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Lateral Office
Founded in 2003 by Mason White and Lola Sheppard, Lateral Office is an experimental design practice responding to the 21st-century minimalism design, using design as a research vehicle to respond to complex questions in the built environment. [2]

Design Philosophy
Mason White and Lola Sheppard started practising and teaching architecture due to the under-valued public spaces being tied to capitalists and corporate interests. The practice arises as a means to practice architecture just like in school, to fearlessly question engagement, design, the philosophy of space and experiences. Both Mason and Lola enjoy teaching as a realm to encourage students to approach architecture in a different mindset, experiencing communities in a firsthand local condition. During their projects and researches, Mason and Lola have developed a set of spatial and programmatic typologies that elevate social and economic practices, and not depend on economic growth. [2]

Awards
Chicago Biennial, 2015 P/A Award, 2013 ACSA Awards, 2012 Raic Award, 2012 Holcim, Gold Award, 2011 ACSA Awards, 2011 Emerging Voices, 2011 Orphan Spaces, 2006 Cornell Lightfield, 2005 Young Architect Award, 2005 Metis Festival, 2005

2017
Many Norths Embodied Energy and Design Imminent Commons Third Coast Atlas JAE: Environments XXL-XS

2016
Brackey #3 Climates: Architecture and the Planetary Imaginary Energy Accounts Airport Landscape Inflection Landscape Architecture Frontiers

2015
New Geographies #7 Topos #92 Landscape Architecture Magazine Beyond Patronage A+T Architecture & Techniques The Walrus: Cities Issue

2014
Project Journal #3 Mark Magazine #48 Metropolis Magazine: November 2014 Kerb Journal #22 Azure Magazine: June 2014

2013
Landscape Futures Architect: Progressice Architecture Awards Kerb Journal #21 OZ Journal: Infrastructure Arquitectura Viva #57

2012
Canadian Architect #57 Food for the City: A Future Metropolis On Site #26: Dirt True North: Contemporary Art of the Circumpolar North DOMUS: Imperfect Health

2011
Praxis #13 Canadian Architect #56 Infrastructure as Architecture: Designing Composite Networks Pamph;et Architecture 30: Coupling GAM #7: Zero Landscape ARQA #96/97

2010
Twenty + Change #1 Twenty + Change #2 La China #10 Canadian Architect 55: Road Trip Architectural Record: Transdisciplinary Design Bracket 1: Architecture, Environment, Digital Culture

2009
LA China #9 Arium: Weather + Architecture New Geographies #1 Fuel

2008
On Site #19: Streets Mark #8 OURTOPIAS Transmaterial #2 Worlds Away MONU #9

2007
C3 HYBRIDS MARK #14 * YYZINE Design Annual Canadian Architect #52

2006
Young Architects #7 Architecture + Urbanism Canadian Architect #57

2005
306090 #9: Regarding Public Space Landscape Architecture [3]

Research Direction
Lateral Office’s take on Arctic Architecture (Canadian, winter architecture) allowed them to uncover a different meaning in design and architecture. For instance, their researches within Iqaluit, Yellowknife and Michipicoten First Nation in Wawa started to change how they work through the knowledge they acquired by the research they gained through their traditional values. [1]

Spatial Milieu, a book Lateral Office is working on explores the role of research as a tool for constructing new narratives for architecture’s environment and the potential of seriality in design thinking, along with the importance of multi-scar thinking. [1]

Thinking of the Architecture Environment as an element of spatial experience, applying the research narrative of Spatial Milieu plays the role of questioning what we deem normal limitations in today's society in design. For instance, the element of spatial use and experience is all inspired within one another, however, the simplest method of redefining these precedents, and introducing a new narrative will introduce a new element of design into the architecture world, creating a new environment.

The element of seriality plays an interesting role in the idea of an Architectural Environment. The post-war production of mechanics and systems improving our daily lives had an artistic element in post-war expression. Whether it is through mass production, producing multiple pieces from one mold, or simply incorporating the innovative lifestyles from these eras have all played a role in the architectural environment then. Unconsciously the mind shifts from one distinctive lifestyle to another vision, thus 10 years from now, we may be living in buildings perfect for self-isolation.

Tying back to Lateral Office and their Multi-Scar Thinking mechanism of teaching young designers about Architecture and the Built Environment create a great medium for studios and architecture curriculums. The element of combining many different thinking mechanisms together, hoping for the student to find a solid middle ground is a great way to encourage young free designers to find themselves and question their surroundings and beings. An example of this teaching mechanism is slightly seen in the Environmental Design program at the Ontario College of Art And Design University, in Toronto. Ontario College of Art and Design University’s Environmental Design program encourages young artists and designers to start designing on a broad spectrum. From classes varying from philosophy to psychology to art history to biology to pottery to metalwork to woodworks, designers are forced to try out many mediums of self-expression. In some cases others find different passions to pursue, but in most cases, every designer graduates with a distinctive style to themselves, and an important touch to the design world through their own style.

Impulse
A project derived to attract people to Montreal's Arts District. A district lacking pedestrian traffic when no events were taking place. Through the idea of Urban Play, the Luminotherapie event and the Impulse installation allowed visitors to engage in this space all year round both in the summer and winter months. [2]

Inspired by the cover of the Joy Division album “Unknown Pleasures” Impulse incorporates both sound and light into the notation of play, creating a design instrument. [2]

Impulse being a design solution to Montreal’s Art District, has also followed this notation of attracting people to Toronto [|Toronto], a city where conventional architecture is more understanding, whereas architecture is more committed to the built environment as a cultural activity in Montreal. [2]

Impulse created versatility to these two cities with great differentiation between design. A uniform ground, a similar solution. Impulse effortlessly livened up quiet streets, attracting more people to the area and encouraging engagements within the neighbourhood. The attraction to Montreal’s Arts District versus livening up Toronto’s Harbourfront, making it a safer place to approach after dawn, a place to release the stress of work, school and commuting. An even ground to be mentally stable and interact with fellow temporary residents within air bnbs.

__________________________________________________________________________________________ [1] “Architects in the Arctic: Work by Mason White's Firm Lateral Office Profiled in the Globe and Mail.” Daniels, August 30, 2016. https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/news/2015/01/09/architects-arctic-work-mason-whites-firm-lateral-office-profiled-globe-and-mail. [2] Baldwin, Eric. “‘Sometimes a Building Is Not Enough’: Lola Sheppard on Architecture as a Cultural Act.” ArchDaily. ArchDaily, December 22, 2020. https://www.archdaily.com/942749/sometimes-a-building-is-not-enough-lola-sheppard-on-architecture-as-a-cultural-act. [3] LATERAL OFFICE. Accessed March 1, 2021. http://lateraloffice.com/filter/Events.