The editorial team at Azure Magazine have selected JA Architecture Studio as one of the top 30 firms to represent the future of Canadian Architecture. Happy Canada Day!
"Since 2008, the North American Copper in Architecture (NACIA) awards distinguishes some of the most innovative copper and copper alloy architectural design across the U.S. and Canada. The competition also celebrates copper, a reliable, old friend in the architectural industry due to the material's longevity, recyclability, and appealing natural finish..."
"With a combination of resilience, sustainability, and pleasing aesthetics, the use of copper in architectural design is often indicative of a building’s craft and attention to detail, as demonstrated by fifteen projects selected as recipients for the 2017 North American Copper in Architecture Awards (NACIA) ..."
"Whether it’s due to client tastes or fear of upkeep, copper isn’t typically the first go-to metal for the built environment. Yet its beauty — in both gleaming new and patinated states — is unmatched and can add unique character to a project..."
"Five Canadian buildings are recipients of the 2017 North American Copper in Architecture Award (NACIA). Established in 2008, the NACIA program recognizes and promotes North American building projects for their outstanding use of architectural copper and copper alloys. Now in its 10th year, the annual awards program showcases a wide range of projects, all of which highlight craftsmanship, attention to detail and architectural vision...."
Semi-Split (166 Dovercourt Road House) was one in 15 selected for the 2017 North American Copper in Architecture Awards by Copper Development Inc.(CAD) and the Canadian Copper and Brass Development Association (CCBDA).
"...We are pleased to advise you (in confidence) that Governor General David Johnston has generously agreed to hold a private reception to celebrate a major milestone in the Lord Stanley’s Gift Monument Public Art Competition. This event is scheduled to follow the LSMMI Board’s public announcement of the Winning Design Team on October 25, 2016. The purpose of the reception will be to honour the Winning Design Team, the eight Finalists, the Jury, and the major project partners who are contributing to the realization of the Lord Stanley’s Gift Monument. The Governor General’s Reception will be held at Rideau Hall..."
Excerpts from Governor Generals invitation for the Lord Stanley's Gift Competition finalists
The eight finalists were selected from the forty entries reviewed by a jury of eminent Canadians, highly respected in the fields of public art, culture, history, and hockey...
"...On Friday June 17th, LSG Finalists were given a warm Ottawa welcome by Mayor Jim Watson, LSMMI Vice President & Chair, George Hunter, and LSG Project Manager, Barry Padolsky at the Canada Council for the Arts. Finalists were briefed at the future monument site on Sparks Street and took time to soak in inspiration for their designs. Always time for a group photo!..."
"A Home Base For Exploring Hogtown Cool, Beyond Queen West's chic shops, unique house sings in urbane key" An articlein the Globe and Mail by the late John Bentley Mays.
JA Architecture Studio's in 20 + change Next Generation from November 20, 2015 until February 5, 2016, at Urbanspace Gallery - 401 Richmond St West, Toronto, ON.
Volume 34 | City Builders showcases young, creative city builders – those working on, responding to, advocating for, and imagining our fine city. This Volume advances the idea that a project doesn’t need to be large scale and expansive to have transformational impact. We’ve put together an exciting line-up of city builders who are giving something to the city, provoking change, starting conversations, and making the streets more animated and beautiful. So we ask, “What have you done for Toronto lately?”
"Fourth place in the design competition for the construction of the Bauhaus Museum Dessau winned with equal first places by González Hinz Zabala and Young & Ayata..."
"The recently concluded Bauhaus Museum Dessau competition attracted a mix of proposals for the Bauhaus' proposed museum for the city of Dessau in Germany. The Bauhaus Dessau Foundation launched the open international competition last year in hopes to construct the museum, in time to mark the centennial anniversary of the Bauhaus in 2019."
JA Architecture won fourth place in the Bauhaus Museum competition in Dessau, selected from a total of 815 designs submitted. Excerpt from the Jury's Assessment: "...The design is characterised first and foremost by its polygonal and self-contained structural shell that sensitively addresses its urban design position. It shows a clear-cut edge towards Kavalierstrasse and a ramp forms a clear transition to Friedrichstrasse. All in all, the draft design convinces with its sculptural approach which demonstrates a strong commitment to the museum as a municipal building..."
"The architectural idea of the project is to capture south light exposure on an east-west lot by splitting and offsetting the second floor of a narrow and deep infill house. The offset between the two levels in section becomes an opening that allows the south light into the main floor and in plan it becomes a void that allows a straight cascading stair to pass through..."
JA Architecture Studio in collaboration with Maher and Associates consulting engineering won the third prize in the Milan Expo 2015 competition to design Iran's pavilion.
"looking at ways to capture light on an east-west lot by splitting and offsetting the second floor of a narrow and deep infill house, toronto-based JA architecture studio and arta design & build have palced two levels in a section to become an opening for ample lighting to flood the main floor. the plan becomes a void that allows a straight cascading staircase to pass through, where the elevation separates the half storey volumes. defining the entry to create a distance between the southern face of the top volume and the neighbor, two cozy exterior spaces become present for the lower second floor as the result of this volumetric shift. ultimately, the house constantly changes mood and character by the changing qualities of illumination during the day..."
A joint project by JA Architecture Studio and ARTA Design and Build, the pair of Toronto-based firms dubbed it ‘The Offset House” for the way the second floor is split and offset to create a space for natural light to flood the main level.
"The idea of the project is to capture south light exposure on an eastwest lot by splitting and offsetting the second floor of a narrow and deep infill house. The offset between the two levels in section becomes an opening that allows the south light into the main floor and in plan it becomes a void that allows a straight cascading stair to pass through..."
JA Architecture Studio's entry for the NYC AIDS Memorial Competition featured in the New York Magazine in an article by Justin Davidson called "A Park to Remember a Plague."
The Solar Park South was an international online competition in Calabria, Italy. The competition’s brief called for a design solution for the soon to be decommissioned Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway sections between Scilla and Bagnara, that would both value the local landscape and the application and enhancement of renewable energies.
Here's the fascinating entry "Slow Up-Rising" by Canadian firm JA Studio to Solar Park South, the international ideas competition in Calabria, Italy. The competition brief called for a 'Solar Highway' by re-using Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway sections between Scilla and Bagnara to be decommissioned by the Italian Highways Authority. As JA Studio partner Behnaz Assadi tells us: "Our response was not along the requirements of the competition brief, however we sent it for jury review and publication, since we thought it would give a different perspective on the story of the decommissioned highway." We love it.
The project emerges at the critical time when the demise of one of these giants appears on the horizon. A highway is about to be decommissioned as a new highway would create an even faster connection in its place. Our proposal is a gentle ramping platform that connects the top of the by-passing highway to the bottom of the valley.
The bridge is designed as a 15m wide surface that can create a variety of experiential condition between people and Drava. The undulation of the bridge surface on one hand provides the structural stability of the bridge and at the same time allows the users to reach the water and engage in variety of spontaneous activities.
The architects felt the bridge’s proximity of the existing bridges over Drava along Lent Tabor embankment provided an opportunity for the new bridge to become more of landmark and a vibrant urban surface engage with the water’s edge. The 15m wide undulating surface creates a variety of experiential conditions and provides the structural stability for the project.
The proposal by Nima Javidi in collaboration with Afshin Farzin and Alireza Partovi for the High line Competition was amongst the jury selected projects and was featured in the High line publication.
