- Story by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe

From a very young age, architecture was one of Duane EnsingB次元官网网址檚 passions, but he took a meandering path through visual arts, sculpture and landscape design before integrating house design into his professional life, joining Villamar Design six years ago and launching the design department.

B次元官网网址淎s a kid, I used to draw houses and build homes with Lego,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淎nd IB次元官网网址檝e always been interested in the arts. I painted, explored creative expression and played music as a kid, and my mom was an artist and creator.B次元官网网址�

Duane, who moved to Victoria from Vancouver with his family in 1985, achieved an honours degree in visual arts at UVic, focusing on drawing, photography and sculpture, before entering into a career as a landscape designer.

B次元官网网址淚 did landscape design for a very long time, and I knew some of the people who worked [at Villamar],B次元官网网址� he says.

When Villimar offered him a job, he decided to make the change.

B次元官网网址淚 started with project management, and when working there, I thought, you know, we need a design firm here.B次元官网网址�

Duane quickly helped establish an in-house design department, which grew rapidly into a small team of talented people and gave Duane the space to flex his creative muscles in a new way.

B次元官网网址淓verything I do is art,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淢y landscapes are sculptures; [IB次元官网网址檓] designing it in a way that has interest and colour and texture. YouB次元官网网址檙e creating something new. ItB次元官网网址檚 similar with house design. TheyB次元官网网址檙e these sculptural pieces with form and function and level changes.B次元官网网址�

Having that artistic background has perhaps given him the ability to have a slightly off-centre perspective as well, and see challenges in a different light.

B次元官网网址淚 feel as an artist or a creative person, I like to leave my mind open to the possibilities of doing something, even exploring things that I donB次元官网网址檛 even know whether we can do it, but saying, letB次元官网网址檚 explore the possibility.B次元官网网址�

He adds, B次元官网网址淲hat my hope and dream is with every custom home is to have something that really meets your needsB次元官网网址攚hile having a few extra cool things you could doB次元官网网址攖urning your home into a place thatB次元官网网址檚 an extension of your personality.

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Leonardo da Vinci and Will Smith. Leonardo da Vinci because he was intelligent and quite skilled. He was multi-faceted: a painter, draftsman, sculptor, architect and engineerB次元官网网址攁nd really just seemed like the problem solver of all problem solvers. And Will Smith because heB次元官网网址檚 a pretty down-to-earth soul, but also very accomplished in several fields, and still a family man. He cares about people and from what I see and read, in front of all his adventures, he still maintains a fairly balanced life. Two very successful people with ambition, creativity, balance and adventure.

Gluttony:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

IB次元官网网址檓 a sugar addict, followed by big salty cravings. Given the choice though, IB次元官网网址檇 probably make home-made pizza my B次元官网网址渞eturn-toB次元官网网址� food. I find pizza so inventive and creative in taste (for both salty and sweet). Favourite pizza so far: onion, garlic, peanut butter, honey, soy sauce, cayenne, bell peppers, potato and chicken. Potato, you say? Umm, oh yeah.

Greed:

YouB次元官网网址檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

Small condos in multiple places like Greece, Italy, Norway, Peru and Kathmandu. Each of these places would give me a base from which to explore the surrounding areas. Hiking, mountain biking, city life and beachesB次元官网网址�

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

Poor spelling. I have this thing that really sets me off and makes me question everything about you when I see misspelled words. And donB次元官网网址檛 even think about getting me going with the left lane drivers. Ugh. IB次元官网网址檓 feeling a serious blood boil coming on.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

The first thought going through my head was Bora Bora. Do they even have any land there or just cabins that float over the water? And who cares about WiFi; give me some books and a relaxing seat or bed. I can feel the relaxation starting right now! Next best spot to do nothing is overlooking the ocean at Ucluelet or Tofino.

Pride:

What is the one thing youB次元官网网址檙e secretly proud of?

Having multiple simultaneous career paths. Having completed a BFA in visual arts, IB次元官网网址檓 happy to say I have had a couple fun and creative pastimes (jobs?) creating art and developing interior and exterior spaces for some pretty fine folks.

Lust:

What makes your heart beat faster?

Stairs and mountain biking. Not necessarily in that order. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of things that make a home and a landscape better and stairs are a super important factor. I like to think outside the box and I have a growing portfolio and collection of B次元官网网址渟tair pornB次元官网网址� that continues to inspire new ways to connect spaces in a cool or more interesting way. And with mountain biking, IB次元官网网址檒l simply say that most of the trips and vacations I take involve bikingB次元官网网址攁nd where we go means IB次元官网网址檓 exploring new trails and finding new adventures. Who wouldnB次元官网网址檛 want that?

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Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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