes

The timeless form that represents home is the foundation for this homeowners vision of their custom crafted Westside home. This subtly detailed building follows a simplified program which allows you to appreciate the basic shape of what we all associate with home.

This two storey with basement home is laid out to accommodate a growing family with ample flow and space for entertaining. The second floor sleeping areas are separated into the kids zone and the parents zone. A laundry area has been placed on the second floor to assist with the everyday chores of a small family. The basement allows for flexible fun space, storage and a possible conversion into a basement rental suite as required. The house will be an example to draw from in the rapidly re-developing neighbourhood.

Builder: Smallworks Studio Inc.

This laneway takes  advantage of its corner lot situation. We created a stronger facade facing the flanking street giving the laneway a chance to speak up in the neighbourhood. As contentious as the Laneway Housing Program has been we feel that it is a step forward in the challenge to mitigate population growth in our cities and urban developments.

The 500sf, 1 1/2 storey floor plan includes a comfortable main floor living area, cooking and eating area with a bedroom, full bathroom and storage area on the storey above. A spacious deck is located on the 1/2 storey facing the flanking street. This deck creates more interest on the street facing facade and it creates a larger interior feeling in the 1/2 storey bedroom space. This cozy laneway fits gracefully in the neighbourhood and suites perfectly the existing home in scale.