- Words by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe

After nearly 30 years at the helm of Zebra Group, designer Rus Collins is as energized as ever by the creative process that sees ideas transformed into reality. And that enthusiasm and energy has only increased since launching Zebra Construction in 2004 with his business partner Martin Whitehead.

害羞草研究所淲e couldn害羞草研究所檛 possibly build all the houses we design, but every one that we get to do, it害羞草研究所檚 satisfying and rewarding to see how the vision we all had at the beginning is fully realized at the end,害羞草研究所� says Rus, adding, 害羞草研究所淚 get most excited about working on infill projects. Whether it害羞草研究所檚 tearing an old house down, or having it picked up and taken away on a barge, you害羞草研究所檙e left with a blank lot. Starting from scratch in an established neighbourhood害羞草研究所攆or me I find it challenging.害羞草研究所�

With the trend in design still leaning modern, it adds another layer of complexity to fitting those puzzle pieces together, especially when the neighbourhood is full of older, traditional homes.

害羞草研究所淚 like modern homes,害羞草研究所� Rus says, 害羞草研究所渁nd I like them to fit wherever they害羞草研究所檙e put.害羞草研究所�

One of the most satisfying moments came recently when Rus decided to take a detour by a modern house Zebra Group had done in Oak Bay for a repeat client, and learned that very often, passersby would stop and just look at the house, complimenting its design and feel.

害羞草研究所淚 hadn害羞草研究所檛 seen it since the lot was vacant and we designed the house,害羞草研究所� says Rus. 害羞草研究所淎nd that害羞草研究所檚 really fulfilling to hear that kind of feedback. I want it to be something people look at because they害羞草研究所檙e interested and intrigued by it, but also because it does fit in as part of that streetscape.害羞草研究所�

He adds: 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 hoping that for a lot of our designs害羞草研究所攐nce the landscaping is mature害羞草研究所攜ou don害羞草研究所檛 know if the house is 10 or 50 years old.害羞草研究所�

Outside of the office, Rus feeds his creativity with cooking, art and painting, among other pursuits.

害羞草研究所淚 love to cook. Ever since the COVID pandemic started, I害羞草研究所檝e been baking bread and making sauerkraut, and making pickles and other neat, fermented things,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淎nd I also like to paint. I find that what I do for a living is so exact害羞草研究所攚hen you draw houses and floor plans, it害羞草研究所檚 so technical害羞草研究所攕o when I go to paint, I want the opposite. I want to be freer with the brush.害羞草研究所�

He害羞草研究所檚 drawn to abstracts, and since getting 害羞草研究所渟eriously害羞草研究所� into painting in 2007, has sold some pieces.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 definitely a parallel between painting and art and architecture,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淎 painting is supposed to capture your interest, and lead you through it. [A paintings is] like a house. To me, a house needs to draw you in. When you open the front door, you don害羞草研究所檛 want to run to the back of the house to look at the view. If you draw them in, and lead them through it, then maybe they害羞草研究所檙e experiencing your artwork, or some architectural feature, and then when they get to the view, it害羞草研究所檚 a completely different experience.害羞草研究所�

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

I害羞草研究所檓 actually quite comfortable walking in my own shoes. If there is one thing I害羞草研究所檝e learned over the years, it害羞草研究所檚 that no matter how appealing someone else害羞草研究所檚 life may look from the outside, every one of us carries our own demons.

Gluttony:

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

Sashimi and sushi. And did I mention I like to drink red wine? Oh, and pizza害羞草研究所�

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?

After COVID, I害羞草研究所檇 buy two first-class tickets to travel around the world until I run out of money.

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

Political correctness has gone too far, and there are too many rules that control how we live.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Anywhere in the world that is warm, with a beautiful beach and a good selection of wine. Hawaii, Barcelona, Nice, to name a few!

Pride:

What is the one thing you害羞草研究所檙e secretly proud of?

My business, with my hard-working partners and staff that always show their strong work ethic and integrity, plus the amazing clients who have helped us be successful.

Lust:

What makes your heart beat faster?

A warm, sunny day, driving my car with the top down and the right music playing on the stereo, next to my girl, and on a road trip adventure to somewhere we害羞草研究所檝e never been.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
Like Boulevard Magazine on and follow them on