I’ve always loved old homes and buildings. I grew up in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, where there were still quiet, rarely traveled, side roads with occasional abandoned old homes that I loved, and imagined what it would be like to stop and investigate. Some of the fascination was the stories hidden behind those closed doors, but the structural supports, construction materials, and style were intriguing too, much different than the 1960’s bungalow I grew up in. Lucky enough to be given Lego for birthday and Christmas gifts, I often spent hours trying to replicate these homes, or create variations of them.
Later on I became interested in the insides of homes – what made a place feel more welcoming, creative, relaxed, and friendly? Wall colours, furniture style and placement, carpets or flooring, room size and shape, the way people move from one area to another, using angles of the sun in each room to maximum benefit – all these were exciting tools!
So even though my initial career plan of being an architect slipped away, my passion for well-built homes with character never did. When traveling in my 20’s, I went out of my way to walk by unusual houses and structures. Being intrigued by many things mechanical, I later studied HVAC, Passive Haus, and how the various systems interconnect, learning the importance of building well from the start, plus ways that modern technology can help make good homes better.
Which brings us to today, living in lower mainland and seeing many older homes and commercial buildings regularly demolished. Our housing challenges are complex, and I certainly have don’t answers to many of the issues we face, but I do know we are losing something very valuable and irreplaceable, a quality about the area and communities we all love. I hope this blog will be part of the discussions and actions that leads to a new direction, that recaptures the soul of our home.
