In Nova Scotia, there is an ancient and beautiful harbor where one of the most famous lighthouses in the world stands. White waves roll, seagulls soar, the boulders on the coast have a hint of desolation, and there are dots of villages in the distance. Everything exudes uncarved natural beauty. A few years ago, Canadian architect Omar Gandhi designed the observation deck for Peggy's Cove. While retaining the original atmosphere of the local village, he also integrated the building into the natural environment, allowing people to enjoy the endless beauty from the quaint fishing boats on the coast to the rocks.
Omar Gandhi is the principal of the eponymous architectural design studio, which was established in 2010 and has branches in Toronto and Halifax. The concept is based on the characteristics of the environment and inspired by the surrounding historical buildings, aiming to find connections between buildings, sites and topography. He uses traditional materials and details to integrate architecture and environment with a modern design interpretation. In this exclusive interview, we delve into his philosophy on architectural design of public spaces and discuss the importance of architecture to community aesthetics.
Canadian architect Omar Gandhi
Design to improve viewing experience
Gandhi's architectural design concept integrates the natural environment, which is closely related to his background. He grew up in the suburbs of Toronto and attended art school during high school in the countryside, surrounded by open barns and farms. From this time on, he became accustomed to being surrounded by nature, which became a source of inspiration for his future creations. When he grew up, he moved to Halifax. The natural environment there is calmer than in big cities, and the climate is changeable, which can stimulate his thinking and creativity. He believes that architecture is a way of expressing art, the only difference is that the building must have a function, such as withstanding weather conditions, providing shelter, etc. "Especially in Halifax's volatile weather, we have to consider the impact of the natural environment on the building to ensure it is stable enough," he said. "At the same time, we use building materials, light and spatial proportions to tell a story about humanity. A story of interaction with nature. "The projects they designed undoubtedly represent a unique perspective in Canadian architecture.
In the Peggy's Cove project, Gandhi attached great importance to the connection between the observation deck and the village, hoping to maintain a balance between man-made buildings and natural landscapes. They used the architectural principles and raw materials of the community to make the new observation deck integrate perfectly with the local design aesthetic. They have solved many long-standing issues and improved the experience for residents and travelers at Peggy's Cove. For example, considering the impact of sea level rise on the lighthouse, they placed the main components on the coastline that is affected by strong winds; the guardrail adopts an open mesh form to allow the wind to pass through without blocking the view, while the solid part helps to block the wind; New walking paths connect the two main entrances to spread out visitors and avoid them gathering in the same place. In addition, he designed the observation deck to be barrier-free, providing ramps, tactile indicators and handrails so that the elderly and people with mobility impairments can safely visit the lighthouse.
Build a consistent community aesthetic
Architecture has a strong relationship with the aesthetics of our communities and carries a great responsibility. Gandhi revealed that throughout the design process, they spent a lot of time understanding the site selection and gaining an in-depth understanding of the culture and characteristics of the community. He said frankly: "Each community is very unique, especially in a country of immigrants like Canada, where residents come from different cultural backgrounds, which brings us certain challenges. We will have in-depth discussions with users, especially for public Projects, because people may have used or visited relevant facilities, and we will understand their real needs through dialogue and listening. For example, for elderly communities, they may mainly rely on wheelchairs, so barrier-free facilities are particularly important. ” He continued: “Respecting the environment and the community is undoubtedly the biggest responsibility of architects. Our goal is to improve people’s lives. At the same time, we need to take into account the architectural aesthetics of the community to ensure that while using creativity, we will not be in the community. It seems awkward."
Peggy's Cove has been a beloved Canadian landmark for centuries, visited by more than one million people every year. He said with a smile that their biggest wish is to improve people’s experience through design, rather than making them feel that it is destroying the local scenery. "The project has been completed successfully, but every few weeks we receive messages from people saying how grateful they are that their elderly mother can visit again in her wheelchair. It's very rewarding to be able to actually help others. There is a sense of satisfaction." He continued, "We love public projects because usually after we complete a residential project, we will not go back unless we are invited by the owner; as for public projects, we can keep visiting and admiring our finished products. ." he said.
There are various emerging trends in the construction industry from time to time, but he said bluntly: "What we do is exactly the opposite of the trend. We hope to create timeless buildings that people will love forever. We value the principles of respect, classicism and simplicity, and choose durable materials. High-quality materials will prevent it from becoming obsolete in a few years." As for whether the rise of artificial intelligence will threaten the development of the industry, he believes that this is undoubtedly a challenge. "Humans need to be more thoughtful and creative, otherwise computers can do the same thing." But he emphasized: "Humans have creativity and freedom, and artificial intelligence is just a tool, and we should continue to make good use of it." . In fact, we have been using technology to assist design, but in different ways, such as various construction software. I believe that artificial intelligence can also make our work more efficient."
As artificial intelligence and technology continue to advance, architects will face more challenges and opportunities. However, no matter how the times change, the pursuit of aesthetics, functionality and sustainable development will always be the mission of architects. This is also the concept that Gandhi represents. They will continue to work hard to create better and more livable spaces and leave eternal architectural aesthetics for the future.
