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In contrast, “Barry’s an architect who
pays tremendous attention to context,” says
Taft. “How does a house fit into its neigh-
bourhood? How does it fit on site? How does
it relate to the trees? Barry is bringing the
whole combination to the issue.”
Baakfil is “slow, steady, organic,” Taft
adds. “It’s not going to happen overnight,
but if city council had the wisdom to get
behind it, five years from now it could be
quite remarkable.” It could lead to “quality
infill that preserves our neighbourhoods.”
This is a national concern, says Larry
Beasley, a Vancouver-based urban planner
and designer who has influenced the
shape of cities worldwide.
“Densification has too often meant
destabilization,” he says. “Do we really
have to destabilize our neighbourhoods
just to be sustainable?”
Beasley says he appreciates Johns’s
sensitivity to the impacts of the work
of architects, and how his book is not
just an idea, but a manual for its
implementation.
“He’s presented it as a way of doing
things, and gone beyond architecture to
think about real estate (and) social
issues,” says Beasley. “It is the beginning
of a better conversation in the country.”
To properly guide that, Johns plans to
soon initiate demonstration projects in
two mature Edmonton neighbourhoods —
the start of what may be the final chapter
of his own practice.
“I believe this is the culmination of a
career, and that it has the potential to be
the best project I’ve ever done,” he says.
Johns admits to wishing he were “20
years younger.” But he’s re-energized. He
feels he’s contributed to his practice, to
the understanding of an architect’s role in
building not just structures but cities —
and that his work is beginning anew.
And he’s happy about that. ED.
Baakfil — Back
Alley Advantage
Kinship Family
Integrated Living.
Each Baakfil
home is entirely
customizable
Architect
Barry
Johns
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