Post by Forma The Magazine

"You are either winning or learning. Every roadblock is a growth opportunity." That's the mindset behind architect Graham Ouwerkerk's career — one that started not in a design studio, but on a farm in southern Alberta, where his mother's eye for design and his father's hands-on building skills shaped him long before he ever drew a blueprint. At 15, he designed and built his own gazebo and fire pit — the first real proof that if you want to build something, you have to be willing to design it yourself. Today, Ouwerkerk runs his own firm guided by a philosophy he calls "Modern Vernacular" — design that takes its cues from the surrounding environment while staying clean, simple, and true to context. In our latest Blueprint of a Life feature, he opens up about the toughest lessons from his early career, why he presents clients with options rather than opinions when their visions differ, and how some of his best ideas come from prayer, a walk, or simply sleeping on a problem. Looking ahead, his five-year vision is centred on one word: growth — professionally, personally, and spiritually — with his sights set on designing public-facing museum spaces next. Dive into the full story below  🔗 https://lnkd.in/gEUtd7yx #LandscapeArchitecture #ModernVernacular #DesignPhilosophy #SustainableDesign #ArchitectureCommunity #BlueprintOfALife #FormaTheMagazine #Forma #FormaBlueprintofaLife