MOTIV Architects Inc.

Hey instafriends. MOTIV is hiring.

we are seeking a full time Intermediate level Intern Architect with a minimum of 3 years of experience to assist in developing a number of interesting projects throughout British Columbia and beyond from concept development through construction documentation. REVIT experience is essential.
We have some exciting housing, farm and food, and education projects kicking off this fall. It is a great opportunity for a skilled architect to develop their leadership and excellence here at MOTIV while working with a great team!

Maybe you're looking for something new and exciting? or perhaps you know someone who is. DM us! and you can check out our hiring ad at the AIBC website and linkinbio.

Celebrating our win in the 2024 Canadian Green Building Awards by .magazine, small residential category!!!

The Heimaklettur House was designed for an ambitious family of three on a 5-acre property within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in Langley, BC. Their vision for this modest structure was to live smaller and more closely to the land, and ultimately growing their own food. Heimaklettur (home rock) is a nod to their Icelandic heritage - the name of the mountain in their father’s hometown of Vestmannaeyjar.

The design carefully notes existing site characteristics such as solar orientation, shade from existing trees and the prevailing direction of wind in the valley, while using the existing septic system and disturbed area of the site to land the house footprint. View and ventilation windows are on all sides, and a high-level fan redistributes warm air that has stratified within the vaulted living space.

Minimized thermal bridging, thick insulated exterior walls and roofs, as well as high performance triple glazed fiberglass windows contribute to the structure’s thermal performance. The house uses a high efficiency forced air heat recovery ventilator, and all systems within the home are electric. Future solar panels have been roughed in for solar hot water.

The project achieved performance levels of Step 5 of the BC Building code, a Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) of 2 kWh/(m²·year), Mechanical energy use intensity (MEUI) of 40 kWh/(m²·year), and Greenhouse gas emissions of 0.2 tonnes/year.

Our amazing collaborators: Owners Reuben and Ruth Lamb , Builder Evan Lamb , Cladding detailing by Aubrey Driedger, Structural engineer Dan Sundvick, Millwork by Caliper Studio Mark Aseltine , Photography by Ema Peter

Congrats team!

Celebrating our win in the 2024 Canadian Green Building Awards by .magazine, small residential category!!!

The Heimaklettur House was designed for an ambitious family of three on a 5-acre property within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in Langley, BC. Their vision for this modest structure was to live smaller and more closely to the land, and ultimately grow their own food. Heimaklettur (home rock) is a nod to their Icelandic heritage - the name of the mountain in their father’s hometown of Vestmannaeyjar.

The design carefully notes existing site characteristics such as solar orientation, shade from existing trees and the prevailing direction of wind in the valley, while using the existing septic system and disturbed area of the site to land the house footprint. View and ventilation windows are on all sides, and a high-level fan redistributes warm air that has stratified within the vaulted living space.

Minimized thermal bridging, thick insulated exterior walls and roofs, as well as high performance triple glazed fiberglass windows contribute to the structure’s thermal performance. The house uses a high efficiency forced air heat recovery ventilator, and all systems within the home are electric. Future solar panels have been roughed in for solar hot water.

The project achieved performance levels of Step 5 of the BC Building code, a Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) of 2 kWh/(m²·year), Mechanical energy use intensity (MEUI) of 40 kWh/(m²·year), and Greenhouse gas emissions of 0.2 tonnes/year.

Our amazing collaborators: Owners Reuben and Ruth Lamb , Builder Evan Lamb , Cladding detailing by Aubrey Driedger, Structural engineer Dan Sundvick, Millwork by Caliper Studio Mark Aseltine , Photography by Ema Peter

Congrats team!

Shoutout to the team that helped us with the JUST. Label and B Corp application process.

Thanks to Michelle Austin and Kate Smith for leading us through this important work! It might seem like overkill for a small practice like ours to have a policy handbook – but we have embraced the motto of “clarity is kindness” building on the idea that rather than assume people know how we operate and what we care about we should write it down!

It has been rigorous, challenging but also invigorating and inspiring! Decade has developed a meaningful process that asked good questions of us and truly helped us grow and move forward as a company.
Here’s what decade had to say about us - “Your unwavering commitment to using business as a force for good is not only admirable but also an inspiration to all who have had the pleasure of working with you.”
Learn more about MOTIV’s impact on our website linkinbio.
Guess which spirit animal belongs to which team member!

Our Granary project in is complete, people are moving in and the brewery and restaurant will open in few months. We want to take a look back at the design inspiration behind this project.

The Granary is a mixed use development whose design draws on the built forms that have historically brought us our food and that uses design to bring food, its growing, processing and enjoyment closer to where people live.

