?Good buildings need good friends,? said Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe in their 2006 Martell Lecture, delivered at the University at Buffalo?s School of Architecture and Planning. They were speaking of their ongoing work in the stewardship of Massey College, a 1963 building designed by Ron Thom at the University of Toronto. But the same can be said of all of their work: none of it is done by the architects alone. Rather, Shim and Sutcliffe see architecture as a collaborative endeavour. Making a building is a complex task that involves the contributions and support of clients, builders, fabricators, engineers, staff, and students?as well as the sometimes invisible scaffold of colleagues and mentors. Here are the voices of some of those who have worked with Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe, and who have been touched by their work. The Integral House under construction. Photo by Ed Burtynsky
The work of Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe has not only contributed to the state of architecture in Canada, but it has had an impact on changing architectural discourse far beyond. Their humane approach and attention to the quality of life distinguishes them, but their willingness to share their knowledge with architects and architectural students is what separates them from others. Serving others was particularly evident when Professor Shim assisted us in the Aga Khan Award for Architecture?in various capacities, over many years?in her pursuit of a better environment for future...