MODA | Modern Office of Design + Architecture

Profile

We’re small and do big things Modern Office of Design + Architecture | MoDA | was founded in 2012 by partners Dustin Couzens and Ben Klumper. | MoDA | functions as a critical Architectural and Interior Design studio interested in working at a multitude of scales and contexts. 

Central to both our conceptual and built work are themes defining the role of the public realm within the urban fabric, the fundamental relationship between social/cultural ideologies and emergent form, the quantitative and qualitative implications of context or site and the nuance of materiality and tectonics.

As evidenced in our body of work, there’s no project too big or too small. Whether we’re designing an interior, a single-family residence or a large public project such as an office building, library, school, art gallery or even a fire hall our process is the same. We design collaborations rather than dictate solutions.

Both Principals, Dustin Couzens and Ben Klumper, are actively involved with the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Calgary in the capacity of both Critic and Sessional Instructor.

The ‘means’ are just as important as the ‘end.’
We understand that architecture is more than just great design. We firmly believe that a building is only as good as the means by which it is delivered. That’s why we are intimately involved in your project from the initial hand shake and napkin sketch through to cutting the ribbon. We control the process of project delivery through a rigorous set of standards that ensure quality, budget and schedule are maintained. We are in constant communication with you to ensure that your expectations are being understood and hopefully exceeded.

Limitation drives Innovation
We view architecture as a discipline of creative problem solving. Any project has, inherent to its inception, a vast array of limitations/constraints that need not only to be overcome, but also explored for their hidden potential. Often these limitations take on the form of restrictive site or climate conditions, by-law/code covenants, or budget/time restraints, all of which (when evaluated intelligently) can produce some of the most awe-inspiring design and architecture. We love the potential of the banal.

Architecture builds the City
If it can be deemed true that ‘Architecture builds the City, the City builds a sense of place, a sense of place builds a community and a community builds an identity,’ then | MoDA | endeavors to lead the way, providing a fresh perspective on how this can be done. It’s time for architecture to do things again and not just represent things.

Bioragphy

Ben Klumper, M.Arch, B.E.S.
Architect AAA MRAIC
Principal
An honours graduate of the Master of Architecture program at the University of Calgary in 2001 and recipient of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada medal, Ben is a Principal and founding partner of MoDA. Ben was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and spent his first 24 years there, receiving a Bachelor degree in Architecture in 1993. Ben moved to Calgary in 1997 to further his studies in architecture, which included a term abroad in Barcelona, Spain and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Ben brings over 18 years of experience to the firm, including 10 years as an associate and director of the architecture studio at McKinley Burkart where he was project architect for many high profile and award-winning works such as the M-Tech Building, Alloy Restaurant and Westmount Court. His consistent meshing of strong design sensibility, attention to detail and technical construction knowledge results in the efficient realization of creative architecture.

Outside of architecture, Ben’s interests lie in restoring his vintage Volkswagen Westfalia and playing with fellow MoDA partner Dustin Couzens in their music project, My Friend Deceiver. Ben has also been a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Environmental Design where he ran the architecture program’s Comprehensive Studio Four for two years and is a sought after guest critic and mentor for intern architects.

EDUCATION
Master of Architecture with honours
(Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Medal)
University of Calgary, 2001

Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) with honours
University of Manitoba, 1993

AFFILIATIONS
AAA Alberta Association of Architects
MRAIC Member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

SELECTED PROJECTS
Westmount Court, Calgary, AB 34,000 s.f. commercial office building
Mission Tower, Calgary, AB 11 storey residential building
6th Street Hotel, Calgary, AB 90,000 s.f. hotel
Alloy Restaurant, Calgary, AB 5,000 s.f. restaurant
The Galleries at Renfrew, Calgary, AB 16 unit townhouse
M-Tech Office Building, Calgary, AB 45,000 s.f. office building
Marda Loop Multifamily 19 unit townhouse

AWARDS
Prairie Design Award of Excellence – M-Tech Office Building, Calgary. 2005
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Medal. 2001
AAA Norman Fleming Award for academic excellence. 1999
Murray Waterman Traveling Scholarship. 1999

PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
City TV ‘Cool Spaces’, 2007 – Alloy Restaurant
Avenue Magazine, 2007 – The Galleries at Renfrew
Canadian Architect, 2005 – M-Tech
CBC TV, Z Channel, 2003 – “Sub-Urban”

Dustin Couzens
Dustin Couzens, one of the core founders and Principals of MoDA, was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. He studied architecture at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Environmental Design earning a Masters Degree in Architecture in 2004. Following graduation he moved to Vienna Austria, working briefly for the internationally renowned firm Coop-Himmelblau. After returning from overseas he worked for a small firm in Calgary, specializing in residential design. His internship was concluded by working in the Vancouver office of IBI Group.

Together, these experiences exposed him to many different design philosophies and working environments which ultimately helped foster the desire to take the best of these experiences and form a Modern Office of Design and Architecture; MoDA.

Aside from architecture, Dustin is also passionate about music and is currently involved in a music project known as My Friend Deciever. Film, fashion and art are also keen interests and areas he dabbles in from time to time. Known to most friends and collegues as the ‘eccentric’ creative type, Dustin also brings his experience and knowledge from his undergraduate degree in Commerce into practice, and understands the fine balance between art and finance.

Dustin is also involved with the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary, in both the capacity of a critic as well as a sessional professor. His passion for design is seen both in the time he commits to his students, and the rigor with which he pushes everyone around him to achieve their true potential.