Field Notes

Studio updates and thoughts from the practice.

Laneway house guide Vancouver — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Laneway Houses in Vancouver: What They Cost, What They Allow, and Whether It's Worth It

RT zone eligibility, size and height limits, the permit process, construction costs in 2026, and a clear-eyed look at the financial and practical case for building a laneway house.

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Vancouver Special architectural redesign — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

The Vancouver Special: What It Is and What a Considered Redesign Looks Like

History, structure, character overlay rules, and what a thoughtful architectural approach to a Vancouver Special actually involves — beyond new cladding and updated fixtures.

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Architecture and interior design — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

What Does an Interior Designer Do, and When Do You Need One Alongside an Architect?

How architecture and interior design relate, where they overlap on a custom home, and what full-service architectural practice includes when it comes to interior space and FF&E.

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How to choose an architect — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

How to Choose an Architect: What to Look for Beyond the Portfolio

What to ask in a first meeting, how to read a portfolio critically, how fees relate to service level, and the red flags that indicate a practice is not the right fit.

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Custom home vs spec home — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Custom Home vs Spec Home: What is the Difference and Which is Right for You?

What separates a genuinely custom home from a spec or semi-custom build, what the cost and timeline differences actually are, and when custom design makes sense.

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Construction administration — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

What is Construction Administration, and Why Does It Matter?

What an architect does during construction, what reviewed not inspected means in practice, and what it costs when construction administration is dropped from a project scope.

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What does an architect cost in Vancouver BC — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

What Does an Architect Cost in Vancouver?

A plain-language guide to architectural fees in Metro Vancouver. Covers the AIBC Tariff, percentage and hourly rates, construction costs by area, soft costs unique to Vancouver, and what drives fees up or down.

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How long does it take to design and build a custom home — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

How Long Does It Take to Design and Build a Custom Home in Western Canada?

A realistic phase-by-phase timeline from first meeting to occupancy, including design, permit timelines by city, and construction duration for Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, and across Western Canada.

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Building on Vancouver Island — guide by Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Building on Vancouver Island: Victoria, the Coast, and What Makes the Island Different

Greater Victoria's permit process and heritage rules, the Zero Carbon Step Code, coastal materiality for Tofino and Ucluelet, and why Island projects are a distinct architectural challenge.

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Building in Kelowna Okanagan — guide by Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Building in Kelowna: Hillside Sites, Wildfire, and Architecture for the Okanagan

The Hillside Development Permit Area, geotechnical requirements, wildfire resilience, passive design, and the Kelowna building permit process.

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Building in Edmonton Alberta — guide by Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Building in Edmonton: Infill, the RS Zone, and Architecture in a City Finding Its Design Voice

Edmonton's 2023 Zoning Bylaw, the RS zone, mature neighbourhood infill, garden suites, and how to choose an architect for Edmonton's inner-city communities.

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Building in Vancouver BC — guide by Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Building in Vancouver: Multiplexes, Character Houses, and the R1-1 Zone

The R1-1 zone, character house retention, heritage permits, seismic requirements, and what makes Vancouver's residential permit process distinct from other Canadian cities.

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Building an infill home in Calgary — guide by Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Building an Infill Home in Calgary: What to Know Before You Start

Zoning, permit timelines, contextual design rules, secondary suites, and what to look for in an architect for a Calgary infill project.

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Flood zone architecture Calgary — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Building in a Flood Zone: What the 2013 Calgary Floods Taught Us About Residential Architecture

Floodway and flood fringe designations, flood-resilient residential design strategies, and what building responsibly in Calgary's river communities actually involves.

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Architect vs designer in Alberta — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

Architect or Designer: What Do You Actually Need for Your Project in Alberta?

A plain-language breakdown of the legal distinction between architects and designers in Alberta, and when each is the right choice.

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What does an architect cost in Calgary — Anonymous Architecture Field Notes

What Does an Architect Cost in Calgary?

A clear guide to architectural fee structures, typical ranges by project type, and how to compare proposals fairly.

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