April 12, 2007

Architecture

Saia is golden with Institute

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Montreal architect Mario Saia, co-founder of the firm of Saia Barbarese Topouzanov Architectes, is the recipient of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s prestigious Gold Medal for 2007.

“Of the slate of significant and literate architects in Canada, there is little doubt that Mario Saia is one of the most provocative,” the institute’s Gold Medal selection committee said in a statement.

Mario Saia

“His buildings depart from the realm of the familiar, the comfortable, the conservative.

“He pushes the frontiers of conventional design and incites both users and passers-by to reflect on the meaning and purpose of architecture, of city planning and of milieu. He consistently addresses context with concern and innovation, resulting in a body of work that is diverse, creative and meaningful.”

The RAIC Gold Medal is awarded in recognition of significant contribution to Canadian architecture. It recognizes an individual whose personal work has demonstrated “exceptional” excellence in the design and practice of architecture and/or whose work related to architecture has demonstrated excellence in research or education.

Saia earned his degree in architecture in his hometown at Université de Montréal in 1963.

With a bursary from American Standard (1963) and a Commonwealth Bursary (1964-1965) he continued his studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He then apprenticed for a year in Copenhagen.

He now directs the Montreal architectural firm he co-founded in 1968.

According to Saia, practice and research work hand-in-hand in the development of architectural ideas.

The firm’s partners and employees — professionals, technicians, project managers and computer graphics experts — come from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds.

They work together in a studio environment.

As project architect and principal designer, Saia has been recognized with a series of architectural distinctions and awards including two Governor General’s Medals in Architecture, 13 Prix d’excellence from l’Ordre des architectes du Quebec, gold and silver LEED certifications, a Home of the Year Award from Architecture magazine as well as the HUE international award for use of colour and the Pan-American Wood award for the use of wood in architecture.

Saia is scheduled to speak May 12 during the Ontario Association of Architects/RAIC conference and festival of architecture in Toronto.

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