Burger Residence (photo Martin Tessler)

Continuing with our series, Dispatch from Canada, today we're excited to feature the work of West Vancouver-based architecture firm, Burgers Architecture Inc.  Being fans of their work for a while now, we were thrilled to ask them a few questions about their firm and thoughts on design in the Canadian landscape.  Here's our Q & A (as answered by Mary Burgers):

Burgers Residence (photo Martin Tessler)

Tell us a bit about Burgers Architecture Inc. Who are you and how did it all begin? Where did you all train or study?
Cedric’s parents Robert and Marieke Burgers founded Burgers Architecture in 1981. Robert received his diploma in architecture and engineering from the University of Delft, Netherlands, and upon immigrating to Canada in 1967 the couple began building and designing contemporary homes out of the office in West Vancouver. Cedric received his Master of Architecture from the University of British Columbia, and then worked in the architectural offices of Daniel Liebeskind and landscape architects Muller Knippscheld Wehburg, both in Berlin Germany. He then completed his architectural internship in his family's firm in West Vancouver, under the supervision of architect Robert Burgers and mentor Peter Cardew. I, (Mary Burgers) studied at Simon Fraser University and finished my degree at St. Charles University in Prague before moving on to BCIT where I studied Interior Design. We have a team of talented architects, interior designers and technologists, continuing the vision Cedric’s parents had when they brought a crisp European minimalism to Canada over 40 years ago.

Cedric and Mary Burgers (Photo Kyrani Kanavaros)

What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on?
Our next project is always the most exciting one!

Burgers Residence (photo Martin Tessler)

Burgers Residence (photo Martin Tessler)

Living and working in Canada, what part of Canada inspires your work if at all do you think?
We are always happy to take in our immediate surroundings, and are constantly inspired by this powerful, natural playground of rugged landscapes, windswept cliffs and gorgeous waters. Every opportunity we can be outside, we are, with the kids in tow, whether we are sailing as a family up to Desolation Sound, or cross country skiing in Callaghan, or hiking and biking up these mountains. I think this genuine and tangible relationship we have to the outdoors translates to a deep understanding of the sites we build on, and the homes we create for our clients are intuitive and tasteful to their environments.

Residence - Bowen Island (photo Michael Boland)

Residence - Bowen Island (photo Michael Boland)

Photo Martin Tessler

What are you currently working on that excites you?
Cedric and I recently purchased a beautiful property with a lush, gurgling creek and lots of beautiful old trees here in West Vancouver and are in the process of designing our new home together. It’s a sensitive landscape, which demands that we are ecologically thoughtful, but interestingly what is happening is a new understanding of what a luxury home is. We are drawing from our surroundings and designing for good, clean air and ventilation, rooms that breathe in that they are not overstuffed and over composed, lots of natural light, plants, and the collection of rainwater, everything and anything that will contribute to a holistic living environment. All those things you feel when you are outdoors, you should feel inside too… lightness, breathability, freshness.

Photo Martin Tessler

What Canadian Designers/Architects/Artists do you admire?
Cedric has always been inspired by Arthur Erickson. Brent Comber is as lovely as a human as he is a
designer. Niels Bendtsen is admirable just as much as his lovely wife and business partner Nancy, I respect their dedication to the local design community as they continue to push the boundaries in seeking out new designers and collections, while they themselves create such beauty themselves.

Ocean Residence

Thank you Cedric and Mary and the Burgers family!

Burgers Architecture Inc.
Site: baiarchitects.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Burgers-Architecture-Inc
Instagram: @burgersarchitecture
Twitter: @BAIARCHITECTS