Biography
Darrel Ronald is a Canadian born architect (MOAQ) and urbanist based in the Netherlands. He brings a broad range of experiences across creative fields, in all scales of design, and has been recognized and awarded for his work across photography, architecture and urbanism. Darrel has studied photography and worked as an editor in newspaper publishing before completing a professional M.Arch degree in Architecture. Having worked on multi-disciplinary projects across North America and Europe, he brings a broad perspective and a high level of criticism.
Open Form Architecture was created in 2004 with Maxime Moreau while studying at the Université de Montréal (CA), and incorporated in 2008 in Montreal (CA) with Maxime Moreau and Maurice Martel. The firm carried out research work on digital fabrication, architectural and urban parametrics, and has built a number of housing and commercial projects in the Montreal area. In 2011 Darrel left the successful practice in order to pursue urban work in Europe while Open Form continues on with the other partners.
Outside of design projects, he actively pursues teaching, research and writing and has been a Master’s Urbanism studio tutor at TU Delft (NL) and a Master’s Architecture studio tutor at the Université de Montréal (CA), and has been a guest critique for LIA at TU Berlin (DE) and at the Berlage-Institute (NL). Darrel has carried out research on digital fabrication in architecture; on cities, complexity and smart systems; and on computational modelling for architecture and urbanism. At the moment, current research focuses on complexity theory, systems theory, computational theory and their application to urbanism. Further investigation centres on the process of creativity and collaboration, and seeking new methods and processes for developing and realizing projects.
Over the six years of professional practice before Open Form, he has been a project leader for some of the largest urban projects in Europe while working with Rients Dijkstra at Maxwan architects + urbanists in Rotterdam, including the master plan for Project A101 in Moscow (RU), the Rotterdam Central Station Masterplan, and the Harbour Park development strategy. He has also collaborated with Uberbau in Berlin (DE) on Hybrid Infrastructure designs, and on the urban strategy for the district of Seine Saint-Denis Est in Paris (FR), which includes the Clichy-sous-bois neighbourhood, and is linked with the LIA chair at the TU Berlin. He has developed specialties in urban strategy; infrastructure design and planning; transportation design and planning; urban design and planning; and in parametric urban modelling for complex situations.
In Montréal he has worked as a designer for both Hal Ingberg architecte and The Arcop Group where he was a main designer for the Parliamentary West Block building in Ottawa. At these offices Darrel focused on the creation and implementation of large-scale public, housing and cultural projects across Canada and internationally. Specialties were developed in developing innovative architecture for complex programmes and challenging technical demands. Ideas and design solutions were developed using 3D computational tools and digital fabrication, working closely with technical advisors and engineering consultants.
Contact:
darrel [@] maketank.org
+31 6 2748 8008