episode 015: Michael Leckie
05/04/2021
Michael Leckie is a renaissance man - this thoughtful architect has a vast range of talents and passions. Everything that he does is intentional, with great care for detail and with his curious nature.
The principal of award-winning Leckie Studio, he’s also the co-founder of The Backcountry Hut Company, which designs stunning minimalist prefab cabins. Michael also spent years playing semi-pro squash and once spent five months surfing the Baja, living on a beach in a van.
He’s also a partner in an innovative new project (and movement) called arcana, where one can book a stay in reflective polished stainless steel, design-forward architectural cabins in the wild. Bridging wellbeing and nature through design, experience & self-directed / science-based wellness rituals, arcana is launching first in Ontario, while preparing to launch a number of sites across the US and Canada. Its founding team includes Tokyo Smoke’s Alan Gertner and Felicia Snyder, and Michael’s Leckie Studio collaborates with New York-based Aruliden on the design.
In this conversation, we explore his life-long love of nature and creating with his hands, the values of his architecture practice and his approach to design, what about his daughter that he’s most proud of, and more.
The world is a far more fascinating place with Michael in it, and to observe what he designs for the benefit of others is truly an honour.
links from the episode
Leckie Studio
The Backcountry Hut Company
arcana
Douglas Coupland
Souvenir of Canada
The Annex (Toronto)
University of Toronto
University of Western Ontario
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