The Interior Design Show (IDS) is the largest contemporary design fair in Canada with the most influential architects and designers in attendance. For the upcoming show in 2013, the IDS asked a few innovative firms to display their work in a “feature exhibits” area. After only one year in business, Joel Loblaw has been given a rare opportunity to participate in the “How Do You Work?” section. Working in collaboration with blackLAB architects, DUBBLEDAM Architecture + Design, Igloodgn and Samare Studio, Joel will be responsible for creating a landscape component that complements all the architectural structures on display. To see Joel’s inspirational take, visit the IDS from January 24 to 27, 2013.
If the sheer number of empty wine bottles is any indication, the “One-Year Celebration” for Joel Loblaw was a smashing success. Catered by renowned chef Jamie Kennedy, this event brought together friends and coworkers at our office space (shared with AGATHOM Co. and omas). To get on our preferred guest list for next year’s party, just contact us at[email protected]. Great wine, food and people – what more could you want?
Eight years ago we purchased a ten-acre parcel of untouched land just outside of the town of Meaford (in Grey County). Adjacent to the Niagara Escarpment, the property borders the Beaver River Valley and the Big Head Valley. The land is a mix of scrub, wetland and hardwood. Two seasonal creeks join forces in the middle of the property to form Workman’s Creek.
We started out by camping on the property. During our second summer, we built a small bunkie – our home away from home – that was just big enough to keep us dry and warm. In the years since, we have added a road, a small pond and a lot number – finally putting us on the map.
In the coming years, Workman’s Creek will become a kind of laboratory for landscape design and architecture. We see it as a meeting place for like-minded enthusiasts and, of course, a place to try new plantings and lots of other experiments.
We hope you’ll tune into this channel from time to time to see it all happen.
Rockport Publishers were creating a book that showcased the best outdoor living spaces in North America. TitledInside Out, readers were to be given “refreshing ideas and creative examples” for their own homes. When it came to the cover, the publishers had to find a representative image that was both creative and inspirational. From hundreds of stellar exterior shots, they chose a photograph taken of a private Toronto garden with a modern gazebo as its focal point. The designer? Joel Loblaw, of course.
Created by internationally renowned architect Will Alsop, The Sharp Centre for Design (housing OCAD’s Faculty of Design programs) has quickly become a landmark in Toronto. As part of the project, Earth Inc. – with Joel Loblaw acting as primary designer – was recruited to provide a unique landscape design that complemented the strong architectural vision of Alsop and allowed for specific programming (outdoor classes and special events such as Nuit Blanche). In addition, Joel Loblaw was asked to redesign Butterfield Park (located on the campus) with a phased-in approach that would allow a future connection to Grange Park.
Project of Earth Inc., primary designer Joel Loblaw. Photograph by Steven Evans.
It’s true! After a stellar start to the year, we’ve had to expand to meet the demands of our discerning clients. And we’re happy to announce that Emily Hall, a talented graduate of the Landscape Architecture program at the University of Guelph, has joined our ranks. Whether creating innovative outdoor designs, sketching out landscape concepts or getting her hands dirty on one of our new projects, Emily has already proven to be a wonderful addition!
On May 26 and 27, the City of Toronto will be hosting Doors Open. In commemoration of the War of 1812 bicentennial, this year’s theme is 200 Years of Building the Urban City. Of course, AGATHOM Co., Omas and Joel Loblaw are proud to have their historic workspace – the Formerly Building – included in the event. Tucked between two alleyways, this small flat-roofed building has evolved over time, giving rise to its unique and unconventional shape. Feel free to visit – and bring your kids! They can draw, colour and build their own Formerly Building!
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One evening not so long ago, in a part of town that we can’t divulge, a group of us took on a “guerilla beautification project.” Under the cover of darkness, we “redesigned” the existing (and utterly uninspired) outdoor space surrounding a nearby library. Today, people still wonder at the inexplicably changed – and dramatically improved – grounds.
Nexterra has named Joel Loblaw as their landscape design partner. Nexterra uses enlightened construction practices to design and build modern “eco-enclave” communities more sustainably than in the past. With Nexterra’s emphasis on green materials and practices, Joel Loblaw was a natural fit.
With a series of new projects already underway at our two-month-old company, one of the many priorities was to produce branded signage that could be used at all Joel Loblaw worksites. We wanted a solution that telegraphed what we do (designed landscapes) while hinting at our unique approach. We think our “planter signs” provide a tiny oasis ina world where trade signs are typicallyslapped onto plywood hoarding orhastily wired to a frost fence.So far, our clients (and their neighbours) agree! These great planters are available at Fresh Home & Garden
