The Inspired Intermedia digital book collection
Issue link: https://inspired.uberflip.com/i/860803
A R C H I T E CT U R E 81 lee luxford a + d Fundamental to Lee Luxford's architectural design principles is the belief that one's personal environment is the primary guiding force in our lives. It influences our health and wellbeing, the manner in which we function, and even how we accomplish our ambitions. In the realm of architecture, she explains, good design is not just a matter of building something beautiful, nor something that is merely practical and affordable. Rather, the ideal house must first serve the needs and desires of the homeowners. Too often houses are more about satisfying market norms and less about how people actually want to live in the space. Step inside a Luxford-designed house and you immediately sense a difference. Operating under the belief that most people understand, on a deeper level, that the home they reside in affects their hearts and minds, Luxford begins each design process by getting to know her clients. "A good architect makes them aware of how a house feels, how it lives, rather than just how it looks," she says. In a well- designed house, architecturally beautiful rooms also invite the personal touches of the homeowner rather than restrict or dictate those elements. The end result, in fact the goal, says Luxford, is to create a house with soul, the physical manifestation of her clients' dreams, where positive energy flows freely. Anyone who lives in such a house will feel it every day. The variety in the lee luxford a+d portfolio reflects a worldview derived from having lived and worked in Europe, the US, and her native Canada. It also reflects the aesthetics and floorplans that best serve her clients through the marriage of quality materials, warm minimalism and stunning visual and tactile appeal. She calls it "Wow and Zen." LEFT: Named The Longhouse, the design of this home in Sooke, British Columbia, is only one room deep, offering water and woodland views from every space—in effect, the art in the room. The juxtaposition of warm woods against steel and glass creates a dramatic contrast in texture that adds to the visual appeal. Similarly, massive steel cantilevered brackets and a dramatic roofline against the background of the surrounding natural environment speaks to the artistry of the design. Strong angular decks ground the design while giving the owners plenty of room to entertain outdoors. Photograph by Kristen McGaughey VANCOUVER