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I've lived in my four storey building for seven years. The first thing I did when I moved in was put up hooks all around my balcony and ran a clothesline around the perimeter. I didn't do a whole lot after that. I tried having a dinner table and chairs out there but it never felt right. A few years ago after hanging out with friends on a pile of sleeping bags picnic style, I realized it was a nice place to sleep. Outside, but sheltered so you have a decent amount of privacy. From then on when my apartment got a little too warm on those occasional nights in a Vancouver summer, I would pile the blankets and pillows out there to sleep and keep cool. It's pretty enjoyable so it's become part of my summer routine. This year I decided to put in a little effort and create a space that could still be used beyond sleeping and hanging clothes. It's become my summer room. I can take my laptop out there and do my photo editing, watch movies, or have friends over, and often use it as photography space. The southern light is diffused and it turns into a giant soft box, which is great lighting. And I knew I wanted to play with colour... It wasn't a major fuss to do. I found three pieces of multi-use furniture and filled it with pillows. I'm not a huge fan of roses but tulips are out of season and when I saw these Rainbow Roses, I knew they would coordinate with the textiles. So I went with it. I'm looking forward to spending A LOT of time out here.
I went to a Martinis & Canapés Party at a 1962 Ron Thom modernist house on Granville Street earlier this month
and was invited back to take some photos of the house sans people. The "Elswood House" is located on a busy street but as soon as you walk into the space you forget all about that. The open plan draws you out into the lush green backyard with a pool, a feature that cancels out the traffic noise for a pool lover like myself. I really hope someone buys this house with the plan to keep it standing and not tear it down to build an over-sized "mansion". See more photos here. I've been hired to shoot the 2014 edition of Vancouver's Wallpaper* City Guide! I'll be photographing the cool spots all over the city, including but not limited to; hotels, restaurants, galleries, attractions and architecture, beaches and businesses. I'm looking forward to seeing my city from a tourists' point of view while getting some great shots of areas I've potentially never seen before. It'll be available on shelves and online January 2014 so watch for it in stores and tell your design conscious friends to pick up a copy if they're looking for places to visit while in the city! Public: Architecture + Communication hired me to shoot
a few of their recently completed projects over the next few weeks so I thought I would post some of the images I shot of their installations at Telus World of Science. I had a fun time shooting YoTopo and the outdoor classroom located in the new Ken Spencer Science Park. Part of why I love architectural photography is that I get to see how people interact with the architecture, and it doesn't hurt that the weather was beautiful. If you're planning on checking out the next Pecha Kucha Vancouver at the Vogue Theatre on April 11th, one of the principals from Public, Brian Wakelin, will be presenting so you'll be able to see some of these images on the big screen. There's a small reception at the Staples House,
one of West Vancouver's notable modern homes next weekend for the recent release of Selwyn Pullan's new book, Photographing Mid-Century West Coast Modernism. I had an opportunity to visit the Staples House in the spring to take some photographs and had a chance to talk with Kathleen Staples about art, architecture and photography, all my favourite things. It's always interesting to hear stories from people who have grown up in modern homes; it's a very different experience than with other dwelling styles. It's nice to hear such appreciation for modern architecture especially when it's so often overlooked or judged as cold and uninviting. I'm looking forward to hanging out in this house again and if I had a couple million dollars, I'd buy it, since it's up for sale. Vancouver Special is hosting a screen & meet for the newly released documentary on west coast modern architecture, Coast Modern, that I have a few photos in July 7th at Vancity Theatre, so get your tickets. And I have a photo in the second edition of the book, THIS IS EAST VAN and show at Interurban Gallery launching July 7th as well. With the after party at Fortune Sound Club. So buy the book because it's for a good cause. Looks like I'm going to have a busy night. I hope to see you all there! • • • • • • • • • • •
I'm really excited to announce that 3 of my photos have been included in the recently released documentary Coast Modern. The world premiere was last night at the documentary film festival, DOXA, in Vancouver. I'm very pleased at how it turned out and how well it was received by the sold out audience. The film covers west coast modern homes in California, Oregon, Washington and Vancouver and we hear what Modernism means from well known architects, critics, writers, residents and artists. If you have an interest in documentaries, architecture, photography and the philosophy behind Modernism; in my opinion one of the most over-looked and underrated movements in architecture, I highly recommend finding out if this film is playing in a festival near you. You will not be disappointed. Check out the trailer below, it's been a long process to get this film released and it was worth the wait. Great work to everyone involved. The photos of mine that are included are with Julius Shulman's famous photographs in a short sequence about Case Study House No. 22 designed by Pierre Koenig in 1960.
On New Year's Day I went down to English Bay with thousands of
other people to check out the 92nd Annual Polar Bear Swim. I set up my camera to shoot a timelapse of everyone coming and going. This is the result. I photographed an apartment in the Laurier Building, one of three Beach Towers situated at 1600 Beach Ave between Cardero and Bidwell in Vancouver's west end. Later that day I found out there was a rezoning application to develop the surrounding open spaces to include four new buildings to densify the area further, completely altering the integrity of the original design. Below are a few exterior shots I took while there. From the Beach Towers website: The City of Vancouver has recognized Beach Towers as the finest example of Le Corbusier inspired ‘towers-in-the-park’ residential architecture in the city, listing it as Category A in the Post-1940s Heritage Register. Proposed redevelopment would destroy this landmark. Encompassing four high-rise towers, ranging in height from 19 to 21 stories, Beach Towers is located on Vancouver’s waterfront overlooking English Bay. Built in 1965 and 1968, they house over 1000 renters seeking views, sunlight, and ocean breezes. This award-winning, category A heritage site is threatened by a rezoning application seeking to build four buildings between and around the existing towers. This development will obliterate the open spaces integral to the original, Modernist-era site design. Learn more at www.beachtowers.ca and watch a video with the original project architect, Ojars Kalns Beach Towers at English Bay is a cherished Vancouver landmark that combines high density living with park-like surroundings and ocean views.
Three additional buildings are planned for this over-developed block. What's in it for the community? Nothing. The development will: block views of English Bay, add hundred's to the West End's second most dense site, build modern buildings on a mid-century landmark, without reference to its award-winning design, and add luxury waterfront apartments to a neighbourhood that needs affordable housing. What's in it for the developer? $7 million more in annual rental revenue. Visit http://www.beachtowers.ca for more info |
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