Arguably more than any other art form or creative practice, architecture impacts our daily lives; it literally shapes the places in which we reside, work, and interact with one another, and greatly influences the overall experience of our cities.

By showcasing bold designs for new buildings and spaces, we may envision how our urban environments can grow into thriving, diverse and sustainable communities that support a healthy, creative, and inclusive life for all citizens. 

Burrard Arts Foundation (BAF) in collaboration with The Architecture Foundation of British Columbia (AFBC) presents Emerging From Architecture. With this exhibition, BAF provides a platform for emergent and forward-thinking architecture practices that are pushing the boundaries of the built environment and how it defines both the contemporary and future state of life in the city. 

The AFBC is a non-profit organization advocating for the advancement of architecture and design in British Columbia. The AFBC Emerging Firm Award recognizes the development, success and contributions of emerging architectural firms. It is given to firms that have shown exemplary promise, clear vision, and defined goals in the practice of architecture. It also celebrates and encourages newly-established firms that have embraced broader, contemporary types of practice reflecting the changing nature of the profession. 

The exhibition will present the work of the recently announced 2021 Emerging Firm Award recipient, STARK Architecture, as well as past Emerging Firm Award winners, including: Measured Architecture, D’Arcy Jones Architects, MA+HG Architects, and Leckie Studio Architecture + Design. By showcasing significant concepts and projects from the firms’ portfolios, the exhibition will reveal how each firm’s practice has evolved from inception, highlighting core principles that have remained consistent through the continued development of their work. The exhibition aims to bridge the seeming gap between the early conceptual thinking of emerging architects and the practical knowledge gained by working firms.

BAF’s mission is to amplify creative culture in pursuit of collective inspiration. We are driven by a deep belief that arts and culture have the power to measurably contribute to better cities and healthier communities. Emerging From Architecture is part of a new series of special exhibitions at BAF that reaches beyond the organization’s mainstay of contemporary visual art to highlight other creative practices that contribute to the cultural identity of Vancouver and BC.

Images courtesy Measured Architecture and STARK Architecture.