At MOTIV we believe that design can and should play a role in ensuring current and future generations value agricultural land for its vital contributions to our sustainability as a human species.

The granary and it’s courtyard are a microcosm for the community as a whole, where food can be produced, processed, cooked and enjoyed within the same space at different times of year. This space will capture the smells of the brewery and kitchen, a reminder to residents and visitors that these activities are real and important parts of a thriving food system.

graphics by

We want to take a poke at a particularly trigger within the building code of “High Building Requirements” that has an impact on affordable housing project viability.

Designing and constructing an affordable housing project is extremely complex. There are tight parameters of restricted budgets, rigorous building code requirements, and long permitting times that create barriers to deter both developers and grass-roots community groups from building affordable units.

While we agree that high buildings require different considerations, we question the 18m measurement to the site grade from the uppermost floor on mid rise projects. This unfairly penalizes sites that have modest grade drops and seems rather unrelated to firefighting provisions. It also reduces the potential height of larger spaces that communities need at grade.

This is not to be confused with the 18m height limitation of ground level firefighter entry to the uppermost floor to comply with six storey combustible construction requirements. This is indeed about firefighting provision and safety. (consultation with our "in-house" fire fighter, Check!).

What are some of the ramifications for a 6 storey building that exceeds the 18m measurement to grade?
• Increased fire ratings of exits
• Doubling of design area assumptions for sprinkler calculations

This may seem insignificant, but it is indeed these little triggers adding up over the full scope of a project that can trip up viability.

Do you have a building code beef? Other code/zoning challenges in achieving affordability. Share it in the comments!

Members of .ca including our team at MOTIV have been helping organize what we hope is a different, exciting, more inclusive and diverse After/Parti to close out the conference in Vancouver this year.

Masque: A modern Beaux Arts Ball
Five small architectural practices have been paired with five Vancouver drag artists to collaborate on a performance concept inspired by the Beaux Arts Balls of the past. All guests are invited to come in architecture inspired costume as well!

The Beaux Arts Ball is a party with a long history in the design profession, beginning its life at the École des Beaux-Arts before migrating around the globe. Although not historically inclusive of the full spectrum of people who now comprise the architectural community, the modern Masque is something quite other. Between performances, attendees will enjoy music, dance, and beverages in an evening of high-spirited creativity.

Start working on your costume today and make sure to get your tickets to be a part of this incredible evening! May 17, 2024. Linkinbio.

WOMEN’S day ! We’d like to shoutout and celebrate the women indigenous artists that inspire us in fashion, writing, textile, film – in Vancouver and beyond:
- Joleen Mitton (www.vifw.ca)
- Robin Wall Kimmerer (robinwallkimmerer.com)
- Debra Sparrow (http://www.authenticindigenous.com/artists/debra-sparrow)
- Lily Gladstone


More Creds! :

Panel A.
1. Article: Layrssa Vachon, Designer: Sho Sho Esquirio , Photographer: Unknown (https://www.vanmag.com/city/people/design-mind-joleen-mitton-founder-of-vancouver-indigenous-fashion-week/)
2. https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/books, Cover art: Tony Drehfal (https://www.tonydrehfal.com/)
3. https://vanmuralfest.ca/blog/debra-sparrow
4. Still from Killers of the Flower Moon

Panel B.
1. Style: Designer: Shoes: Earrings: Makeup: .the.curator Hair: Photographer: Unknown
2. Photographer: Unknown (https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/about)
3. Photographer: Unknown (https://winterartsfest.com/blanketingthecity)
4. Photographer: Calbot McNenly (https://www.cabotdp.com/)

The granary achieved occupancy yesterday! There is still lots of work to be done, but this is a very important milestone to celebrate with the whole team!
Looking forward to the courtyard being filled and people sitting down at the long table sharing food together!

Well done

Every year our holiday card making is an ordeal. It doesn’t always go as planned and we have to pivot and problem solve quickly so we can get our cards out before Christmas!! We have a blast in spite of the struggles (right Jackie? Kristina? Maverick? Meredith? David? Roxy? Zoe?)

This year we learned that Agar sets fast! Seed ornaments need to air out! The birds may or may not like our ornaments – but the mice definitely do! Laser cutters can burn a hole through 19mm of plywood and the table when under pressure on a deadline!

And we are reminded of why we love our clients and collaborators – including those with a great sense of humour () who sent us a photo of him enjoying the “cookie” with his morning coffee.

Yesterday, December 3, was International Day of persons with disabilities (IDPD) a day for people worldwide to unite to recognize the achievements, contributions, and challenges faced by those with disabilities.
Our work as designers can unfortunately create more barriers to accessibility OR it can be a catalyst for change – using universal design principles to remove barriers of all sorts.
Universal design is the design and structure of an environment so that it can be understood, accessed, and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age or ability.

