On Tuesday June 5th, we were delighted to welcome award-winning British designer Lee Broom to our 50 Water St showroom. He presented OBSERVATORY, his new stellar-inspired lighting collection and spoke of his latest products as well as his work over the last 11 years.
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Capture Speaker Series
We took part again this year in hosting the Speaker Series for the Capture Photography Film Festival. On three Tuesdays in April, we listened to great minds speak at length about some of the ins and outs of their discipline. Though they were all quite different, each delighted and intrigued equally. Watch below and sign up for our newsletter so that you can join us for the next ones.
Nadia Belerique & Sky Goodden: Between the Shutters—Nadia Belerique and the Spatial Object
Nadia Belerique, the artist behind this year’s BC Hydro Dal Grauer Substation Public Art Project, discusses In the Belly of a Cat and her other works with Sky Goodden, founding editor of Momus. They touch upon the poetics of perception, the role of images in contemporary culture, and the exchange between artist and viewer.
Japan Handmade
An Exploration of Japanese Craftsmanship
On June 13 and 14 we are delighted to welcome four accomplished craftsmen from Japan to our 50 Water Street showroom where they will host workshops and discuss how their work strives to maintain a strong bond to the traditions of their ancestors while looking forward to the needs of future generations. There will be a presentation on Thursday June 14 from 5 to 7pm, click here for more information and to RSVP.
Miller Thomson
Photography by Ed White
We are proud to share a recent commercial project on which Inform Contract worked closely with design firm BVN to source furniture and lighting options for law firm Miller Thomson’s new Vancouver office space located in a converted downtown commercial building previously occupied by retailer Sears.
The design concept focused on several work spaces — reception, lounge, library, open collaboration zones and breakout meeting areas. The resulting look is a sophisticated industrial aesthetic with a Scandinavian casual feel.
Gair Williamson: Inspiration and Aspiration
On March 15th we welcomed Architect Gair Williamson into our showroom.
His firm was founded in 2003 and, over the past 15 years, has become one of the most prolific practices in the historic precincts, focusing on adaptive reuse and new infill construction. The practice began with the lofty intention to unite the often opposing interests of the community and developer and the conflicting priorities of the art of architecture and the economics of the marketplace.
It pursues the retention of cultural memory through a clear distinction between the existing urban fabric and their contemporary interventions.
In this talk Gair illustrated the buildings, paintings and writings that have inspired the work of the office and the aspirations of the firm’s completed works.
My HÄSTENS Experience
Today marks the 10th annual World Sleep Day. I’m not kidding, look it up. World Sleep Day is held every year on the Friday before the March Equinox. I had no idea this day existed, but it does. There are discussions, presentations, and exhibitions online and around the world dedicated to this day with the goal of celebrating the benefits of good and healthy sleep. As someone who has a very active lifestyle, I rely on good sleep every night. Recently, I made the decision to purchase a new mattress; this may not sound exciting, but it is. Now I’m celebrating sleep more than ever.
A Bigger Splash. A Bigger Book.
My first introduction to David Hockney’s work was while attending a mid-century modernism course at the University of British Columbia. It was a typical wet autumn day and as I sat in a cold, dark auditorium, my professor threw Hockney’s A Bigger Splash onto the screen. There was something about this large scale colourful painting of a California backyard swimming pool, that prompted me to start planning a sunny vacation.
Contract goes to Spain
This past autumn the team at Inform Contract had the opportunity to travel to Spain for an in-depth look at the design and manufacturing processes of the innovative Spanish brands that are represented in the Contract Showroom in Vancouver. Here is a peek at their educational, inspiring and, of course, fun trip… it is Spain after all!
Pulling up to the forested grounds of Santa & Cole, the group was met by ‘Nina and Nina’, to see the inner workings of their carefully edited furniture and lighting collections. Nina Maso co-founded the company in 1985 during the creative revolution that occurred in the years following the end of the Franco era. Her daughter, Nina Ordeig, is the current head of marketing. Together they toured the grounds as they discussed the history of the 33 year old family-run business, gained insight into the design process for both custom contract and standard products, and learned about their thoughtful approach to running their business.
Alex Schweder | Performance Architect
Alex Schweder coined the term “Performance Architecture” in 2007 to encapsulate the understanding of architecture that gives cues for how we are to behave and offers itself as a prop for inhabitants to form and perform their identities. His work along these lines has been exhibited and collected internationally in prestigious institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, the Tate Britain, Perform 17, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale. He is a fellow of the American Academy in Rome and currently lives and works in New York City.
Todd Saunders | For Fogo’s Sake
Well known for his exemplary work on the Fogo Island Inn, Todd Saunders’ firm is led by a strong contemporary design sensibility. The studio believes that architecture must play an important role in creating place through the use of form, materials and texture to help evoke and shape memory and human interaction. The office operates within existing natural, as well as, manmade contexts. Examples range from an award nominated dramatic viewpoint structure set amidst a rich protected landscape to several new-build houses within more traditional suburban settings.
*This video contains mature language and may not be suitable for all viewers.