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Paul Raff Studio Architects

Ontario Architect Practice – Architecture Studio Canada: Awards News

post updated 26 March 2024

Paul Raff Studio News

Paul Raff Studio Architects News

11 Dec 2018
Madrigal House, Annex neighbourhood, Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Design: Paul Raff Studio, Architects

photo : Ben Rahn / A-Frame Inc.
Madrigal House in Annex, Downtown Toronto
A carefully restored and improved façade respects the characteristically high Victorian and Edwardian neighbourhood.

27 Nov 2018
Paul Raff Studio Wins Prestigious CODAworx Award

Dec 20, 2017
2017 Highlight: Toronto Gets a Permanent New Sound Sculpture by Paul Raff Studio

Limelight Bandshell, Toronto Sound Sculpture

photo courtesy of architects office

Limelight Bandshell is a permanent public art work recently unveiled in Toronto’s new Lee Lifeson Art Park. The park explores the theme of sound, and is named after Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson who grew up in the neighbourhood and went on to found Canada’s iconic rock band, Rush. Limelight Bandshell takes its name from Rush’s hit song, “Limelight”.

Paul Raff Studio was commissioned by the City of Toronto to collaborate on the park, which saw final completion with the installation of the long-awaited sculpture as a backdrop for the amphitheatre stage.

Limelight Bandshell: Sculpture of Sound, a new, permanent public art work at Toronto’s Lee Lifeson Art Park:
Limelight Bandshell at Lee Lifeson Art Park Film on YouTube

Lee Lifeston Art Park was dedicated in 2016 and now hosts formal and informal performances in its newly completed outdoor venue. Says Paul Raff, “Limelight Bandshell sets the stage for official performances but almost more importantly allows anyone to step into the limelight and project sound; to express themselves, to engage and interact”.

For its design Paul Raff drew on the parabolic shape of the curious “Listening Ears” built off the coast of England in the inter-war period of the 1930s, which helped military guards detect approaching air strikes.

photo courtesy of architects office

Built and installed by Toronto-based custom fabricator Eventscape, Paul Raff’s sculptural interpretation measures 13’ high, 16’ wide and 7’ feet deep (4 x 5 x 2 metres), and consists of five layers of material: steel frame, foam form, fiberglass shell, black glass mosaic tile, and finally an anti-graffiti coating.

“Limelight Bandshell is about creating culture in a fast-growing, maturing city neighbourhood” says Raff, “a unique, iconic landmark part of a renewed civic identity”.

Principal architect Paul Raff explains the idea behind his sound sculpture – Sculpture of Sound:
Sculpture of Sound Film on YouTube

17 Jul 2012

Paul Raff Studio Award News

Paul Raff Studio wins the prestigious Ronald J. Thom Award

The Canada Council for the Arts announced today that Toronto-based architectural firm Paul Raff Studio is the winner of the prestigious Ronald J. Thom Award for Early Design Achievement. Given every two years to an emerging practitioner, this award recognizes outstanding talent in architectural design, and sensitivity to allied arts, crafts, and professions including landscape, interior and furniture design, and decorative and graphic arts.

photograph : Steven Evans

This $10,000 prize acknowledges the Paul Raff Studio practice, which is devoted to creating lyrical and evocative relationships between people and place. Renowned for imaginatively deploying low-cost, locally sourced materials, Raff plays with the energy of the sun, and in doing so, creates meaningful and ecologically sound designs throughout Canada and abroad.

Founding principal Paul Raff first began practice as an artist exploring the effects of the physical environment on one’s experience of inhabitable space. Now in addition to designing buildings, Paul Raff Studio collaborates with other architects, designers, and artists on the design of public and architecturally integrated artworks that push the limits of, and contribute to the field of architecture.

“I am especially touched by this award,” said Raff, “Ron Thom’s poetic designs have been an inspiration to me since I was a teenager. It is an honour to share in his legacy of exploring the artistry of architecture.” “We are honoured to be recognised by expert juries for our artistry, sustainable innovation, and design excellence in architecture. We look forward to continuing to design projects of similar calibre. This is a testament to the positive impact Canadian talent and expertise can have both in Canada and abroad.” Said Raff of his recent accolades.

Founding principal Paul Raff was born in Montreal and spent his childhood primarily in Quebec and Saskatchewan, to which he attributes his interest in landscape and atmosphere. Now based in Toronto, Paul and his firm Paul Raff Studio assist local and international clients create projects where art becomes life.

