RAIC Statement On The Housing Design Catalogue Initiative

January 18, 2024

Dear Minister Fraser, Minister Guilbeault and Minister Sudds,

We are writing to you on behalf of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) to thank you for including our organization in the consultation process related to the recently announced housing design catalogue initiative. We will be meeting with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation next week and will be sharing our perspectives and recommendations.

While we acknowledge and appreciate the government’s intention to expedite construction processes, we wish to draw attention to the potential challenges associated with extending this strategy to multi-family buildings, particularly without the active involvement of Canada’s architectural profession as a key stakeholder in such a plan.

The RAIC and its membership recognize the significance of the built environment in shaping the social, cultural, and physical well-being of our nation and its citizens. The architectural profession is dedicated to designing buildings to the highest standards of quality, tailored to the unique environmental, technical, social, and cultural considerations of each region, but perhaps what is not well understood is that this is only half of the design equation. Equally important is to consider the holistic design process including the orientation of buildings, their relationship to immediate surroundings, the spaces between buildings, and their impact on neighbourhoods. These are all critical factors for the long-term success of individual developments and the collective well-being of cities nationwide.

Furthermore, Canada’s built environment serves as a lasting legacy, defining our national identity both domestically and internationally. In light of the current global environmental challenges, it is imperative that larger structures endure, not only through robust materials and careful design, but also through site-specific considerations that may be challenging to achieve through a one-size-fits-all approach that may be led by profit-driven development entities.

We firmly believe that architects can contribute invaluable expertise to address these challenges. We applaud the Minister’s plan to conduct consultations on the housing design catalogue initiative and are prepared to engage in the consultation process. Our organization is ready and willing to collaborate and offer our insights to facilitate meaningful discussions on this matter. The government will directly benefit with active engagement of the architectural profession and leverage the expertise of Canada’s leading design professionals in advancing these crucial discussions.

The enduring legacy of our nation’s built environment and the well-being of its citizens are paramount considerations that should not be taken lightly. We commend the federal government’s ongoing efforts to address the national housing affordability crisis and would be honoured to support your endeavours in this regard.

We look forward to the opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue on this matter and remain at your disposal for any further information or clarification.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

Yours sincerely,