Innovative designers use their skill and ideas to make cities. They manipulate form to create useful artifacts. Architect/omni-designer Omer Arbel and consulting engineer Eric Karsh are two leaders in Vancouver’s design community. Each has won global acclaim for innovative assemblies, objects, fixtures and buildings. On Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 7:00pm at the Museum of Vancouver, these two designers will present how they design—the alchemy they perform with the dross of wood, glass, concrete, steel and wire. Architecture critic/curator Trevor Boddy will moderate the evening.
Omer Arbel graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in 2000, and after apprenticeships with Enric Miralles Benedetta Tagliabue Arquitectes Associats, Patkau Architects, and Busby + Associates Architects, founded Omer Arbel Office in 2005. The globular clusters of Arbel’s hand-blown glass light fixtures have received international design prizes. Some are currently installed in the lobby of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. A South Surrey house designed by Arbel won the inaugural NewCity Design Award in 2012.
Eric Karsh began his consulting career in 1987 in Ottawa with the firm of Adjeleian Allen Rubeli Ltd, designers of the Toronto Skydome. During his time with AAR, Eric was involved in the design of high-rises and various commercial and institutional buildings such as the New Ottawa City Hall with renowned architect Moshe Safdie. He is a co-founder at Equilibrium Consulting Inc. and is one of Canada’s leading innovators in engineered wood. His projects include the UBC Earth Sciences complex for Busby Perkins Will and, with Michael Green Architects, the Ronald McDonald House and North Vancouver City Hall.
Trevor Boddy is a critic/curator of contemporary architecture/urbanism and a Vancouver-based consulting urban designer.
General admission to the event is $14; $11 for seniors, students and RAIC members; and $5 MOV members. Purchase tickets at https://builtcityjan29.eventbrite.ca
For more information, please visit www.museumofvancouver.ca/content/built-city-mov-arbel-karsh-discuss-structure-and-form