The Winter byDESIGN Newsletter is here! Click here to download the PDF version. This edition features an article on the culmination of multiple research initiatives into a powerful and effective method for establishing placemaking for new communities. Also inside you’ll find articles from our Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Architecture studios about our latest projects, achievements, […]
Our Summer 2018 byDESIGN Newsletter is here! Click here to download the PDF version. This edition of our newsletter is chock-full of current project updates, new project announcements, and other exciting news from our Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Architecture studios. We’ve been hard at work planning and designing great people places during […]
Looking toward 2018, I thought it would be interesting to first look back a decade to see what was trending in home design in 2008, at the start of the Great Recession. The economy, jobs, wages, and the size of homes were all contracting. Home sizes, like companies, were “downsizing”. Before the crash, […]
Our Winter 2017 byDESIGN Newsletter is here! Click here to download the PDF version. This edition features an article on the beautiful and exotic plazas of Mexico and how they contrast with American main streets. Also inside you’ll find articles from our Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Architecture studios about our latest projects, achievements, and […]
Our Summer 2017 byDESIGN Newsletter is here! Click here to download the PDF version. We’re excited to share with you the latest edition of our byDESIGN newsletter. Inside you’ll find articles from our Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Architecture studios about our latest projects and community involvement. Some of this edition’s stories include: […]
Canin Associates is thrilled to announce that its founder and president, Brian Canin, has been inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). The AICP is the American Planning Association’s professional body which works with urban planners around the country to promote certification, ethical planning, professional development, and standards […]
Our Winter 2015 byDESIGN Newsletter is here! Click here to download the PDF version. This year, Canin Associates turned 35. To mark this milestone, we are looking back at what we have learned throughout the years and looking forward at what the next decades will hold. In this edition of byDESIGN, you’ll see that some things […]
In many cities, a false dichotomy has dominated recent conversations around cycling: Should bicycle-riders travel on their own specialized networks of bike lanes or should they ride on any road alongside automobiles? Across the United States, the bike lane (or “pro-facilities”) crowd is winning. In some cities, however, a vocal minority of “vehicular cyclists” blocks […]
“A positive example of change,” “the right development at the right time,” and “a life-preserver” were just a few of the positive comments heard during August’s Manatee County Commission meeting to review the Lake Flores project. At the meeting, Commissioners unanimously approved the initial development plan for Lake Flores. As a result, over […]
Fall is here, and for Florida and much of the South that means it’s time to take life outside. From barbecues to relaxing by the pool, our backyards, porches, and decks become an extension of our home. While not all indoor-outdoor spaces are created equal, implementing smart design elements can quickly maximize the backyard of your […]
Many recent surveys show that homeowners are staying in their homes longer. It could be due to the economy with decreasing home values making it difficult to buy a new home or the cost of assisted living facilities or the desire to continue to live in a familiar environment. Many people who plan to stay […]
The Chapin Residence recently underwent a dramatic remodel with minimal structural changes. The existing kitchen’s cramped walls were removed to open up the space to the new, larger family room with views of the pool. The original laundry room was relocated near the existing garage to provide space for the living room expansion. Additionally, the […]
Our Summer byDESIGN Newsletter is here! With the first half of 2015 already behind us, it’s safe to say that things are picking up. We’re delighted to share some of our latest projects with you in this edition of our newsletter from our urban planning, architectural design, and landscape architecture studios. Some of our […]
A Short History of Alleys While alleys have existed in old world cities since the middle ages, they have had a limited level of utility in the recent American urban landscape. In the 19th century, American cities used alleys to hide the more utilitarian, less attractive functions of urban life including service and servant […]
Canin Associates is excited to announce that Greg Witherspoon, Vice President of Business Development, has been announced as the incoming Chair of ULI Central Florida. Former ULI Central Florida Chair Cecelia Bonifay (left) with Greg Witherspoon (second from right) The Central Florida District Council of the Urban Land Institute provides leadership in the […]
The Canin Micro Homes respond to a real-world housing shortage of affordable yet desirable products. Achieving densities of 20 to 24 units per acre, the homes range in size from 454 to 1,400 square feet. The designs feature open floor plans, front porches, and customizable options. A new frugality is taking shape in the American […]
On Friday, July 17, 2015, Canin Associates’ Tony Weremeichik will present at the 2015 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) in Orlando, Florida. Now in its 37th year, the SEBC has been a meeting place for building industry professionals from the areas of contracting, remodeling, architecture, engineering, and development. The three-day conference includes exhibits by more than 265 companies, as well […]
