BOLD Workshop Architecture

Our New Monica #Multifamily has received BP approval and we are now working through tender! New Monica is our 16-unit, purpose-built rental in Inglewood, designed and developed in-house with our collaborators @xycdesign . The project balances #affordability, quality, and fit across two modest buildings of sixteen stacked dwellings. By deliberately not maxing out density, height, or lot coverage, we were able to unlock the site’s full potential, preserving mature trees, carving out two generous #courtyards, widening side setbacks for light and privacy, and introducing over-garage units along St. Monica Avenue. Each home is a through-unit, oriented for natural light and cross-ventilation, and every unit has its own front porch, reinforcing a clear sense of address. This project also became the catalyst for Architecture Soup (crowd favourite!), a design tool that translates the observed architectural patterns of the street into a visual, interactive toolkit. The tool is intended to guide new infill #development, allowing neighbourhoods to evolve in ways that respect the context while expanding #housing options.

We turned #Architecture Soup into #chocolates for a special #holiday #gift this season. In collaboration with #Calgary’s award-winning @cochuchocolate , we transformed our 3D design toolkit—built from the observed architectural patterns of a community—into something #delicious. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Architecture Soup moved from #streetscape to chocolate form. Hopefully you've been nice this year!

We spent a year and a half working with local, award-winning @cochuchocolate to turn our Architecture Soup study pieces into these precise, edible forms. They’re a tiny taste of how we work, thoughtful, rigorous, and rooted in context. We first developed our Architecture Soup design tool for our 16-unit mixed-market #multifamily in Inglewood with @xycdesign , as a way to help new development fit into existing communities without erasing their DNA. It takes real #architectural patterns we observed in the neighbourhood and turns them into a visual, interactive 3D toolkit, supporting better, more context-aware #middlehousing. Study is now up on the web: https://www.boldworkshop.ca/work-portfolio/architecture-soup-chocolates

Last week, “What’s Next for the Neighbourhood?” hosted by @openconceptscalgary , brought together #architects, #designers, #developers, policy thinkers, and #housingadvocates to discuss Calgary’s future following City Council’s repeal of R-CG blanket zoning. The presentation by @kaybrowne + @xycdesign and following panel discussion, focused on what comes next: how do we continue to deliver more housing, improve affordability, and creating clearer, more predictable pathways for thoughtful neighbourhood growth as Calgary moves toward a population of 2 million. Thank you to everyone who attended, shared ideas and our fellow panelists Kate MacGregor (xycdesign) @alkarimd (@mddl.co ), Chris Bell (@norfolkhousing ) and moderator @denys_robinson . There’s still a lot of work ahead, but the momentum and optimism in the room made one thing clear: Calgary is ready to keep building toward a more affordable and inclusive future.

Another final photo of @charcut in the @udistrictyyc_ Photo by @haptic_patina Built by @leading_edge_developments

New Monica update: #asbestos abatement is officially complete and we were slated to move into demolition this week. But development always finds new ways to keep you humble 😅 When we went to do the water shut off last week, the site’s 75 year old valve refused to turn. We’re now waiting on the @cityofcalgary to replace it, or we have the option to crimp the line ourselves at a cost of roughly $8k. It’s a good reminder that the cost of housing is shaped by a lot more than construction alone. Aging infrastructure, delays, and unexpected site conditions all add up, especially on small urban infill projects trying to deliver more attainable housing options.

Stepping out of work mode and into #brand mode for BOLD brand day. This month @kaybrowne designed and made our own BOLD greeting cards. Fully custom, built from bold colours, #abstract imagery, and the drawings, models, and #diagrams that shape how we think. #Playful, but deliberate. #Expressive, but precise. Not off the shelf. Not expected. Something to give to clients, collaborators, and partners that feels distinctly us. A physical object that carries our ideas beyond the screen.

The tower version of wandering stones house @xycdesign

Great time presenting at the Alberta Association of #Architects Banff Conference this past weekend with @xycdesign . Inspiring presentations from architects all over North America! And the location @fairmontbanff can't be beat, simply breathtaking ⛰️

Excited to see my collaboration on a new optical store in Calgary with @bold.workshop and @sightunseenoptics coming together! Framing is nearly complete.

Pre demo abatement is underway at our New Monica #multifamily project 🙌 What started in 2023 took three years to reach #construction, not what we imagined, but a reminder that meaningful projects take time. Proud to be moving forward with an ambitious self development project, designed in house by our dream team BOLD and our collaborators @xycdesign , built by @plaid.shirt.ltd

Thank you @xycdesign for playing around in AI with the landscape options at Wandering Stones House 😍