Whether muted or vibrant, graphic or gradated, well-crafted area rugs can amp up the style and personality in any room, while also adding a layer of luxurious softness underfoot. Here, five modern rugs that boast individual charm, inviting texture and incredible warmth.  1 Archiscape Collection by BOMAT Archiscape Gabi in Burnt Brick Translating specific architectural building elements – the lines and textures of brick, tiles and mortar – into the language of weaving methods – warp, weft and pile – the Archiscape collection from Belgian brand BOMAT introduces calming soft surfaces ..read more

Ever since the pandemic left many office buildings empty, cities have grappled with how to revitalize business districts decimated by record-high vacancy rates. Coupled with the ongoing housing crisis, the answer seemed like a no-brainer: turn the offices into housing. Of course, it wasn’t that simple. The logistical challenges, cost and complexity of these renovations have induced well-founded skepticism in commercial to residential conversions. Yet with the right building — and the right firm — it’s not only possible, but the results can be even more remarkable than a new build. Roco, a ..read more

Groupe MONTONI boasts a portfolio of over 700 completed projects. Across Quebec, the company has built wide range of industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential properties, accounting for nearly 300,000 square metres of space throughout the province, with nearly as much still in the pipeline. When it came time to design a new head office, the company sought to celebrate the process of construction (and development) itself — but within a sleek, comfortable, and coherent space. For local designers Sid Lee Architecture (SLA), it presented for a creative challenge. Situated in Laval (a ..read more

If architecture suffers a chronic crisis of public relevance, spare a thought for architectural theory. Designers may bemoan a lack of civic presence, but their work, at least, forms part of the evolving built fabric — if not the cultural landscape. And while most of our country’s 41 million residents would likely struggle to name a single practicing Canadian architect, the discipline’s academics and theorists are even further removed from the public eye. David Fortin is an exception. A Professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture and a practicing architect, David Fortin is ..read more

Each spring, Milan Design Week sets the industry agenda for the year ahead. Packing no shortage of product launches, personalities and parties into a busy seven-day stretch, the city’s signature furniture fair (Salone del Mobile) and complementary lineup of offsite events (collectively dubbed Fuorisalone) introduce nascent colour and material trends while also prompting deeper reflection about the big overarching themes of the moment. As we plot our itinerary for the 2024 edition of Milan Design Week, we’re already picking up on a few major standouts set to leave a lasting impression long afte ..read more

What is a cultural space meant to be in the 21st century? It’s a question that arts organizations perennially ask themselves while trying to conjure exciting answers. When it comes to replacing an existing venue, the emphasis is often on making the new facility more accessible to the public than its predecessor. Whereas art institutions of the past often felt exclusive, our evolving cultural infrastructure is defined by eliminating barriers, both physical and symbolic. And that also means being inclusive of a more diverse range of artists and genres. In the case of the art gallery, this might ..read more

When it comes to interiors, the big design moves typically garner the most attention. Indeed, inventive architectural forms, bold colours or tactile textures can set the tone for a room. Though often overlooked, more granular details, like hardware, also go a long way in adding hints of personality while working to make spaces more functional. Below, we’ve rounded up five collections that exemplify this very ethos. 1 Peak Lever by Colombo Design America Peak Lever In conceiving the Peak Lever collection for Colombo Design America, Patrick Jouin took inspiration from nature — namely, the un ..read more

The iconic – and iconoclastic – New York–based Italian designer, architect and artist Gaetano Pesce has died at the age of 84. From his playful furniture to bold experiments in resin, the irreverent innovator was actively creating until the end: In 2022, he made us all fall in love with him all over again when Bottega Veneta displayed his crayon-hued chairs in its Spring/Summer 2023 runway show. For all of us at Azure, Pesce was also part of our history. In 2010, he designed a characteristically playful series of “fishes” to celebrate our 25th anniversary. And six years later, he joined u ..read more

In the northwest corner of Czechia, the town of Aš may be home to just under 13,000 people, but it has a long and turbulent history. Part of the larger panhandle of the same name, surrounded by Germany on three sides, it became a locus of turmoil due to its complex geopolitical situation. The town was home to Konrad Henlein, head of the Sudeten German Party, whose pro-Nazi stance caused much of the Czech population to flee in the late 1930s. After World War II, the Germans were then expelled, marking a 40-year period of isolation that coincided with the rise of communism. Located just a few me ..read more

Few spaces embody the frenetic pace of 21st century travel as forcefully as the international departures lounge at Terminal 1 of Pearson International Airport. At the locus of Canada’s busiest hub, amidst the crowds, lines, gate changes, and luggage, the elemental presence of Titled Spheres emerges from the tile floor, as if out of geological time. Stepping inside the curved steel walls, the terminal din is modulated into a soft, intimate soundscape. Depending on where you stand, you might hear a fellow traveller’s whisper in your ear from across the hall. It is a moment of escape without esca ..read more