A new addition to the Canin Collection, the Paseo Cottages, feature unique three-bedroom plans that fit perfectly on 50′ by 50′ lots and achieve a density of 10 units per acre. We anticipate that the theme in homebuilding for 2015 and 2016 will continue to center around the idea of reaching higher densities in single-family homes. Our […]
While at a get-together at a friend’s house, a small group of us were talking in the great room, just outside the guest bathroom. A friend needed to use the bathroom. Our conversation was interrupted by a sudden surprise sprinkle sound—and I’m not so sure it was the faucet. And no, the exhaust fan they […]
As a home designer, for many years I’ve been greatly anticipating a time when we will see useful and affordable electronics as standard items in our homes to make our lives easier–whether they offer convenience or save us money. I am still waiting. Options are all out there; we have the technology, but the costs […]
A quick marketing image can be created and used at any stage of the design process. An architectural rendering can assist in giving the client an understanding of the building or concepts of the design that can only be explained in shadow and/or color. By creating the image by hand, the client can visualize the project and add comments […]
Often times, our clients come to us with a specific design challenge. In the case of Magnolia Park, our client wanted to demonstrate that high quality and a great price are not mutually exclusive. Below, we take a closer look at our design process for this semi-custom home. Challenge For Magnolia Park, we were commissioned to create a […]
Last week, members of the Congress for the New Urbanism convened in Orlando for the 2015 CNU Florida Summit. The event’s theme was Transit and Transects: Sparking Florida’s Urban Revival. Speakers and tours covered topics including the rebirth of Downtown Orlando, the return of rail transit to Central Florida, and the development of urban neighborhood centers. Below, […]
A clubhouse can be a neighborhood focal point and help attract new residents. However, not all amenity centers are created equal. From functionality to aesthetic appeal, here are five tips to make your clubhouse shine: 1. Function, then form. The program of your clubhouse is everything. Decide on what functions your clubhouse should have, and […]
American housing design is in need of a paradigm shift. Recognizing generational preferences, increasing affordability constraints, and sustainable solutions are needed to start a new chapter in the planning of our cities, especially when it comes to housing. But that doesn’t mean the single-family home is dead. In fact, if we begin to build houses around the […]
On January 30, 2015, ULI Central Florida held its annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate conference. At the half-day event, guest speakers and panelists shared their 2015 forecasts and projects with over 200 registrants from industries including real estate, development, urban planning, and architecture. With a recovering economy and positive job growth particularly in Orlando, […]
Every year, over 75,000 attendees from around the world convene at the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS). Alternating every two years between Las Vegas and Orlando, the 2015 IBS is taking place in Las Vegas from January 20th to the 22nd. Our Principal of Architectural Design, Tony Weremeichik, is attending this year’s IBS on behalf […]
Canin Associates is proud to have Principal of Architectural Design, Tony Weremeichik, named among Green Home Builder Magazine’s “Who’s Who in Green Home Building 2014.” Tony’s article, “Green Lifestyle Views by Different Generations” was published in Green Home Builder Magazine and its sister publication, Builder and Developer, last year. Tony in a Certified Green […]
Last fall, a group of students and professors from the University of Miami School of Architecture had the opportunity to visit Medellín, a Columbian city now famous for implementing a series of smart urban solutions in the past decade. Canin Associates is thrilled to have been able to help make this trip possible, along with […]
Last week, my alma mater was kind enough to bring the alumni event to us here in Florida for the first time. The Harvard Graduate School of Design held its Alumni + Friends Weekend in Miami, coinciding with Art Basel and Design Miami. The three-day meeting included a series of presentations, discussions, and site tours […]
Streets, roads, courts, avenues, boulevards—cities use these words to name a range of street types. But in transportation design, each one describes a very specific type of thoroughfare. In this Brief Look, we’ll see what makes a thoroughfare a multi-way boulevard and why they are great placemaking solutions. The term “boulevard” is broadly used […]
This past November, the American Planning Association invited Eliza Harris, Director of Urbanism at Canin Associates, to sit on the 2015 APA Awards Jury in Chicago. She joined the jury to share her wealth of knowledge on long-range transportation planning, urban design, and smart growth issues. Each year, the American Planning Association’s Awards […]
The Master Custom Builder Council (MCBC) has invited Tony Weremeichik, principal of the architecture studio at Canin Associates, to present at November’s General Membership meeting. He is joined by Shanna Bender, owner and design principal at Design Studio 15, and Patti Guthrie, director at Marc-Michaels. Together, the three panelists will spend an exclusive lunch session […]
David Weekley Homes, Professional Builder Magazine’s 2013 National Builder of the Year and one of the Nation’s most reputable Home Builders, has joined forces with Canin Associates’ Architectural Design Studio to produce some of Central Florida’s most exceptional new homes. Canin has given a fresh new look to the traditional elevations of some of […]
