nnovative designers use their skill and ideas to make cities. They manipulate form to create useful artefacts. 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. 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.

The globular clusters of Omer 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. Erick Karsh 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.

Biographies:

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. Full bio here.

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 Safdi. He is a co-founder at Equilibrium Consulting Inc. Full bio here.

Trevor Boddy is a critic/curator of contemporary architecture/urbanism and a Vancouver-based consulting urban designer.