Joseph Skaff
THE MAN AND HIS BACKGROUND
INFINITE PASSION FOR ART AND ARCHITECTURE
I began my private practice when I co-founded the Montreal firm of Averna Fafard Parizeau Skaff in 1987. After practicing on my own for 13 years, I joined the firm Martin Marcotte in 2001 to hold the position of senior architect until December 2014. In 2015, I chose to return to private practice.
At the age of four, I was already drawing in three dimensions and I had an extraordinary visual memory. From a young age, my career was already mapped out. I love to create, and I love architecture which I consider a constrained art, but beyond architecture, I practice all kinds of free arts such as painting, sculpture, photography, music. In fact, I often like to take a break and recharge my batteries by playing some scores on my saxophone. In my spare time, I even sketch some cars, boats, or any other industrial design objects. I believe that when you have a painter’s and a sculptor’s eye, architecture becomes much easier.
Throughout my career, I have always favored human relations and good communication channels. I always do my best to make a client happy, not just fulfill their contract.
I have the same attention and enthusiasm whether I am designing a staircase or a twenty-story building. I work with the same vigilance for a project of a few thousand dollars as for a project of several tens of millions.
I have always considered the architect to be a conductor. This conductor has the skills to lead a few musicians or an ensemble of several dozen musicians, depending on the size of the work. The musicians being the architectural specialists such as engineers and other consultants.
I would like to finish on the search for beauty and aestheticism in architecture, subjects for which I have devoted part of my research time for several years. Who knows, maybe one day I will have the time to put on paper my own reflections of the man and his journey.
THE EXPERIENCE
OVER 35 YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION TO ARCHITECTURE
The firm was launched in 2015 in the continuity of a long career rich with the realization of hundreds of construction projects in all sectors: residential, commercial, institutional or corporate. She has a proven track record of completing mandates for projects of all budgets, and has managed to maintain an excellent relationship with her clients.
In a context where the environment and climate change are at the center of planetary concerns, the firm encourages bioclimatic and passive solar architecture and has all the knowledge to apply them.
The firm also devotes a great deal of time to aesthetic research in architecture, in order to create projects that are functional, efficient, elegant, and fully integrated into their environment.
She strives to excel in her services by respecting budgets and deadlines, and by involving clients in the search for optimal solutions that meet their expectations.
ART AT THE SERVICE OF TECHNOLOGY
THE BEAUTY IS IN THE DETAILS
Architecture without technology would be like a body without a skeleton. In architecture, there is Art. But not only that, there is also a lot of technology. And Art must serve technology to make it more aesthetic. That’s why the details are very important to us and must give shape to the concept. The beauty of architecture comes from the aesthetics of its details.
VISION
DARING, CREATING, PROMOTING EXCELLENCE
You must always dare and push the limits of creativity. Our vision has always been to think outside the box and come up with ideas beyond the client’s expectations sometimes. We believe that it does not necessarily cost more to create beautiful architecture.
Technical challenges are often a source of innovation and fuel creativity. When creating, one must dare and innovate while controlling the risks.
THE STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT
OUR FAVORITE PROJECT IS THE NEXT
The success of any creative project, no matter how big or small, depends on the passion we invest in finding solutions that meet the expectations of our clients and their vision. In all of his projects, Joseph Skaff has been able to involve the client by working in partnership with them to achieve the desired objectives. This is what defines the man and his career.