Conventional suburbs are making way for carefully master-planned neighborhoods with character. Outparcels remain a commodity along major thoroughfares, but are seamlessly integrated into the overall urban fabric of a budding community. In Southwest Florida’s Lake Flores, this concept is strengthened through two ideas: complete streets and multi-modal trails. Located near Sarasota, Lake Flores is an infill site […]
The Canin Associates byDesign Newsletter for Summer 2014 is now available. Here is a sample of articles in this issue: Panama Pacifico: A New City Center in the Heart of the Americas David Weekley Homes partners with Canin Associates on new, progressive home designs Lake Flores: A New Town in Town for Manetee County, Florida And […]
Streetcars were a primary mode of transportation in America’s urban areas at the turn of the last century. In 1902, they carried 5.8 billion trips and provided quality transit service to compact, walkable cities. However, as cars began to dominate the post-war streetscape, streetcars fell from prominence. Today, tastes in the United States are changing. Or, more […]
Image by Ken Sides, City of Clearwater In 2007, the United States built its 1,000th roundabout. That same year, France built its 30,000th roundabout. Although countries around the world have taken the benefits of modern roundabouts to heart, this intersection solution has taken a little longer to grab hold in American municipalities. Nonetheless, as the […]
Panama Pacifico is pioneering true urbanism at a city and regional scale in Panama. The project was launched several years ago and has been an unprecedented financial success. London and Regional’s development efforts at Panama Pacifico have established a core business center with over 170 multi-national companies which employ over 7000 people in over two […]
On Friday, July 25, 2014, Canin Associates’ Tony Weremeichik will present at the 2014 Southeast Builders Conference (SEBC). Now in its 36th year, the SEBC has been a meeting place for building industry professionals from the areas of contracting, remodeling, architecture, engineering, and development. The three-day conference includes exhibits by more than 265 companies, […]
Our team at the Canin Associates Architectural Design Studio is thrilled to announce that our retro-inspired home remodel earned First Place – Whole House Renovation in the 2014 Greater Orlando Builders Association Parade of Homes™ Remodel Showcase. With partners Hardwick General Contracting, we immersed ourselves in Florida’s rich mid-century modern tradition to completely redesign an existing […]
If you’re a civically minded urban planner or citizen, then you’ve dreamed of streets that mix residential with commercial uses, where cars drive slowly, and the pedestrian is king. Most likely, what you’ve been longing for is a woonerf, a Dutch concept that translates to “living street.” In the United States, woonerf’s cousin—the “complete street”—is […]
Maitland, Florida, is a small city of about 15,000 residents. Located just north of Orlando, it is home to a network of museums, a popular independent movie theater that plays host to the annual Florida Film Festival, and beautiful parks. Despite the city’s amenities, one albatross remains: the lack of a cohesive, walkable center of […]
Labeled as the generation to turn around the housing market, Millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) represent a huge new segment of current and future homebuyers. But what has garnered them so much attention in the world of urban planning, design, and development? One major characteristic of this group is its attitude towards wanting to a […]
Florida has a rich architectural history when it comes to mid-century modern buildings. While the style has become a mainstay in sun-kissed cities like Miami and Orlando, some original features have not stood the test of time. Luckily, a skilled architect can revamp an existing structure to fit today’s needs without losing its historical charm. […]
Tactical urbanism is often seen as a strategy for existing communities. However, brand-new master-planned communities can benefit from tactical urbanism, too. Through previtalization, a new Main Street can spring to life in an authentic and economically feasible way. What is tactical urbanism? Tactical urbanism is an umbrella term for a set of strategies to create […]
Inarguably, conventional growth patterns coupled with the recent economic rollercoaster have left urban planners scratching their heads. A major question remains: How can we create new, master-planned communities with a robust framework to prepare for an unpredictable housing market in the future? To find the answer, municipalities and developers are looking back at historical growth […]
With a growing number of baby boomers looking for their ideal new homes, designers and developers are turning their attention to this explosive new market. When creating the perfect baby boomer residence, architects must strike a balance between features that are needed now, and features that will be essential in the coming years. Our country’s […]
Issued for Builder and Developer Magazine. Home Design is like a fashion show – with the neighborhood streets as the catwalk. For as much as apparel design changes with the seasons, so it does with home design. Newer designs emerge and classics are reintroduced and enhanced….
At Canin Associates, we like to study history and precedents. It’s useful to know where you’ve been if you want to decide where you want to go in the future. For a while now I have personally been fascinated with the Dark Ages, that period in medieval history when society lost track of its roots and culture for 800 to 1,000 years. So what happened in the Dark Ages?
