Brent Comber

Brent Comber is a fourth generation Vancouverite who grew up on the city’s North Shore. In a city barely one hundred years old, he is a rarity.

Growing up in the shadow of coastal mountains clad in temperate rainforest, which plunge into one of the Pacific Rim’s greatest—and busiest—natural harbours, Comber early on developed his appreciation for the natural shapes and materials of both the seashore and the slopes: towering stands of fir and cedar; magnificent rock outcroppings; the contours of found wood, as well as wood and rock “carved” by time and tide.

Comber was affected by the juxtaposition of the region’s terrain, the machinery of a working harbour, and a skyline of contemporary architecture. This would serve as a foundation for his designs, which create a powerful dialogue blurring the distinction between “outside” and “inside”, while simultaneously honouring the integrity of natural materials drawn from the region.

Design Philosophy

Anyone who has walked through a Pacific Northwest forest, walks out the better for it. In the 21st century, with its cell phones on speed dial and 24/7 lifestyle, people yearn for moments of calm and reflection. Contrary to the prevailing emphasis on work, and the pressure to base one’s self-identity on what one owns, and how much, most of us appreciate reminders of what’s really important; to be engaged spiritually and socially. More and more, people want to be grounded, to be in touch with something real, something that appeals to them on an emotional level, causing them to pause, think, and reflect. And dream. Comber’s designs are a walk through the forest, in the centre of the city.