Their projects include residential, cultural, and commercial architecture, multi-media and public art, private gardens and special features. They are well known for projects such as the multi-award-winning Cascade House, a family residence that unites environmental sustainability with artistic beauty.

Paul Raff Studio has been published internationally, and has been the subject of three television documentaries. Raff and his Studio have won numerous awards such as two Allied Arts Awards for lifetime achievement, one from the Ontario Association of Architects, and the other from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

19 May 2012

Paul Raff Studio – Awards News

Paul Raff Studio Garners International and Local Attention with Four Awards

Architect Paul Raff and his team win two International Property Awards and two Ontario Association of Architects Awards.

Bluepoint Sales Pavilion, Phuket, Thailand:

images from Paul Raff Studio

Of over 800 entries from around the world, Toronto-based architect Paul Raff Studio’s Bluepoint Condos has won two highly coveted International Property Awards. The boutique condominiums in Phuket, Thailand were honoured at the Asia Pacific Property Awards Gala Presentation in Kuala Lumpur with a highly commended accolade for ‘Development Multiple Units – Thailand’ and a five-star achievement for ‘Best Architecture Multiple Residence – Thailand.’

Regina Gateway, Regina, Canada:

image : Troy FleeceStudio

The International Property Awards celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry. An International Property Award is a world-renowned mark of excellence. The awards are split into regions covering Africa, Asia Pacific, Arabia, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, UK and USA. Stuart Shield, president of the International Property Awards noted, “We received a record number of entries for the Asia Pacific region this year and the standard was extremely high. Any company to win one of these awards has shown exceptional levels of professionalism and competence in their respective field.”

Most recently, on Friday, May 11th principal architect Paul Raff was also presented with two prestigious Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) awards in Ottawa at the Celebration of Excellence Awards Ceremony. The OAA Awards are known for “recognizing the innovative skills of Ontario architects in creating spaces, buildings and communities that respect and enhance the environment and enrich human activity.”

Bluepoint Sales Pavilion, Phuket, Thailand:

image : Lee C. Starnes

Paul Raff Studio’s Bluepoint Pavilion was recognized with a Design Excellence award for transforming a prefab box-frame and off-the-shelf planks into an artful, dynamic sales pavilion for Bluepoint Condos. The Studio also won an award in the Artifact category for Regina Gateway, a monumental sculptural public artwork that acts as a gateway into the City of Regina, Canada. The Gateway was designed in collaboration with Jyhling Lee.

Bluepoint Sales Pavilion, Phuket, Thailand:

image : Scott Barker

“We are honoured to be recognised by expert juries for our artistry, sustainable innovation, and design excellence in architecture. We look forward to continuing to design projects of similar calibre. This is a testament to the positive impact Canadian talent and expertise can have both in Canada and abroad.” Said Raff of his recent accolades.

During his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony, Raff reiterated the importance of embracing ‘greener’ designs. “Our strategies for such an unusual ecologically sustainable project include not building on a virgin site, not destroying mature trees, and actually producing more indigenous planting at the end of this project than existed at the beginning.”

“We are also layering roof tops with plants because near the equator the greatest energy consumption and carbon footprint arise from keeping buildings cool. If you have local indigenous species on your roof, not only are you supporting local flora and fauna, you are also shading the building, creating an effective building envelope and improving climatic control.”

Regina Gateway, Regina, Canada:

images from Paul Raff Studio

Paul Raff Studio is a full services architectural and design firm employing experts in architecture, art, and multi-media. The Studio’s collaborative environment is dedicated to creative vision of the highest caliber. Based in Toronto, Paul Raff Studio assists local and international clients in the creation of projects where art becomes life. The Studio consistently produces exceptional work that is thoughtful, evocative, and poetic. Projects and experience range in scale and scope, and include residential, cultural, and commercial architecture, multi-media and public art, brand materials and special features.

Paul Raff is the founding principal of Paul Raff Studio. He is the youngest ever recipient of the Ontario Association of Architects’ Allied Arts Award for lifetime achievement. Raff has also been awarded the Allied Arts Medal by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. He is a frequent guest professor and lecturer at leading universities.

Paul Raff Studio – Key Designs

Key Designs

Louver Façade System

images from Paul Raff Studio

Bluepoint Sales Pavilion
Area: 63 m2
Location: Phuket, Thailand
Status: Built

images from Paul Raff Studio

The Natai
Area: 861 m2 (Phase 1)
2,100 m2 (Phase 2)
Location: Phang Nga, Thailand
Status: In Prograss (Phase 1 Complete)

images from Paul Raff Studio