Montreal-based architect Maxime-Alexis Frappier, MOAQ, MRAIC, lectures at 6:30pm on Thursday, November 7, 2013 in the Pit at Ryerson University’s Department of Architectural Science.
Frappier graduated in 2000 from the Université de Montréal School of Architecture, winning the prestigious Canadian Architect Student Award of Excellence for his thesis work. In 2006, he co-founded a cd f* architecture-urbanisme-intérieur, which is now comprised of 35 passionate professionals. Since the creation of a cd f*, he has worked on several projects throughout Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Indonesia. His conceptual approach to design is based on the specific understanding of the user’s needs. From this, he creates spaces where functionality and efficiency convey legitimacy and strength to a sensory and poetic approach to architectural design. The quality of projects led by Frappier has been repeatedly recognized in more than 30 national and international publications, including Ottagono Italy, Hinge, Azure, Canadian Architect and the Korean book Skyscraper SS44, in addition to the Chinese publication entitled Architecture Highlights ShanLin A&C Limited. He also have received several awards from the Ordre des architectes du Québec, the prestigious Canada Governor General’s medal in architecture in 2010 and most recently, the Young Architect Award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Recently, his work has also been recognized internationally with his participation as finalist in the Keelun Harbor terminal competition (Taipei) which has allowed him, and his practice, to compete among the top international architecture firms such as Mecanoo Architecten, Asymptote Architecture and Neil Denari Architects.
Since 2005, Frappier has been a guest professor at the Université de Montréal. He has also been a frequent guest critic at both Laval University and McGill University. His teaching methodology is based on an intuitive approach that builds upon the use of physical modelling, 3D modelling and videos. He has also been a guest instructor at the University of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam.
Along with a strong dedication to teaching for several years, Frappier has also been involved in aspects of the professional practice of architecture as a jury member for several important architectural competitions in Québec, including the Saul-Bellow Library, the Mont-Laurier entertainment building and the new Ordre des architectes du Québec offices. In addition, Frappier is an active board member of the Fonds d’assurance de l’Ordre des architectes du Québec and the Maison de l’Architecture du Québec (MAQ) exhibition gallery.
Frappier has often been invited to speak about architecture and creativity in the media. He has written a weekly segment on the radio program, L’après-midi porte conseil for Radio-Canada, and has been a guest on ARTV’s television program Créer, hosted by René Richard Cyr.