AIBC Publications
Hot Corner

Hot Corner 67.
by Michael Ernest MAIBC
AIBC Executive Director

For questions or comments, he can be reached at mernest@aibc.ca or at (604) 683-8588, #304.

The summer of ‘sixty-seven was indeed hot, architecturally; culturally; and in many ways, reflected a coming-of-age for Canada on the world stage. The exposition in Montreal featured leading edge design by practitioners of international repute, including Buckminster Fuller and Frei Otto. It also served as a stage for young architects, most notably Moshe Safdie, whose Habitat project was radical in its living arrangements, circulation, creation of private outdoor spaces and prefabrication technology. It remains, while not without challenges, both a sculptural tour de force and a desirable residential address. EXPO 67 was also notable for its overall planning, project management and reclamation/creation/reshaping of waterfront land, something of a precursor to our EXPO 86 experience.

One critical difference, however, lies in the relative legacies, accepting that the two expositions occurred at different times, in different places and under different political agendas. In Montreal, that gave rise in ’76 to the bread-and-circus fiasco of the Olympics which, according to then-mayor Jean Drapeau, could no more lose money than could a man give birth and which brought not only the ill-conceived stadium (known locally as the big ‘Owe’) but also the athletes' village. The latter, an unabashed knock-off directement de St. Tropez on the French Mediterranean coast, came complete with external corridors, naturally ideal for Montreal’s balmy winters. As well, there is no accessible and vibrant community on the former fair’s site … which there is, and growing, on the north shore of False Creek, providing an infusion of energy, people and capital.

The approach here has its detractors but simply walking about and paying attention, especially in the company of visitors knowledgable regarding other urban areas, provides ample evidence of activity, street-life, residents of all ages and a broad range of ethnicity and language. That doesn’t happen purely by accident. It takes coherent development and engaged design. It also takes, overall, a vision; political support; and urban planning ‘jam’ to implement the vision. In many ways, not restricted to False Creek North, that’s the legacy left us by City of Vancouver co-directors of planning Larry Beasley and Ann McAfee, both of whom have just retired and whose efforts are profoundly appreciated.

ENGAGING ARCHITECTS

No, this is not about quality-based selection. It’s about architects whose creative work comes from the heart and is true to well-seated principles while responsive to their clients’ needs and the project’s context. It’s not about what Peter Davey, British architectural critic referred to as “the caperings of the stars” during his talk at our annual conference. It’s about architects who are themselves engaging as human beings, happy to engage students, interns and their colleagues of whatever stripe, honestly and without airs. It’s not calculated but is nonetheless an undoubted factor in successful, long-term client, consultant and staff relationships. Based on experiences at our annual conference, this category readily includes Raymond Moriyama and Bing Thom, who also gets the ‘pinch-hitter-under-grace’ award for filling in on extremely short notice.

CONFERENTIALLY

Speaking of our annual conference, enjoyed jointly with the RAIC as the profession’s ‘Habitat Reloaded’ Festival, there are many reasons for its success. The rich and smoothly produced professional development (PD) program can be traced to at least six reasons, starting with committee chair Jean-Pierre Mahe and continuing with the tireless efforts of Ali Stiles, Larry McFarland, Tracey MacTavish, Matthew Woodruff and Bill Gies. At the risk of paraphrasing Duke Ellington, it takes considerable skill and persistence to keep the surface waters still for those who would sail them. A tip o’ the hat to AIBC PD crew Aleta Cho, Cat Bolter and Maura Gatensby, who add immeasurable value.

VALUE ADDED

For those who are wondering why they’re paying less tax these days, the much-loved federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) dropped from 7% to 6% after 30 June 2006.

In practical terms for architects, that means all fee-invoices rendered by GST-registered architectural firms on or after 01 July 2006 (even for services rendered earlier) attract 6% tax payable by the client. With respect to client/architect contracts, the professional fee itself is unaffected as the fee (in BC, in accordance with the AIBC’s Tariff) does not include any GST. For construction contracts consistent with industry standard documents (the CCDC series), there is no need to write change orders to reflect the tax decrease because the Contract Price (as a defined term) does not include any GST. As well, the AIBC Tariff’s recommended percentage fees are calculated against a cost of construction which excludes any GST. The AIBC’s pertinent bulletins, practice notes, registration forms and the like are being revised to reflect the new value-added rules.

PLYWOOD CURTAIN ECONOMICS

Best marquee message, motel category, noticed at the Cozy Pines Motel just outside Castlegar, BC: “Alberta $ at Par”.

TRACKING ROGUES

With sincere thanks to members who bring such things to our attention, and who resist signing them, please note that Schedule ’F’ as issued by the Kicking Horse Mountain Development Corporation (KHMDC) is not acceptable. We are in dialogue with the KHMDC’s legal advisors and will update the membership should the situation change.

STAYING ON TRACK

Will Rogers’ homespun punditry still works. To wit: it’s important to be on the right track, but if you’re staying in one place, you’ll get run over. In that vein, we need to be, as a profession, moving in step with and contributing to the provincial government’s current initiative to modernize, i.e. to “improve effectiveness in the building safety regulatory system”, as officially introduced at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue on 04 July 2006 by the Hon. Rich Coleman, Minister of Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for Housing.

