Brian MacKay-Lyons and Doug Milburn
Blurring Boundaries: How Modern Design Challenges Tradition – Ep 71
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski is joined by co-host Dr. Doug Milburn, founder and chairman of Advanced Glazing, and the renowned architect Brian MacKay-Lyons, often celebrated as the "poet of place." Together, they explore the transformative power of architecture to harmonize with local landscapes while addressing universal human needs.
Brian shares his journey from a small Nova Scotia village to becoming a global architectural icon, describing how his "critical regionalist" style honors local materials, landscapes, and cultural traditions. The conversation dives deep into the philosophy of designing buildings that provide both privacy and community, integrating light, energy efficiency, and timeless architectural principles.
Highlighting a collaborative project, Doug and Brian discuss the creation of a modern, energy-efficient lakeside home in Cape Breton that merges technological innovation with a deep respect for the natural environment. The house features thoughtful designs to maximize natural light, thermal comfort, and stunning views while remaining off-grid and eco-friendly.
Brian also shares insights on upcoming projects, including the new Canadian Embassy in Australia, which integrates Indigenous values into its design. Whether you're an architect, designer, or someone passionate about the intersection of buildings and human experience, this episode offers inspiration and profound reflections on the art of place-making.
Listen to full episode on Spotify
Listen to full episode on Apple
More About Brian MacKay-Lyons and Doug Milburn
Dr. Doug Milburn is an established entrepreneur and innovator with over 35 years of experience in various fields including manufacturing, engineering, software development, and process engineering. His career has been characterized by a commitment to problem-solving and a passion for creating positive workplace environments by embedding corporate values and ethical standards into the success of his companies.
Raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, Dr. Milburn pursued his education at Mount Allison University, where he earned both his undergraduate and Master’s degrees in physics. He later completed his PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo, laying a strong foundation for his future ventures.
In 1995, Dr. Milburn co-founded Advanced Glazings Ltd with his wife, Michelle. The company pioneered the development of SOLERA light diffusing glass, which has played a crucial role in allowing architects to design beautifully daylighted buildings that prioritize energy efficiency.
In 2001, he further expanded his entrepreneurial impact by co-founding Protocase with Steve Lilley. This venture focuses on supporting engineers, innovators, and scientists by providing custom metal enclosures and components, with an impressive turnaround time of 2-3 days and no minimum order requirements, thereby facilitating quicker project timelines.
Continuing his entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Milburn and Lilley launched 45Drives in 2014. This company addresses the growing demand for data storage solutions by providing ultra-large storage servers and clusters that are not only powerful and flexible but also cost-effective for businesses looking to manage and scale their data-storage needs efficiently.
Brian MacKay-Lyons was born and raised in the village of Arcadia in southwestern Nova Scotia. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Technical University of Nova Scotia in 1978 where he was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Medal. He received his Master of Architecture and Urban Design at U.C.L.A. and was awarded the Dean’s Award for Design.
After studying in China, Japan, California and Italy, Brian returned to Nova Scotia in 1983 to challenge the historic maritime “brain drain” trend, and to make a cultural contribution to Nova Scotia where his Acadian and Mi’kmaq ancestors lived. In 1985, he founded the firm Brian MacKay-Lyons Architecture Urban Design in Halifax. Twenty years later, Talbot Sweetapple became a partner to form MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects Limited.
The firm has built an international reputation for design excellence confirmed by over 170+ awards including; the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Gold Medal awarded to Brian in 2015, the top award in Canada for lifetime contribution in architecture; the RAIC Firm Award in 2014; eight Governor General Medals, the most prestigious Canadian award that celebrates outstanding design in recently built projects; seven American Institute of Architects (AIA) National and International Honor Awards for Architecture; sixteen Lieutenant Governor’s Medals of Excellence; nine Canadian Architect Awards; four Architectural Record Houses Awards; fourteen North American Wood Design and Building Awards; and in 2017 the firm received the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture. Also in 2017, the firm was shortlisted nominee for the prestigious Moriyama Award.
A fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC), and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA), Brian was named Honorary International Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (Hon.Int. FAIA) in 2001 and Honorary International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (Hon.Int. FRIBA) in 2016. Brian was appointed to the Order of Canada for is contribution to Canadian culture in 2022.
For decades, Brian has made a significant contribution to both Architectural education and practice. He was a Professor of Architecture at Dalhousie University where he taught for 37 years and has held eighteen endowed academic chairs and given 200+ lectures internationally. In 2004 he was visiting professor for the Ruth and Norman Moore Professorship at University of Washington. In 2024, Brian was awarded an Honorary Doctorate - Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from Dalhousie University.
Ghost (1994-2011) was a series of international Architectural Research Laboratories that took place on the MacKay-Lyons farm. Ghost was founded by Brian as a meeting place for an international ‘school’ of architects who shared a commitment to: landscape, making, and community. The final installment of Ghost took the form of a three-day historic gathering where the twenty-five invited guests and speakers commiserated over these shared values and their ‘resistance’ to the globalization of Architecture.
The work of the firm has been recognized in 900+ publications including eight monographs: Seven Stories from a Village Architect (1996); Brian MacKay-Lyons: Selected Works 1986-1997 (1998); Plain Modern: The Architecture of Brian MacKay-Lyons by Malcolm Quantrill (2005); Ghost: Building an Architectural Vision (2008); ¬Local Architecture: Building Place, Craft, and Community (2014); Economy as Ethic: The Work of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects (2017) by Robert McCarter; and an upcoming book entitled Dwelling. In addition, the work of the firm has been featured in 100+ exhibitions internationally.
Houses designed in Atlantic Canada have made his firm a leading proponent of regionalist architecture worldwide. This recognition has led to a transition in the practice toward increased public and international commissions.
CONTACT:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-milburn-45864b2a/?originalSubdomain=ca
https://advancedglazings.com/
https://www.protocase.com/
https://www.45drives.com/
https://www.mlsarchitects.ca/team/brian-mackay-lyons
https://www.instagram.com/mackaylyonssweetapple/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028549793337
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mackay-lyons-sweetapple-architects/
Where To Find Us:
https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/
www.advancedglazings.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast
www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625
https://twitter.com/bbfhpod
https://twitter.com/Solera_Daylight
https://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/
https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltd
https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd