WWW.KOLLECTIF.NET :: Architecturally Informed

Born on July 2006, Kollectif emerges from a simple question: what would be the ideal Quebec based architecture website? It’s in trying to answer that question that the idea of building a website gathering lectures, vernissages and exhibits all in one place took form. And why not add a directory of the best pratices in the province, a job section and a few articles on what’s happening in the other design spheres? Blessed with a great network of contacts built over the years, Kollectif took it upon itself to facilitate communication within the architectural community and to regroup under one roof, articles pertaining to design, construction, theory and the profession. Does the site answer the initial question? Well, it’s the goal that it’s constantly striving to reach!

In partnership with the Design Montreal Bureau of the City of Montreal, the Kollectif website is also in contact with these associations and organizations:

Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA)

Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ)

Royal Architecture Institut of Canada (RAIC)

École d’architecture de l’Université de Montréal

McGill School of Architecture

École d’architecture de l’Université Laval

Centre de design de l’UQAM

Conseil de l’enveloppe du bâtiment du Québec (CEBQ)

Galerie d’architecture MONOPOLI

The Quebec Chapter of the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC)

Construction Specifications Canada (CSC)

For articles dating from July 2006 to January 2008, you can visit the previous versions of the site at www.kollectif.wordpress.com.

Finally, here are some stats as of February 21 2008: right now, more than 5000 pages are viewed on a weekly basis. Since July 2006, more than 800 articles were published and classified in 42 different categories. The most popular section? Jobs!

Thank you and have a great visit,

Martin Houle, m.arch., Director/Founder

P.S.: Should you have any questions, suggestions or commentaries, please send them to info@kollectif.net. Photo credit: Pierre Bélanger.

Note: Martin Houle was President of the “Regroupement des Étudiants en Architecture (RÉA)” from 1998 to 2000 incl., founding member and first Director of the Canadian Architecture Student Association (CASA) from 1999 to 2000 incl., laureate of the “Amis de l’école d’archicture de l’Université de Montréal” scholarship in 2001, Vice-president of the “Association des Stagiaires en Architecture du Québec (ASAQ)” from 2003 to 2005 incl., member of the project committee of the “Institut de Design Montréal (IDM)” since 2003, member of the jury for the “Prix de la Relève de l’IDM” in 2005 and 2006 and invited critic at the École d’architecture de l’Université de Montréal. He worked for 5 years in an architecture firm, then did a brief but enriching jump in a public relations agency specialized in architecture, design and the arts before returning to his first love, the built art form.