MODERNIZATION STRATEGY

The nature of this program, under the auspices of the Office of Housing and Construction Standards, accessible at http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/modernization/ is recommended reading and can be checked for updates. It has five projects: (1) Information Management & System Performance; (2) Liability & Risk; (3) Competency; (4) Consistent Code Application (directed by MAIBC Trudy Rotgans); and (5) Consistent Code Compliance & Enforcement Processes. The scope is sweeping. Input (provocative, not milquetoast, said Minister Coleman) from stakeholders is strongly encouraged. This ‘corner’ will gladly accept such feedback. The AIBC’s Regulatory Coordination Committee (RCC) and Practice Board (PB) are already involved with several of the early, specific working groups, dealing with letters of assurance; adaptable housing; and alternate solutions under the new building code.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, a likely outcome will be requirements for all participants to be insured. That matches one of the AIBC’s planks in a recommended framework of full and equitable accountability for our industry. Its particular development will bear monitoring and shaping now that our own proposed self governing bylaw regarding mandatory professional liability insurance failed.

The provincial government (through the attorney general) is looking into modifying the Statute of Limitations, acknowledging publicly that the present legislation adversely affects construction and insurance costs; the ability for BC to retain its skilled architects and engineers; and the tendency for parties to offload responsibilities. Moving from ‘joint and several’ to ‘proportionate’ liability is not on the agenda.

Want some further incentive? Anticipated implementation is in 2009; legislation if and as required is scheduled for 2008. I hear the whistle blowin’.

BC BUILDING CODE (2006) NEWS FLASH

Latest target dates: to printer … done; published for consumption … September 2006; continuing education workshops, province-wide … October/November 2006; implementation … December 15, 2006. Transition period? None. I see the light shinin’ and it’s headed this way.

SCHEDULE ‘S’ FROM THE APEGBC

This is a document created by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC for use by so-called ‘Specialty” engineers with respect to their services regarding certain items under the BC Building Code (BCBC) letters of assurance. Practising architects are beginning to see evidence of such a schedule being submitted, not always consistently, and/or specified by engineers.

The AIBC’s RCC (which includes not only architects but also representatives of the provincial government’s Building Policy Advisory branch; the APEGBC; the Building Officials Association of BC; and several municipalities) has reviewed Schedule ‘S’ as has the provincial government’s working group (similarly composed but adding the UBCM) dealing with letters of assurance. The consistent conclusions and recommendations are as follows:

(a) Schedule ‘S’ is not appropriate for use instead of the BCBC’s letters of assurance, within any discipline and for any item(s).

(b) Schedule ‘S’ is inappropriate for submission to an authority having jurisdiction.

(c) Schedule ‘S’ (or some derivative form of it) has sound potential value as a document providing support/comfort/assurance between registered professionals and is left to the two professional bodies (AIBC & APEGBC) to resolve, with standard, mutually acceptable wording.

The AIBC has approached the APEGBC in that regard and anticipates fruitful discussions this Fall.

DOCUMENT SUITE

The AIBC has begun a program of review and update for all of our official documents (Bulletins, Practice Notes, Directors Chairs, Tariff, Code of Ethics, et al) over the coming 12 months. As users of those documents, members’ suggestions are most welcome. Kindly direct them to Gayle Roberts, Practice Coordinator at groberts@aibc.ca.

DESIGN SENSITIVITY

Let’s be fair to Montreal, which has much to offer, including now John and Patricia Patkau’s award-winning La Grande Bibiliotheque on la rue Berri. The city’s east-end Jardins Botaniques contain a small, sensory garden through which the visitor is guided unerringly by a visually impaired staff member. The plants are traditionally labeled for those who are sighted but the ‘labelling’ extends also to Braille; to audible messages; to tactile experience (please touch and feel this); and to olfactory enlightenment (guess what this smell is). Simple but powerful … and empowering.

EVOCATIVE PLACES: FIELD AND STREAM OF DREAMS

Simple but powerful? I should have known, but it just caught me, hard, with no advance warning. You think it’s behind you. You can talk about it dispassionately. On a recent road trip with the prodigal son (shockingly now 10) we veered off Highway #3 into the hamlet of Rock Creek … not far beyond Anarchist Mountain and Bridesville … and across the Kettle River to the fairgrounds. I tried to explain to him what times were had there, for 9 consecutive summers in August long-weekend tournaments, on the fastball diamond now overgrown with weeds. Rafting down the icy stream to cool off in stultifying heat. It’s all before his time. We did hit the old swimming hole, blissfully unchanged. We did toss a ball around (as well as a small boomerang, exhibiting a non-traditional use of traditional space). When I toed the familiar pitching rubber, still in place, I lost it. Toughest thing I’ve ever had to explain to him was how it is that my late friend and teammate’s ashes are under that slab.

ADMIRABLE NELSON

Any town with the wit and musical sensibility to have an intersection of ‘Josephine and ‘Baker’ earns my admiration. (Josephine Baker was a black, American jazz singer who rose to fame and acceptance in Paris.) As well, it was easy to conclude that someone in a certain klezmer band, playing a recent gig in the above-noted Kootenay town, must have a serious predilection toward village life.

‘Heavy Shtetl’ indeed.

Michael Ernest, MAIBC
Director of Professional Practice
Architectural Institute of British Columbia
Phone: 604-683-8588, ext. 304
Fax: 604-683-8568
mernest@aibc.ca
www.aibc.ca

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