Williamson Chong was founded by Betsy Williamson, Donald Chong and Shane Williamson in 2011. 'We simply want to make great buildings,' they say, and take their inspiration from the relationship between keen clients, favourite consultants and the opportunity to embrace innovation in all its forms. They also praise the importance of archi-tourism - 'as partners we have travelled to a dozen countries together. Visiting work that is both iconic and everyday has a major influence on how we approach our practice.' Their projects occupy a variety of contexts, from suburban to wilderness isolation, giving their portfolio a broad scope. All this evolved from the 'rigour and learning' of their early, iconic works such as the House in Frogs Hollow, which they believe created 'a baseline for the type of invention that we continue to explore.' Architecture, the partners note, is 'a tremendously slow profession - we're in it for the long run.' The ultimate goal is to work on more and more public projects - 'so that our research initiatives can act as catalysts for the built environment.'
www.williamsonchong.com
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Smoke Lake Cabin is an off-grid hideaway only accessible by boatThis Canadian cabin is a modular and de-mountable residence, designed by Anya Moryoussef Architect (AMA) and nestled within Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario
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Ten contemporary homes that are pushing the boundaries of architectureA new book detailing 59 visually intriguing and technologically impressive contemporary houses shines a light on how architecture is evolving
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Explore the Perry Estate, a lesser-known Arthur Erickson project in CanadaThe Perry estate – a residence and studio built for sculptor Frank Perry and often visited by his friend Bill Reid – is now on the market in North Vancouver
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A new lakeshore cottage in Ontario is a spectacular retreat set beneath angled zinc roofsFamily Cottage by Vokac Taylor mixes spatial gymnastics with respect for its rocky, forested waterside site
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We zoom in on Ontario Place, Toronto’s lake-defying 1971 modernist showpieceWe look back at Ontario Place, Toronto’s striking 1971 showpiece and modernist marvel with an uncertain future
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This Canadian guest house is ‘silent but with more to say’El Aleph is a new Canadian guest house by MacKay-Lyons Sweatapple, designed for seclusion and connection with nature, and a Wallpaper* Design Awards 2025 winner
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Wallpaper* Design Awards 2025: celebrating architectural projects that restore, rebalance and renewAs we welcome 2025, the Wallpaper* Architecture Awards look back, and to the future, on how our attitudes change; and celebrate how nature, wellbeing and sustainability take centre stage
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The case of the Ontario Science Centre: a 20th-century architecture classic facing an uncertain futureThe Ontario Science Centre by Raymond Moriyama is in danger; we look at the legacy and predicament of this 20th-century Toronto gem
