Howard Rideout Architect
163 Gough Ave. M4K 3N9 Toronto, ON, Canada

I have always understood the importance of the plan when I envision a building, but as I set out to design the walking paths on my 200 acre forest located near Dorset, Ontario, it took me some time to take in the scale of the project I was undertaking. Looking north from Property with the Lake of Bays in the distance.... https://howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com//make-no-little-p/

It's December 26, 2020 and the first day of the second Covid19 lockdown. I am sitting at my desk looking out at the blanket of pure white snow, which covers my garden in Toronto. 2020 has been a year of tumultuous global scale events that have affected us all as individuals, in deeply personal ways. During this time of restraint, while following the provincial isolation guidelines, I have had time to focus on the master plan for the nature preserve that I am creating near Dorset, Ontario.... https://howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com//reflections-on-a/

In 2019, after spending most of my career imagining how to fulfil the dreams of my clients, I decided it was time to initiate the first element of the plan for my property near Dorset in Muskoka. The oval clearing was the first physical landscape gesture that I undertook on the property, and now serves as a turnaround for guests once they reach the waterfront. More importantly, this space within the continuous forest canopy, creates the orientation device for the entire lands...cape and a starting point for the many paths which extend into the wilderness. This autumn I will be embarking on the next phase of the plan by creating a modest clearing in the forest to accommodate a lakeside cottage, as well as the infrastructure of the gardens which surround it. While requiring minimal planting and earthworks, establishing these bones of the design now are important to allow the gardens to mature over the years to come. I’ve learned from the experience of working with my clients, that by thinking long term and having a clear vision and plan - small interventions can have extraordinary results in the not too distant future. See more

This 6 million square foot campus is located on 350 acres in southern China. The master plan, completed in 2018 is organized into three distinct zones. A central academic quadrant surrounds a circular park with the campus library at it’s center with flanking student residential quadrants at its east and western edges. These areas are designed to be enclosed by gates while the third precinct which focuses on the student’s social life, faces the man-made lake and is open to the public. Within this zone, a bar street with shops and restaurants follows the curve of the lake with a pier, flanked by bars. To understand more about my design ideas, refer to my blog post on this project Creating a Connected Campus at howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com

Sometimes my master plan projects involve designing the adjacent outdoor spaces beyond the scope of the initial project outline. In this case this 2017 project which is still underway involved designing a new 25,000 seat amphitheatre and university campus, that for one week a year would host the Chinese Grammy Awards. The project involved master planning the large open-air concert venue, and immediate areas around it to ensure proper crowd control with adjacent retail, restau...rants and bars that would encourage concert goers to stay for longer periods on the site. The design of the adjacent music school campus refers to a traditional American university campus layout with complex axial relationships and open quadrants which are enclosed on two sides by the vegetation facing the lake. The long views continue out into the landscape and encourage visitors to explore the entire lakeside paths and amenities. Of course, once the project moves to the next stage our team will work with an official landscape architect to finalize the design but these initial conceptual ideas help in conveying to the members of the team the design parameters of the proposal. HRA20th @ Howard Rideout Architect

This project, designed in 2016 and completed in 2018 is located on rolling hills, 40km north of Toronto and is both a home and a winery. The Scurve of the plan responds to the sites typography; its residential functions are primarily located on one floor at the upper edge of the hillside that bisects the site. The home reveals itself as a three-storey dwelling when viewed from the south, its lower floor, facing a large outdoor patio and pool area accommodate large public... functions that are held at the winery housed at this level. The master plan for the site had to adhere to the regulations which have been created to safeguard this important environmentally sensitive region of Southern Ontario. Ive not been able to get back to the site for photography but the construction photos should give an indication of how the s plan worked with the slope to create a home that utilized the site to its full potential. Cant wait to enjoy the wine from this property. HRA20th @ Howard Rideout Architect See more

In 2015 I took on the role of imagineer, a term made famous by Walt Disney to describe the unique set of skills required to create fantasy architecture, landscapes and an immersive experience . My career to that point had been a fantastic ride as I shifted gears for each new project and the scale jumped from custom home design to master plans and everything in between. In this case my firm was invited to collaborate with Forrec and B+H Architects on the design of an archite...ctural plaza that served to connect two large theme parks by way of an open-air shopping street. The project was located in Chengdu, China and the client was a large aviation company that wished to create a theme park experience that showcased their many products and services. I really enjoyed designing this project, thinking about architecture, landscape and the immersive nature of a theme park experience, and yes, its a proposal in China so including crowds in the illustrations generated a significant amount excitement from the client. . See more

Master planning the new community of Bridgewater began with an envisioning session held in the winter of 2015/16. Over the following year, my firm worked with the client to create a new community on the shores of Georgian Bay. Within the 300+ acres we set about creating a community that embraces nature. The design for the five unique neighbourhoods (1,200 homes) showcases various housing types, boutique hotels and shops arranged around three sides of a pond which will become the center of the communitys public life. Another boutique hotel is located at the waters edge and is an amenity that can be enjoyed by the community. Most of the site is to remain in its natural condition and development will be limited to compact residential enclaves with triangular shaped parks situated between them to separate the different neighbourhoods.

