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6 | DECEMBER 2019 Linebox Studio PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN VAN LEEUWEN Linebox Studio creates great design that reflects a client's character by NATALIE BRUCKNER | photography courtesy LINEBOX STUDIO L inebox Studio is the epitome of the phrase, mighty oaks from little acorns grow. What started in 2007 as a business in the mud room of founder Andrew Reeves's home in the Toronto Beaches neighbourhood has grown into a globally recognized and collaborative architecture studio with 30 staff in three cities, working on all kinds of project, from residential to commercial. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Reeves knew from a young age that he wanted to be an architect and so, after graduating from Carleton University with a Masters in Architecture he went on to work with a number of high-profile architecture firms in Toronto and Ottawa. It was during that time that he learned the importance of creating designs that would both reflect and reveal a client's true character. He understood that archi- tecture was about more than form, and instead, what he describes as "Quality of Space" – a notion that great design is never just about one thing. "To get the maximum possible quality in a space, many elements must come together and be perfectly balanced. These elements include aspects such as light, acoustics/sound, air, materials, context, function, personality, and sustainability," explains Reeves. With this philosophy at the heart of Linebox, Reeves saw the business organi- cally evolve as they took on even more diverse projects. The turning point for the business, however, came in 2014 when Linebox won the bid to design the interior of Shopify's first headquarters in Ottawa. "This project was a huge undertaking and something we hadn't done before, but we rose to the challenge," explains Reeves. And rise they did. So much so that Linebox went on to not only form a long-standing relationship with Shopify, but also attract a plethora of other commercial work. "In the process of working on larger commercial projects, we developed a series of mantras that speak to embracing change, accepting challenge, staying curious, pushing new ideas, and not fearing failure," explains Reeves. "All of these create an environment that is very conducive for learning, developing, and grow- ing – we're always looking for the next cool thing." One of those "cool things" was Linebox's involvement with the Tiny House movement, before the movement officially began. A request from a client who is dedicated to true minimalism led to the design of the Mini House in Toronto – a 566-square-foot home that has been squeezed into a 14-foot-wide lot along a Toronto street that was originally developed for worker housing in the 1880s. "It was a very cool project to work on," explains Reeves. "We had to question everything in the space and it challenged every notion of what was needed in a dwelling." The double-height structure, clad in concrete and Galvalume, "is totally green by scale," says Reeves. "It's rare to be able to design a space around someone will- ing to go that stripped down and minimalist, with very raw materials. We're very proud of the end result." & HEARTSOUL

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