IIDEXCanada 2015 takes place December 2 and 3 in Toronto. Over 150 speakers, including architects, manufacturers, and other industry experts, are lined up for a jam-packed schedule of talks and seminars. Here are five must-hear talks covering everything from future design trends to 3-D printing.
1 Todd Saunders’ keynote address, Thursday, December 3, at 4 pm
The Fogo Island Inn, in Newfoundland, may be eclipsing the CN Tower as Canada’s most recognizable piece of architecture. Established by Zita Cobb (who also will be speaking at IIDEX) in 2012, the inn was designed by Todd Saunders, one of Norway’s top-ranked architects – who just happens to have been born and raised on the Rock. From the Solberg Tower to the Aurland Lookout, his vernacular architecture combines Scandinavian influences with his island roots to create a unique Northern identity. His work on Fogo, including the inn and the Squish artist studios, are the subject of the film Strange & Familiar: Architecture on Fogo Island, released last year.
2 Urban Straw Bale Home with Terrell Wong, Thursday, December 3, at 10:30 am
Architect at Stone’s Throw Design, and author of the recently published Passive Buildings in Canada, Wong will explain the benefits of straw-bale insulation by detailing her renovation of a 90-year-old Tudor-style home in Toronto’s Beach community. Many of the masonry structure’s original features were restored and straw-bale insulation was selected to pair with the lime render substrate that continues from the original façade. The material also has a good R-value and lifecycle, along with other benefits. Wong has argued the case for the throwback technique since 2013; and also is known for building the first insulated rammed earth structure in Ontario.
3 The Benefits of 3-D Printing in Furniture Prototyping with Steve Keilhauer, Wednesday, December 2, at 3 pm
The VP of product development and one of the co-founders of Canadian contract furniture giant Keilhauer will present a case study that illustrates how 3-D printing is changing furniture design. The technology is transforming the way furniture is developed, prototyped and brought to market – and making it easier than ever to realize any design that a creative can dream up.
4 Brazilian Architecture, Industrial Design, Urban Planning and Transportation with Luiz Eduardo & Guto Indio da Costa, Thursday December 3, at 12 pm
The father-and-son team behind the award-winning Brazilian studio Indio da Costa A.U.D.T. will bring an international perspective to the show, discussing the design and architecture scene in their home base of Rio de Janeiro. Post–Pan Am Toronto can compare notes as they give us some insight into the 2016 Olympic venues and into the innovative architecture, urban planning, industrial design and transportation projects that their firm has worked on over its 40-year history.
5 Office of the Future: Trends in Tech Workspaces with Joslyn Balzarini and Adrian Berry, Thursday December 3, at 1 pm
Get a taste of tomorrow’s work environments in the IIDEX special workplace feature Go Away! and then hear what the experts have to say on the topic. This duo from international firm B + H Architects will use tech company clients as examples of what’s to come. Always on the cusp of innovation, these start-up companies require flexible strategies that can translate to other types of businesses.
IIDEXCanada 2015 runs December 2 to 3, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Today is the last day for early bird registration, sign up now!