This is the final drawing I submitted to the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI)in 2016 for the Forest Villa I had just designed. It was created just as I was starting to meet the others at the ASAI and I know now that this drawing would be much better since meeting and learning from the other amazing illustrators in the organization. Until that moment in my career I had created illustrations to convey a particular design idea but with this drawing I was depicting the completed design. Since that time my drawing style has changed considerably as I continue to develop my skills in conveying design ideas in a more expressive way. #HRA20th @ Howard Rideout Architect

Some details on the progress of the Forest Villa illustration. HRA20th @ Howard Rideout Architect

In 2015 I became a member of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI), an organization that includes some of the worlds most established architectural illustrators. The following year, my illustration of a forest villa (designed for B+H Architects) won the Award of Excellence at the annual ASAI Conference and Awards Ceremony. While creating this illustration I wrote a blog post that shed light on the process that goes into the creation of my illustrations, ...as well as some insights I have gained while attending these events. Ive always been intrigued with the process of design and I often take photos of a drawing as it is underway. In this example, the first illustration is my conceptual colour and tone sketch for the drawing. The subsequent images illustrate how as the colours were applied the drawing took on a Secessionist feel as the strong verticals and rhythm of the trees before they were coloured were more intense, when seen against the darker background of the forest floor vegetation. I cant seem to place images and links to the blog on this post but visit my website for links to the blog and a more detailed analysis of the process of creating this drawing. See more

The construction of the Library on the Chengdu Campus for B+H Architects was fast tracked after I suggested that this first building would provide an excellent example of the architectural character of the entire site, particularly to those considering a purchase in the proposed 5,000 dwelling residential community adjacent to the campus. Once the client was convinced that this would promote residential suite sales the library was quickly designed and constructed, to be util...ized initially as a sales centre for the community until the remainder of the campus was constructed. Since the library occupies an important role in the symbolic life of the campus, it was critical this building was imbued with special meaning. The circle in the square motif I selected has significant cosmological importance in Chinese culture as it represents the linking of heaven and earth. The clarity of form was important in this location since it would provide a significant anchoring element to the campus within the linear riverside landscaped park that it addressed. HRA20th @ Howard Rideout Architect See more

In 2010 I had the opportunity to participate in the creation of a large scale master planning project in Chengdu China, and had the privilege of being involved in every stage from the conception of the overall design to the execution of each of the individual buildings. The design I created for B+H Architects for this University Campus resulted in the firm being awarded the project. From the initial concept drawing I set out to design a campus that satisfied the clients desi...re of creating a new institution that would evoke the Ivy League Schools of New England. Each of the 19 interconnected buildings were constructed simultaneously around the open-ended lawn facing an important riverside park in the city. This continuous connecting arcade, which was the focus of the initial illustration I had prepared, shelters students from the misty and rainy weather that often occurs in this area. See more

I was honored to be invited to present an exhibition of my firms work at the opening of the Quest Art Gallery at the Midland Cultural Centre. The exhibition, entitled Building Community / Community Building, The work of Howard Rideout Architect in Simcoe County also included a full day academic symposium, about the cultural/economic prosperity of the region. The symposium "Salon Camden - Midland" was coordinated by Kevin Stolarick of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the ...Rotman School of Management, and I was pleased to be a key contributor. Based on the enthusiastic response to the exhibition and symposium, my team later produced a limited edition book that featured select pieces from the show, as well as my own personal observations about the relationship between community members and the cultural activities that unite them. In addition to the many local businesses in Simcoe County that proudly displayed and sold copies of my book, I was particularly pleased to have it included on the shelf at Swipe Books in Toronto, and the Canadian Centre for Architecture(CCA) in Montreal. See more

Rotary Hall is a 250 seat, multi-purpose event space. The rooms rectangular enclosure is softened with an enveloping balcony and suspended wood sound baffles that impart an oval shape to the space. Fabric clad acoustic panels unify the triple height space and give it warmth and character. Rotary Halls flexible space, with an adjustable modular stage, accommodates events as diverse as lectures, movies, piano recitals, fashion shows, weddings, and rock concerts. The interdisciplinary nature of this space has seen it host fashion shows, classical musical productions, lectures and even an art slam. The Rotary Hall is rarely ever unoccupied and has become a place of celebration for numerous cultural groups within Simcoe County.

