We are happy to announce that the winner of the last month's JMA Architectural Scavenger Hunt is..... Kim Lane, who was the first to identify the January clue: The Blacksmith Shop at Doon Heritage Village, located at 10 Huron Road, Kitchener. A bit about the Doon Blacksmith Shop: Doon Heritage Village showcases what a small town in this area would have been like in 1914. The inspiration for this small building was the Valentine Gies Blacksmith Shop, built around 1894 and originally located in Conestogo, Waterloo County.   The requirements for the Blacksmith Shop made its design particularly fun. It was completed in 2004, but it had to look as if it was a 20 year old building in 1914. In clos… Read more ...
July 02, 2024
In the world of architecture, there are many specific and technical terms. As a fun office exercise, we recently started an internal Word of the Day, where a different JMA staff member is invited to share a definition with the office every day, before nominating a colleague to contribute the next day’s definition. We just thought we’d share some of the words that have come up so far: Pastiche: an artistic work in a style (or styles) that imitates that of another work, artist, or period. [Google Dictionary]   Fanlight: A window over the door that is curved or shaped like a fan is called a fanlight. A transom is the rectangular version of the fanlight. [OntarioArchitecture.com]   Examples: http://www.ontarioarchitecture.com/FANLIGHT.HTM … Read more ...
February 09, 2024
With utility costs, pollution, and water consumption on the continuous rise, the task to improve the environment and lower utilities costs is often on the minds of many homeowners. While a net zero home may not be an option for everyone, there are some simple improvements and upgrades you can make to achieve a greener, cheaper home at any price point.   Rainwater Barrels – Collect free water using a rainwater barrel. At an average cost of $100, a barrel will pay for itself in 5 years, saving you about $20 a year on your water and sewer costs, depending on the size you select. Rainwater has many uses including, plant and grass watering, car and window cleaning, and all sorts of other outdoor jobs and cleanups. Many municipalities offer rainwater bar… Read more ...

What people are saying:

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Scott | August 02, 2023
Thanks Nolan. If you can think of anything to add to the list, we'd be interested to hear from you.
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Nolan Bentley | August 01, 2023
I am going measuring tomorrow so this is a timely reflection :-) thx!