- Story by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe

From a very young age, architecture was one of Duane Ensing害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淎s a kid, I used to draw houses and build homes with Lego,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淎nd I害羞草研究所檝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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 did landscape design for a very long time, and I knew some of the people who worked [at Villamar],害羞草研究所� he says.

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

害羞草研究所淚 started with project management, and when working there, I thought, you know, we need a design firm here.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淓verything I do is art,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淢y landscapes are sculptures; [I害羞草研究所檓] designing it in a way that has interest and colour and texture. You害羞草研究所檙e creating something new. It害羞草研究所檚 similar with house design. They害羞草研究所檙e these sculptural pieces with form and function and level changes.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 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 don害羞草研究所檛 even know whether we can do it, but saying, let害羞草研究所檚 explore the possibility.害羞草研究所�

He adds, 害羞草研究所淲hat my hope and dream is with every custom home is to have something that really meets your needs害羞草研究所攚hile having a few extra cool things you could do害羞草研究所攖urning your home into a place that害羞草研究所檚 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 engineer害羞草研究所攁nd really just seemed like the problem solver of all problem solvers. And Will Smith because he害羞草研究所檚 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?

I害羞草研究所檓 a sugar addict, followed by big salty cravings. Given the choice though, I害羞草研究所檇 probably make home-made pizza my 害羞草研究所渞eturn-to害羞草研究所� 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:

You害羞草研究所檙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 beaches害羞草研究所�

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 don害羞草研究所檛 even think about getting me going with the left lane drivers. Ugh. I害羞草研究所檓 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 you害羞草研究所檙e secretly proud of?

Having multiple simultaneous career paths. Having completed a BFA in visual arts, I害羞草研究所檓 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. There害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渟tair porn害羞草研究所� that continues to inspire new ways to connect spaces in a cool or more interesting way. And with mountain biking, I害羞草研究所檒l simply say that most of the trips and vacations I take involve biking害羞草研究所攁nd where we go means I害羞草研究所檓 exploring new trails and finding new adventures. Who wouldn害羞草研究所檛 want that?

You can find

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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