The 50th season of the Huronia Players Theatre coincided with the Midland Cultural Centres opening in the spring of 2012. Patrons enter on the main floor - at mid-level of this intimate theatre and can descend to stage level or ascend to the back of the theatre where a clever back door opens onto the performance atrium. During intermission and after the show patrons gather in the performance atrium, which can also accommodate informal performances and presentations. Refreshments and food are available at the Roxy Café, which is serviced by an inhouse chef who is equipped with a full commercial kitchen in the back of house.

The Performance Atrium, not imagined in the initial functional description of the Midland Cultural Centre but carved out through the design process, brings light deep into the building through an enclosed stair with clearstory windows. The double height space is perceived immediately upon entering the building from King Street and brings all the MCCs functions together. The vertical mass of the masonry clad elevator, symbolic of the hearth, anchors this room. Mid-level exits from the theatre lead to a raised lounge, which also doubles as a stage within this larger space. The atriums second floor walkway becomes a viewing balcony, across from an angled upper level projection wall used to display video presentations during events.

The Quest Art School + Gallery occupies the first and second floors of the Midland Cultural Centres King Street façade, with a gift shop on the main floor, which continues the eclectic retail tradition of the towns principle street. I strategically positioned a picture window along the King Street façade to reveal the activities of the gallery to passing pedestrians. The galleries of the first and second floors are visible as one enters the building, and patrons are inv...ited through the central, light filled staircase to the visit the upper level galleries and classrooms. Of the four principle public rooms, two teaching classrooms were provided with diffused northern natural light, perfect for the creation of art. These classroom spaces often transform into informal galleries where participants in the creative programs have a chance to showcase their work. See more

The official opening of the Midland Cultural Centre, took place in the spring of 2012. The building is significant in both its mandate, and the means by which it was created. Designed as a cultural and economic catalyst for a small town on Georgian Bay, it is an integral part of the spirit of the community. Located across the street from the Midland Public Library and diagonally opposite the St. Pauls United Church in the historic centre, the Midland Cultural Centre delivers... a robust program that attracts community members from all walks of life. The new performing arts, theatre and gallery building is an unusually enriching presence in the town of 16,000. As a strong example of Main Street cultural architecture, it was conceived to create long term urban vibrancy and community sustainability, in a place where the dwindling industrial past is being deliberately steered by local residents to become a cottage country artistic mecca. What most differentiates this project from others of this typology is the existence of a singular financial patron. The MCC was the vision of Reinhart and Alexandra Weber, who worked directly with me and stewarded every aspect of the design and construction. What they created will last for generations, and I am thankful that they have become such an important part of my life. The photos in this series are by Tom Ridout. . See more

Design for the Midland Cultural Centre began in earnest in 2009, following the selection of the new site on King Street. The time invested in the design for the earlier site (which incorporated the Regent School) was actually beneficial in determining the three distinct programs; an art gallery and school, community theatre, and a performance hall. These three program elements informed much of the design of the new building. A fourth distinct space exists in an elongated ro...om which serves as a connector to each of the program areas. This room was widened to accommodate community gatherings, with a stair tower which served as a means of bringing natural light into the depths of the building, as well as functioning as a podium for musicians or public speaking. As I prepared the design drawings, the linear nature of this space was a challenge to illustrate through conventional perspective, so I created illustrations with different vanishing points within, to better convey the utility of the space. The photos I took while the project was being constructed also utilized a method of representation made famous by artist David Hockney by capturing multiple vantage points within a singular image. . See more

Midlands historic Regent School was a former elementary school and fine example of Edwardian-era architecture. What would eventually become the Midland Cultural Centre began as a proposal to convert this building into a multi-use program of fine art education, galleries, gathering hall and performance spaces. The design of the site, as a compact campus style grouping of pavilions linked by new structures with enhanced visual relationships, was devised to unite disparate program elements into a cohesive composition set within an activated landscape public gardens. After careful consideration, a site closer to downtown Midland was selected where it would later become the Midland Cultural Centre.

