We would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of the jury members of the TINY HOUSE 2022 Architecture competition.

Todd Saunders is a Norway-based Canadian architect known to infuse his contemporary buildings with an artistic sensibility that is deeply in tune with the uniqueness of northern terrains.

He lectures worldwide and has served as a visiting professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. In addition to his practice, he continues to pursue personal book projects such as SHARE: Conversations about Contemporary Architecture — The Nordic Countries (Artifice, 2022), reflecting his commitment to the wider world of architectural design.

A trans-Atlantic practice, with projects throughout Scandinavia and Europe, as well as across North America, Saunders Architecture is well known for its highly contextual approach and deep-rooted respect for the relationship between its buildings and the natural world.

While retaining its tendency to build individual homes and studios, even on a smaller scale, in recent years the practice has switched to new larger types of buildings, such as residential complexes, hotels, cultural centers, and spas.

Come take a look at what the Jury of Tiny House 2022 has to say about his evaluation process! For the purpose of this interview, he would be referred as TS to responses, however Volume Zero referred as VZ.

TS- Architecture is one of the few professions where science, art, and humanities are combined into one. Architecture is always innovative and always in change and it often reflects the state of society. Also, buildings can shape people in positive ways and open up new opportunities if done really well.

TS- Tiny houses of the future should be more urban-based where we spend part of our time at home and a lot of our time out enjoying the city. The city becomes the library, dining room, etc. The tiny house is just a smaller plug-in space to a more urban place.  

Tiny houses are nice because they delineate the difference between wants and needs. Tiny houses are exactly what you need and not more than that. I think this is a good time for society to question what we really need.

TS- We always try to keep the most important thing, and, in our buildings, the most important thing is the people that use them. The second most important thing is the nature surrounding the building. If you keep these two things front of mind, then you’ll make a good piece of architecture.

TS- It’s hard work. We have a lot of grit, we roll up our sleeves and we stick to it with the belief that what we do contributes to society. It’s not a profession for the faint of heart but, at the same time, it’s very rewarding when it works out well. On good days, we enjoy it and on bad days we still enjoy it but realize it’s hard work.

TS- A visitor center project we are working on right now in Kathadin National Park in Maine (USA) because of the diversity of people and cultures involved and the spectacular location. Also, houses in general are very interesting to work on because you learn a lot about people.  

I didn’t know this at the start of my career but it’s great because you get very close to the family you are designing for as you are working with them on one of the most exciting (and probably most difficult) things of their whole lives. 

I really enjoy that part. I actually enjoyed working on my own house. That was quite a joy even though it was probably the hardest client I’ve ever had (myself) but, at the same time, the one I learned the most from. Learning about yourself during your own design process is shockingly invaluable.  The information you learn doing your own project goes a long, long way.

TS- The most challenging was the Fogo Island projects but they were the most rewarding. I remember a quote “if it was done before everyone else would’ve done it” and I truly believe that. If you want to challenge yourself I compare it to sharpening a pencil. You put the pencil in the sharpener and, If a pencil could feel pain, it’s very painful but the result is sharper and more precise.  

I don’t shy away from challenges or difficult situations or conflict.  If you can go through these things, there’s a big rainbow on the other side.  It’s just a matter of learning how to go through those challenges.  With Fogo Island, there were probably 100 times when a person would’ve given up because of the pressure and challenges but the results were incredible.

TS- I’m looking for two criteria. Firstly, I’m really a fan of smaller urban projects. Not everyone should be doing the work we are doing on these virgin sites. It’s a lot of responsibility. I would like to be doing more urban or semi-urban projects, for example, tiny houses in rural communities. 

Secondly, on a practical level, I’m a big fan of good floor plans. You can make a much better place to live by having a well-organized floor plan. You can shave a lot of fat off it and make it an effective and enjoyable place to live.

TS- There’s a quote from Tolstoy that I wish I knew when I was younger: "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." I think once you realize that it will make you relax because you’re in for the long run. 

When I was younger I was impatient and tried to get more done quicker and faster and that’s not the best path for a good architect. Also, if you really want to make it, you have to know you’re going to have to give up a lot and you have to be prepared and accept that.