Woodford Architecture is a design studio located in St.John’s, Newfoundland. The practice works primarily on community, commercial and residential projects across the island and Labrador. Our practice is directed by a focus on creating buildings in context that enhance experience of the natural landscape, and provide effective, useful spaces for our clients and their communities.
Since 2013 the firm has built varied portfolio of innovative context based design work with featured projects in a growing number of local and international publications. Our work includes community centres, private residences, commercial and retail establishments, heritage restoration and adaptive reuse projects, as well as institutional park and recreational facilities. We provide a full range of architectural and interior design services from concept to construction, from initial renderings to final finishes.
Our design work is rooted in the culture and economy of materials in an island condition. As a group, we are committed to using design and research as a tool to celebrate and enhance our communities – framed by context. We are working towards building a body of knowledge about historical and traditional uses of local materials to help inform all of our projects. We see this as a fundamental element of our practice.
Our office does not seek to fixate on the remoteness of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Instead it strives to create spaces and works of all scales that service their communities well. This ultimately entails an appreciation for the varied culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, and an earnest understanding of the complexity of life both on the island and the mainland.
To help form such spaces, and to further resolve the ideas driving their design, we continually seek to find opportunity for experimentation and aesthetic exploration. Ultimately hoping to endorse our vision of balancing social, economic and environmental concerns.
After working on several projects on the island, he headed west to Vancouver BC in 2006 to focus on design, sustainable building, and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. In 2007, Chris began working at the small but recognized firm of Gair Williamson Architects. In 2011, he joined the team at Saunders Architecture in Bergen, Norway working on projects both locally and in Newfoundland.
Chris’s priority in design is to ensure the physical realization of design through craft. He has focused on maintaining a strong working relationship with contractors and builders through a frequent presence on site. Chris has designed and has overseen the completion of several award winning built works.
After studying Visual Art and Art History at Memorial University – Grenfell Campus, Kathy worked for two years as an artist and arts administrator before heading to Vancouver to enter the Master of Architecture program at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in 2015.
Kathy’s interests lay in the study of spatial heritage on the island of Newfoundland, examining the ways in which space has been occupied and defined throughout the history of this place. She is interested in the processes of making and object-based improvisational problem-solving exhibited throughout the province.
While pursuing an engineering degree at MUN, William discovered passion for construction and design of buildings. Graduating in 2018 from Architectural Engineering Technology program at CNA, he started working with Chris shortly after graduation.
While living in Labrador, grew to love the landscape of the province. While in school, this love turned into an appreciation of the islands architecture.
William is currently working towards Bachelors in Technology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He loves to challenge himself, and is always looking for a solution to a problem.