The Pullman Hotel in Sanya, China was completed in 2012. Working as a design consultant to B+H Architects allowed me to transfer the intimate knowledge I had developed through designing custom homes and cottages, to the larger scale of a resort hotel. What is interesting for me, now that I have designed numerous hotels, is that I approach both scales with the same thinking. Regardless of scale, it is critical to allow the client to fully express their hopes and dreams for t...he project, using whatever points of reference they might have. Through this listening exercise, Im able to respond to their needs while introducing concepts that complement their objectives. The challenge I faced in Sanya was a client providing a directive of I want to see something we havent seen before, which left significant room for interpretation and possible frustration. During a time when hundreds of lavish resorts were being constructed throughout Southeast Asia the challenge of creating something unique was a great opportunity. In the end, our use of natural references (wildlife) and local materials, as part of luxury amenities differentiated this resort from more traditional luxury hotels. See more

Construction of the Pullman Resort Hotel in Sanya, China started in 2009 and the concrete superstructure was complete for my site visit in 2010. I worked with the team at B+H Architects to oversee the design development and working drawings and then headed to China to review the construction and final material selection. I have always been fascinated by the process of construction, and was able to capture some of the most beautiful moments while on this site visit. I love how buildings under construction in China are surrounded with bamboo scaffolding and cloaked in a green mesh - which gives one the impression that there will eventually be a great reveal. Once I finalized the roof profile, this element was utilized in many iterations throughout the resort.

This 2008 project was an award-winning entry to an invitational international design competition for a resort hotel to be located in the resort city of Sanya, China. I lead the design team at B+H Architects for this winning proposal. The initial inspiration for this project occurred at the site where I saw small, sand bubbler crabs on the beach leaving balls of sand as they searched for food. The plan arrangement places the lobby, which resembles an overturned wooden boat,... between two, terraced boat-shaped forms that house the hotel suites. From the roadside the resort is organized around an arched public arcade that connects the hotel to the conference facility and the spa. Within this space, terraced tropical gardens create separation from the busy street. My illustrations for this project which detail the architecture, the interiors, as well as the landscape design were instrumental in conveying our proposal to the jury. See more

In 2006 B+H Architects hired my firm to produce a set of illustrations to address the clients desire to create a New England fishing village on a seaside property in Dalian, China. My personal experience having recently visited my parents birthplaces in Newfoundland was the inspiration for this project, but my understanding of wood frame, residential construction was also a significant asset. The black and white photo is the fishing village in Twillingate, Newfoundland w...here my mother was raised. The client was very pleased with the illustrations, and requested that I direct the implementation of the design package to ensure that the initial vision was maintained throughout the design and construction phases of the project. This project was influenced by the New Urbanism movement. For more information on how this movement influenced many of my other urban design projects refer to my Blog Post. Seaside Re-Visited (https://howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com/2016/04/) and The New Town of Bridgewater, Ontario; designing a counterpoint to urban sprawl. ( https://howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com//the-new-town-of-/ ) HRA20th @ Howard Rideout Architect See more

This house, completed in 2007, was conceived as a personal retreat for a couple with deep connections to the site. Inspired by the idea of a hilltop citadel, the house presides over a traditional rural landscape in transition, as mature apple orchards and fields slowly return to forest. From the elevated perspective to this transforming vista, the house establishes its own picturesque realm among the trees while referencing the robust, sculptural tradition of rural vernacular buildings. The architectural composition of the site plan positions the main building and its out buildings to form an entry courtyard, framing the picturesque setting of the house from the approach road and creating the sense of a cultivated garden carved out of the encroaching naturalized forest. HRA20th

This four-season country house is set in a hardwood forest overlooking southern Georgian Bay. The experience one feels in this residence is intended to echo the landscape itself, evoking the feeling of a walk down to the beach that starts at the forest plateau high above the shoreline. On the approach from the road, at the top of the slope, the house presents itself as a broad low-slung, single storey bungalow, emerging from the clearing in the maples. From the lake, the home... appears as a robust and articulated masonry structure set mid-point between the lake and upper terrace. I was very fortunate to be able to design this home, the interiors, much of the millwork and even some furniture and then set about working with the client to design the landscaped grounds and garden buildings which included a large lakeside pavilion created from wood salvaged from the cottage that was demolished to create this new home. See more

I designed the Brookfield Inspiration Studio in 2005 to welcome clients and provide a comfortable space for the selection of the interior finishes for their new homes. Upon arrival, Brookfields clients relax in the Inspiration Cafe and from there an interior designer tours them through living room, kitchen and washroom vignettes. Material samples are displayed in the surrounding open concept area with two client consultation areas, located under the oval ceiling. One of the challenges I had in designing this project was making sure the spaces I created were both neutral and beautiful to ensure clients were not distracted as they assembled their unique palette of interior finishes.

