Ladies and gentlemen, it is our pleasure to introduce you to Future Talks by RTF, a platform where pioneers of the design industry share their experiences and insights, shedding light on the evolution and soul of design.
From the inception of innovative educational programs, such as Architects in Schools and Architects in the Community, to the founding of Sustainable Architecture and Building Magazine (SABMag), Jim Taggart, as a pioneer, has left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape. Their work has not only championed sustainable architecture but also recognized and celebrated those who have pushed the boundaries in the pursuit of eco-conscious design.
Beyond his editorial and educational endeavors, this visionary has also contributed significantly to architectural pedagogy, teaching courses in history, theory, sustainability, and wood design. Their passion for exploring the duality in Canadian architecture, the juxtaposition of small wooden structures and large, complex edifices, has led to groundbreaking research and publications.
As we embark on this enlightening conversation with Jim Taggart, we discover the driving force behind this architect’s dedication to fostering a more just, equitable, and sustainable world, all in the hope of leaving a legacy for future generations. Join us as we explore the transformative power of architecture and urban design as social arts and instruments of cultural change.
As said by Jim Taggart– “I believe that architecture and urban design are first and foremost social arts, and their influence on human actions and interactions is both profound and inescapable. For the most part, the built form of our cities reflects the priorities and preoccupations of the societies that created them. At its best however, the work of architects and urban designers can also be a catalyst for cultural change, synthesizing emerging social values and weaving critical new strands into the urban fabric.”
Tell us about your journey so far. What’s your background like and how did you venture into journalism and media?
Jim: I studied architecture at the university of Sheffield in the UK and emigrated to Canada when I graduated in 1981. I spent most of the next five years working on the Expo ’86 World’s Fair in Vancouver, as a conceptual designer, site planner, architect and construction coordinator. I then spent a few years in practice with Busby + Associates (which later merged with Perkins+Will). At the time, I assumed my career would unfold as a practitioner as many others have. However, in 1990, I was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition and within two years had lost my central vision, and with that, the ability to drive and to read books and drawings. Not wanting to lose touch with architecture, I drew on my abilities as a communicator and embarked on a new career, as a writer, editor and educator.
Tell us about SABMag
Jim: As a writer, I began contributing to Wood Design and Building Magazine, working closely with editor Don Griffith. In 2005, Don left the magazine, but wanted to stay in publishing. Together we conceived SABMag, which was launched in 2006. I wanted it to be a ‘How To’ magazine that would focus on completed projects in Canada. This reflected my preference for the UK Architects’ Journal, the more practical and process oriented companion to the internationally known Architectural review. This is why we feature construction details wherever possible and focus on the challenges and opportunities that projects address. We also wanted to include practice and technical articles that would help readers stay current with the rapidly evolving design and construction industry.
What are The Canadian Green Building Awards?
Jim: This is an annual awards program for completed Canadian projects. Its criteria reflect my own broad interpretation of what sustainability is – not simply the successful application of high performance, energy saving and other ‘hardware’; but also the ‘software’ of community connection, equity, inclusion, health & wellbeing etc. We were well ahead of the game when the awards were launched in 2008, and although most people now embrace a much broader definition of sustainability, I believe our awards are the most rigorous of their kind in the country.
What does your day as an editor at SABMag look like?
Jim: SABMag is a very small enterprise; with only the publisher and graphic designer (who also work on other trade and technical publications) being full time. SABMag is a quarterly publication, so my editorial duties for each issue are spread over three months. I receive and review press releases and news items every day; filing those that are of interest for a future issue of the magazine.
How do you source content for the magazine?
Jim: Do you have monthly themes for content on SABMag? Jim: We are a quarterly publication, with one issue dedicated to our annual award winners and another to Passive House certified projects. This does not leave much space for setting themes, so these tend to emerge as we plan the intervening issues. We also keep in mind the need to balance geographic location, building types and other factors.
How do you pick content for features on SABMag?
Jim: This is partly my intuition, or my exposure to a new or evolving issue that I personally want to explore in greater depth and share with my readers. Project profiles are most often drawn from the multitude of buildings submitted to the Canadian Green Building Awards each year.
What are the most common challenges that you face while dealing with architects and PR firms regarding stories?
Jim: I can’t think of any recurring problems; I work very collaboratively with the project teams or the authors of record, often helping them present or contextualize their work in a way they had not anticipated.
What time do you prefer to receive pitches?
Jim: No preference, I do not have a specific time at which I review potential SABMag content each day.
What does the ideal pitch look like?
Jim: I prefer those that don’t oversell the content with inappropriate or unjustifiable superlatives.
Do you think following up with journalists on a pitch is right? If so, what should be the
Frequency.
Jim: I am happy to get reminders, as the Inbox does fill up quickly. Twice is fine.
If there was one thing that you could change about the world of journalism, what would that be?
Jim: My experience has been very positive. Thanks to my long and positive relationship with my publisher Don Griffith, I have almost complete control over the editorial content, so can seek input from anyone I believe has something interesting or important to say.
What are your key pieces of advice for young designers wanting to venture into journalism?
Jim: Given the unexpected and unusual path I took, I have no real advice to offer.
What is the skill set one must possess to get into the world of publishing and media?
Jim: Again, it is hard for me to day – I am driven by a genuine interest and curiosity about architecture and building; not so much the iconic, high budget projects, but the ones that help improve the day to day life of ordinary people.
What is your motivation and what keeps you going?
Jim: See my answer to question 14 above. We are in a period of time where the work we do as architects can profoundly help in the mitigation of climate change – this is all the motivation I need.
