Shim-Sutcliffe Architects is a Canadian architectural design practice based in

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Practice

Shim-Sutcliffe Architects was founded in 1994 by Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe. Partners in work and in life, Shim and Sutcliffe have been collaborating since the early 1980s, and formed Shim-Sutcliffe Architects to pursue their shared interest and passion for the interrelation of architecture, landscape, interior design, and industrial design.

Brigitte Shim

Brigitte Shim (born 1958, Kingston, Jamaica) emigrated to Canada in 1965. She received a degree in environmental studies in 1981 and architecture in 1983 from the

University of Waterloo The University of Waterloo (UWaterloo, UW, or Waterloo) is a Public university, public research university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on of land adjacent to uptown Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also op ...

, Ontario. Shim apprenticed with architect

Arthur Erickson Arthur Charles Erickson (June 14, 1924 – May 20, 2009) was a Canadian architect and urban planning, urban planner. He studied at the University of British Columbia and, in 1950, received his B.Arch. (Honours) from McGill University. He is kn ...

in Vancouver in 1981 and worked with Baird/Sampson Architects in Toronto from 1983-1987. Shim has been a professor at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

since 1988, where she teaches architectural design studios and courses in the history and theory of landscape architecture.

Howard Sutcliffe

Howard Sutcliffe (born 1958, Yorkshire, England) emigrated to Canada in 1964. He studied at the University of Waterloo, where he also earned degrees in environmental studies (1981) and architecture (1983). After graduating, he worked successively in the studios of Paul Merrick in Vancouver and for

Ronald Thom Ronald James Thom, (May 15, 1923 – October 29, 1986) was a Canadian architect. He is well known for two works: Massey College and Trent University's riverside campus. Early years He was born in Penticton, British Columbia, the son of James ...

Barton Myers Barton Myers (born November 6, 1934) is an American architect and president of Barton Myers Associates Inc. in Santa Barbara, California. With a career spanning more than 40 years, Myers is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and wa ...

, and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg ( KPMB) Architects in Toronto. He was the first recipient of the Ronald J. Thom Award given for early design achievement by the

Canada Council The Canada Council for the Arts (), commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown corporations of Canada, Crown corporation established in 1957 as an arts council of the Government of Canada. It is Canada's public arts funder, with a mandate to ...

for the Arts.

Recognition

To date, Shim and Sutcliffe have received 16 Governor General's Medal and Awards for Architecture from the

Royal Architectural Institute of Canada The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is a not-for-profit, national organization that has represented architects and architecture for over 100 years, in existence since 1907. The RAIC is the leading voice for excellence in the built ...

(RAIC) and an

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach progr ...

(AIA) National Honor Award. In 2021 they were awarded the RAIC Gold Medal, the country's highest architectural honour in recognition of a significant and lasting contribution to Canadian architecture. The jury attributed their relentless pursuit of excellence to the production of a significant body of exceptional design works and determined that "the poetic quality and independence of their design work, their thoughtful and holistic consideration of site, materiality, typologies, the senses, and their inventiveness have made Shim and Sutcliffe exemplars of architectural practice in Canada." In 2013, the couple was presented with the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

for "designing sophisticated structures that represent the best of Canadian design to the world." They were also the recipients of the 2020 Heritage of the Future Award for "an outstanding body of work that prioritizes the integration of built form with natural environment, the innovative use of building materials, and exceptional design."

Publications

Shim-Sutcliffe has their work published in a wide variety of mediums since established. Selected publications include: * ''Shim-Sutcliffe: The 2001 Charles & Ray Eames Lecture'' published by Michigan Architecture Papers, 2002 * ''Site Unseen: Laneway Architecture & Urbanism in Toronto'' edited by Brigitte Shim & Donald Chong, 2004 * ''Integral House'' by Brigitte Shim and Edward Burtynsky, 2006 * ''Five North American Architects: An Anthology by Kenneth Frampton,'' 2012 * ''Shim-Sutcliffe: The Passage of Time'' edited by Anette W. LeCuyer, 2014 * ''Canadian Architecture: Evolving a Cultural Identity'' by Leslie Jen, 2021 * ''Shim-Sutcliffe: The Architecture of Point William; A laboratory of living'' edited by Kenneth Frampton & Michael Webb, 2021

Notable Projects

* 1988: Garden Pavilion and Reflecting Pool * 1989: House on Horse Lake * 1994: Laneway House * 1995: Craven Road House * 1999: Muskoka Boathouse * 2000: Moorelands Camp Dining Hall * 2001: Weathering Steel House * 2004: Ravine Guest House and Reflecting Pool * 2004: Corkin Gallery * 2006: Craven Road Studio * 2009: Integral House * 2013: Residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph Toronto * 2015: Wong Dai Sin Temple * 2022: Ace Hotel Toronto Shim-Sutcliffe Architects also debuted specialty furniture and lighting items for their clients. Most well known is the HAB Collection that is currently manufactured and distributed by Nienkämper. Another popular item from the studio is the Firefly Lamp which is meant to resemble fireflies in a mason jar that glows even after the lamp is turned off.

References

External links

Shim Sutcliffe website

Finding aid for the Shim-Sutcliffe fonds

Canadian Centre for Architecture The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA; ) is a Architecture museum, museum of architecture and research centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located at 1920, rue Baile (1920, Baile Street), between rue Fort (Fort Street) and rue Saint-Ma ...

{{Authority control Architecture firms of Canada