2004 was a transitional year in the evolution of HRA, as our projects increased in scale and we expanded our work into international markets. This process began organically as I was hired to join a team at Architects Alliance to review the medical infrastructure of the country of Laos. In two separate four week exploratory visits, I was tasked to develop the 25-year master plans for the larger hospital campuses throughout the country. My three-dimensional axonometric drawin...gs of each of these campuses detailed the phasing in 5-year increments. The illustrations identified which historic buildings would be retained, those that would be demolished, making room for the new buildings and those to be constructed within the specified time frames. This project transformed my personal and professional life, as it was the first time I had traveled to Asia and set a course for my company that I had never imagined when I had established it 4 years earlier. See more

Created for Brookfield Residential, this Sales Centre for a housing development in Bradford, was designed in 2004 and completed in 2006. At the outset of this project, Bradford was a crossroads village comprised of a few commercial structures clustered around a single intersection, with little sense of public identity or useful community amenities. Since this would be the first building on the site, our approach was to instill a sense of community by designing a structure th...at was evocative of a small-town civic building. The focal point of the building is an octagonal room, with a pendant clock and site model. Individual galleries extend from this space, and feature display images of the various homes for sale. HRA and Brookfield Residential were awarded the Low Rise Project of the Year, by the Ontario Home Builders Association in 2007. I also created the illustration placed within the double height space showing how this project was close to everything. . See more

This project is an addition to an historic post and beam cottage on a dramatic site overlooking Jack Lake in the Kawarthas. The addition played off the bold architectural language of the original structure, by way of a glass enclosed staircase that connects the two, similar shaped volumes. On the main level the new living room utilized the entire floor area of the addition with the original footprint reorganized into an enlarged kitchen and dining area. While this project was a great example of client / architect collaboration, in the end the house was not constructed since the client decided to move to relocate to BC. I think the most compelling element of this design, was how effectively we were able to maintain the existing building while increasing the overall scale of each of the individual rooms.

This house was designed in 2001 as a waters edge retreat and future retirement dwelling for two former Torontonians who have settled permanently in North Simcoe County. It takes the form of an extended bungalow, mediating the sloped topography of the site by creating a sculpted single surface, which is echoed by the strong horizontal lines of the building. Maple timber, harvested on site, frame out the ceiling of the main space, giving the room warmth and character. Extensive interior design work included custom-designed wood furniture and architectural trim work, resulting in a cohesive vocabulary of detailing throughout the building.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of my firm, Howard Rideout Architect. Over the next 20 days, I will be posting projects that represents some of the more interesting work created over that time. This residential design created in 2000 represents my first project, and actually launched my practice. After the initial meeting with the client, I presented a perspective and plan of an octagonal room as an extension to their existing kitchen. The clients, ...Deb and Steve Lamb had originally envisioned a 10' x 8' rectangle added to their existing kitchen, and this far surpassed their expectations. A serial entrepreneur, Steve was so enthusiastic about the project that he proposed we start a business together and HRA was founded. While no longer a partner, Steve and his wife Deb remain close friends and their children have grown up and continue to enjoy their home. See more

No, this blog post is not about an extra-large version of ROME, but rather it documents, in black and white, the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the University of Waterloo, School of Architecture, Rome Program, held between October 30th and November 2nd, 2019. Established in 1979, the program was on the leading edge of architectural education in North America. As Larry Richards, Director of the Waterloo School of Architecture (1982-1987), writes in the recently published book, Canadian Modern Architecture, 1967 to the present. in his chapter on Postmodernism : Reconnecting with History, Memory and Place, [ 524 more words ] https://howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/rome-xl/

I'm in Midland tomorrow giving a presentation on "Envisoning Architectural Space in the Landscape". I'm looking forward to presenting some of my latest drawings and talking about how they were created to convey specific ideas about architecture and the landscape. Hope to see you there. https://howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com//envisioning-arch/

Designing a Home and Winery on the Oak Ridges Moraine. https://howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com//designing-a-home/

The new town of Bridgewater, Ontario; Designing a counterpoint to urban sprawl. BIG QUESTIONS Can we ensure our existing cities and towns are contained, livable and exciting? Can we maintain the productivity of some of the best agricultural land in Canada? Can we protect the watershed that supports Canada's largest city? Can we ensure the remaining natural areas are healthy and interconnected? Can we ensure that everyone can enjoy Ontario's cottage county? [ 1,472 more word ] https://howardrideoutarch.wordpress.com//the-new-town-of-/

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I had to pull Diane Rogers from behind the counter to get a quick photo(hence her flour covered apron). She was the winner of "best buttertart in Ontario" last year at the Buttertart Festival in Midland. She runs her store in the small hamlet of Bailieboro near Rice Lake and was in full baking mode crafting 200 dozen Buttertarts for the event next weekend in Midland.