Ivan Saleff
Ivan Saleff, B.Tech.(Arch.Sc.)(Ryerson), M.Arch.(Pennsylvania), OAA, MRAIC
Ivan Stefan Saleff was born to immigrant parents in Toronto’s Regent Park area, subsequently raised in the suburbs and educated in the Ivy League. Ivan received his undergraduate degree in Architectural Science from Ryerson in 1982 and his Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985. Following his internship in the office of Pritzer Prize winning Architect Robert Venturi and Denise Scott-Brown, he returned to Toronto where he has been continuously involved in practice, teaching and research.
Ivan Saleff Architect is an award winning OAA licensed sole proprietorship conducting a small but lively and diverse practice. Recent projects include Aroma Espresso Bar, CIBO Clinic, Villa Discrete, Emery Village Park and Square Business Plan, Squirt and Bowtie Seating and Ripple Dining Table. The variety of project typologies investigated continues to promote a fresh and objective view of architectural practice within the context of sustainability and the modern condition. The firm’s work has been published in both national and International publications with papers presented at various conferences including the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Energy Matters Summit and Affordable Housing Renewal Symposium as well as contributing articles to publications such as “Concrete Toronto - A Guide to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies”. Ivan has recently been appointed to the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness.
Since his recruitment to al&d at the inception of the graduate programme Ivan has taught in Building Science, Materials and Construction 2, Building Science, Illumination and Acoustics, Comprehensive Studio as well as electives in Urban Design and Architecture, Technology and Ecology. The latter elective pioneered the “Tower Renewal” movement and attracted students from Architecture, Landscape, Urban Design and Engineering Master and Ph.D. programmes. Interdisciplinary synergy continues to be a focus of teaching and practice for Ivan.
Research is conducted via practice and academia. A deconstruction of housing typologies within the context of social, economic and environmental sustainability gave rise to “Motherboard House”, an investigation into extended family, multi-generational group homes. Recently the “Tower Renewal Guidelines” produced with co-principal investigator Dr. Kesik has become the definitive work on the rehabilitation of vintage high-rise housing.
Other interests include travel, blues guitar, vintage rally automobiles and “the Cottage”.