Since our first collaboration on Latitude and Brio at Collingwood Village, completed in 2005, Concert Properties has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with Foad Rafii, principal of RAFII ARCHITECTS INC. Since then, we have worked together on several landmark projects. These include The Creek, our most recently completed master-planned community featuring Voda, Navio and TESORO, as well as our second master-planned community in Coquitlam, which is currently in the phase one planning stage. This enduring relationship, built on shared values and a commitment to quality, integrity and service excellence, has been a cornerstone of our success.
In a 2001 article by the Vancouver Sun, Foad was named one of the “ten architects who shaped the Vancouver of today.” Over 20 years later, Foad’s influence continues to be felt in and beyond Vancouver, having designed nearly 50 buildings and significantly transforming the architectural landscape of the region.
We recently sat down with Foad to discuss his 40+ year career, design philosophy and the creative processes behind his iconic developments.
What is your design philosophy?
We design projects from the inside out, focusing on functionality first. I put myself inside the home and see how it functions. To me, function is way more important than anything else. The embellishment comes after the livability of the space. Many architects seek recognition from their peers and the industry. To me, a project is successful when three parties are satisfied: myself, my client and the end user. If all three are happy, I consider it a job well done. This philosophy has always guided my work.
Where do you find inspiration?
I travel a lot and have done so throughout my career and have visited more than 60 countries across five continents. I think it is important to keep your mind open and not get so focused on one approach. I also read a lot of magazines and books and really try to keep myself up to date on what’s happening in the world.
How has Vancouver architecture evolved?
When I arrived in Vancouver 40 years ago, it was a very small city and I’m glad to have seen how it has developed. Over these years, the trend known as “Vancouverism,”—[characterized by a high-density mix of residential and commercial buildings, extensive green spaces and a strong emphasis on public transit and walkability]—became a world-wide phenomenon. I am proud to have contributed to that movement.
In recent years, the trend has shifted to focus more on a unique aesthetic over the functionality of the building. While people in the architectural field may think “wow, this is great”, there may be a different response from the people who live in the building. I believe it’s important to consider the functionality and the satisfaction of those who use the buildings first.
In April 2024, residents began moving into TESORO which is a striking new building on the edge of False Creek. What are your favourite features of the building?
I love the amenities at TESORO, which were designed in collaboration with the team at Concert Properties. For a residential building of that size in Vancouver, the amenities that we have provided are unbelievable—just fantastic and I’m really proud of how the entire building came together.
What is your vision for our future Coquitlam master-planned community?
This is a huge project aimed at providing a wide variety of housing options while maintaining architectural distinction. We focused on creating functional floorplans that offer a variety of homes from micro suites in the rental buildings to more spacious homes for larger families. We also focused on an amenity building with childcare and recreational facilities for the whole neighbourhood of six towers that brings the community together. We really love the fact that Concert Properties is so deeply involved in creating spaces that build community.
What do you enjoy most about working with Concert Properties?
It is my strong belief that architecture is collaborative. Successful projects start and finish with collaboration between the client, architect, design team and builders. We have worked with Concert Properties on multiple projects for more than 20 years and they are our favourite client because they also align with this approach. The fact that every person that we have worked with at the company has been a great person is amazing. My staff always say, “how does Concert Properties hire all these great people?”
The Concert Properties motto is “building a people-first future” and we really see that in action—it is not just a sentence, and we work to ensure that our projects follow that model.