Asher just received the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification and we are challenged and inspired to put his learning to good use as a baseline on our projects moving forward!

thanks for the inspiration and knowledge

Have a SPOOK-tacular Halloween everyone!

Want to work with us? Know any students looking for an internship in the new year? Spread the word! MOTIV is looking for talented, organized and passionate team players. We are hiring for a minimum 8 month student position starting January 2024 to assist with some exciting projects underway.

We have been remembering fondly back to summer and all the delicious goodness that our team's garden's produced this season!! carrots, garlic, sunflowers, cukes, dahlias, herbs, tomatoes, rhubarb, to name a few! We ate it fresh, we cooked it, we dried it, we canned it, we saved it!

Some real progress is being made on the Granary, a mixed-use project in – a community rooted in farming and food. It includes 35 homes and is a future home for

We can’t wait for PechaKucha Vancouver tomorrow night to hear Tracey speak alongside such a diverse and talented group of Vancouverites. You’ll probably hear about where she came from, where she’s been, and where we’re going!

If you got tickets – we’ll see you at the Vancouver Playhouse tomorrow!

.taniguchi

Today we celebrate Tracey on her Birthday!!
Tracey is inspiring, fun, talented, dedicated, passionate and engaged and the team at MOTIV is so grateful to get to work with her everyday.
Happy Birthday

If we truly want our built environment to have a positive impact for future generations – Net Positive Design is our only target. Net Positive Energy, Net Positive Water, Net Positive Carbon. Sustainable is the bare minimum.
No Sustainability rating system is perfect - but the Living Building Challenge takes a holistic approach to how buildings existing within and for a broader community integrate with culture, society, the economy and the environment.

.consulting.inc Anthony S***k and Light House Sustainability Society

We look forward to sharing more as the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Centre is assessed and eventually becomes a reality.

The Biosphere centre is envisioned as a community resource – to those who occupy it and to those who pass by - it is a place for everyone. This includes providing safe and universally accessible spaces inside and out. Our consultant team and future construction partners are required to operate with inclusive policies and practices and MOTIV will be getting JUST Certified over the coming months. We are very excited to be working with members of the broader CBT community to ensure that the process and the final design are inclusive for all.

.tribal.parks
.consulting.inc Anthony S***k and Light House Sustainability Society

We are excited to have Ruby Barnard join our team on a coop from UBC’s SALA program. She has already been here for two weeks!
Originally from Salt Spring Island, BC, Ruby is a Masters of Architecture and Landscape Architecture candidate at the University of British Columbia with an undergraduate degree in geography from Simon Fraser University.
Ruby is interested in the potential for design to foster better relationships and integrate social and ecological systems in sustainable and just ways. In her spare time, Ruby enjoys sewing, knitting, photography, and spending time outside.
Welcome Ruby!

Sourcing building materials responsibly and from local producers (within 500km of our site) reduces the energy required to ship materials to site, but it also gives back to our local economy in untold ways.
We will partner with manufacturers using non-toxic products, who know where their materials are sourced from and have achieved the Declare Label and with contractors who are committed to reducing their construction waste and tracking this process.
The Biosphere Centre will be built using BC’s most available and renewable structural building material – WOOD.

.consulting.inc Anthony S***k and Light House Sustainability Society

Last day to vote for the Meristem Chapel as an A+Awards finalist in the Pavilions category. Click linkinbio. designed with for photos by

More photos by the talented lucdipietro_photo
Last week to vote for the Meristem Chapel as an A+Awards finalist in the Pavilions category. Voting is open until Friday May 12. Click linkinbio. designed with for

The beautiful Meristem Chapel is an A+Awards finalist in the Pavilions category – and you can help us become a winner! Check out the other amazing projects and Vote for the Meristem Chapel by following the linkinbio. designed with for photos by lucdipietro_photo

Our goal for the Biosphere Centre is to reduce the embodied carbon of all primary building materials by 20 % AND reduce the energy consumption of the building by 70% from the baseline. The building will be metered to confirm it meets the target and this information will be used to tell the story of the project in the future.

Privileged to be working with Light House Sustainability Society, .consulting.inc and the rest of the team to prove out our approach.

When you live in Tofino – WATER comes in all the forms and it is often the topic of conversation. It is wet, cold, salty, fresh, refreshing, incessant, light, frozen, misty, moist, dripping, running, wavy, crashing, surging, pouring, flowing, fun. There is too much water in the winter and increasingly limited fresh water to serve the demands of the busy summer tourist season.

It is only appropriate that our sustainable strategy to achieve the is centred around water and brings it to users’ attention throughout the building experience while also achieving a 50% reduction of water use.