As the years go by, memory tends to fade away and we remember less of the details of our lives, save for the most engaging, emotional and meaningful experiences. A trip to an exotic location, a long-lost friend or once-in-a-lifetime events are but the few kinds of things we remember.
I've been shooting architecture long enough now, projects and locations tend to all blur into one another, often being accidentally mixed-up in the process. There are a few gems, however, that stand out and no matter how much time has passed, the details remain vivid.
Hambly House is one such example. Even though it was completed 5 years ago and I photographed it in 2015, it still remains one of my favourite projects to date, even before it got published everywhere, culminating with the cover of Canadian Architect in the spring of 2016.
This house, with such a rich history, was an interesting building, to begin with, owing to its uniqueness in the Canadian landscape. In addition, the DPAI-led renovation masterfully took the essence of a derelict Art Moderne home, digested it and reinvented it for 21st-century living. 5 years later, the project is still being talked about in the press. To me, it's a testament to its quality and timelessness. Be sure to read the whole linked article for the full story.
That's what architecture is all about, taking in what's there and transforming it to serve its current purpose in the best possible way. That's when it truly serves humanity for the better, be it a private home or something more public, and not that McMansion nonsense, that eviscerates architecture of all meaning in the name of a quick buck, but that's a conversation for another day.
©2015 RVLTR
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