![](\"http:\/\/24.media.tumblr.com\/tumblr_lxi7ihtKcx1qhqjv8o1_500.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/24.media.tumblr.com\/tumblr_lxi7ihtKcx1qhqjv8o2_500.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/27.media.tumblr.com\/tumblr_lxi7ihtKcx1qhqjv8o3_500.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/30.media.tumblr.com\/tumblr_lxi7ihtKcx1qhqjv8o4_500.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
happy 2012 and welcome back to the ZINC sense<\/em> blog.\u00a0 we’re going to kick the year off right now with the january project(s) of the month:\u00a0 frozen music<\/em>-the stephen hawking centre at the perimeter institute for theoretical physics.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n if you are ever in toronto, ontario, with a day to kill, you may want to drive to the community of waterloo.\u00a0 there is plenty to see (and do) in toronto, but waterloo may take you on a visual journey that is rare in an age where communities everywhere are trying their hand at the\u00a0architectural-icon-as-attraction-idea<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n once in waterloo, drive\u00a0to the centre, located\u00a0along the banks\u00a0of\u00a0a meandering river- specifically\u00a0at 31 caroline street north.\u00a0 it will take you a little while\u00a0to get there from toronto (depending on your driving habits), but the drive will be worth it if you would like to see not one, but two incredible buildings connected by the talents of two amazing firms.<\/p>\n the arch daily website has an incredible spread on the first part of this building.\u00a0 it was designed\u00a0by the powerhouse firm saucier and perrotte architects.\u00a0 (http:\/\/www.saucierperrotte.com\/<\/a><\/a>\u00a0and the arch daily link is located at: http:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/12293\/perimeter-institute-for-theoretical-physics-saucier-perrotte-architectes\/<\/a><\/a>). the design sensibility is pure mastery of form followed by striking details -all rendered with the rarest of architectural qualities; restraint.\u00a0 not to oversell this firm, but saucier and perrotte have this touch that lies somewhere between poetic massing that approaches the monolithic, and a dozen Dixon Ticonderoga # 2 pencils.\u00a0<\/p>\n teeple architects designed the second part of the centre.\u00a0 do yourself a favor and check out the washed out image of the centre on their site at \u00a0http:\/\/www.teeplearch.com\/<\/a><\/a>.\u00a0 the images above are of the teeple addition to the perimeter institute.\u00a0\u00a0all four are\u00a0from old vm friend, gilbertson photography.\u00a0 (www.gilbertsonphotography.com<\/a><\/a>)\u00a0 the panels are flatlock panels in quartz zinc, and were installed by the craftspeople at flynn canada.\u00a0 (www.flynn.ca<\/a><\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n whereas saucier and perrotte celebrate the\u00a0work in a quiet manner, teeple architects also celebrate the detail -the normally quiet or the small moves, if you will,\u00a0within the larger massing of the addition.\u00a0 only they do it with the exuberance of a howitzer.\u00a0 everywhere one looks at this addition, the joy, the simplicity of the moves, is celebrated and served in suprise after closer-inspection-surprise.\u00a0 the joy is in the looking.\u00a0 and then looking again.\u00a0 the lines invite the eyes to explore, move, dance, twist, jump, and finally rest.\u00a0 what could have easily been a heavy, heavy hand has managed to recognize the significant, and has given it form.<\/p>\n we can, and probably should, go on and on and on about all of the other cool people and cool details involved with and in\u00a0this project.\u00a0\u00a0all of that\u00a0and the work of the institute, and the teaching that takes place there, and the mood and vibe of the intellect that oozes out of every corner and crevice of the centre.\u00a0 we could talk about the history of the institute and how it is indirectly tied to the pioneers of the smart phone.\u00a0 we could talk about all of that and more.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0but we won’t.\u00a0<\/em> at least not during this initial design salvo shooting across a northern sky.\u00a0 instead, we invite you to drive up there and stop and look for yourself.\u00a0 perhaps call in advance.\u00a0 why?<\/p>\n because this is a building composed of two buildings.\u00a0 forgive the weak poetic license and the waxing poetic, this building (these buildings) bring it out -in droves.\u00a0 like the ying and yang, or any other symbol that has a visual balance, the two parts of the centre work together while maintaining their own identities.\u00a0all of that and because it is worth it.\u00a0<\/p>\n enjoy. -vm<\/p>\n