Erick Villagomez is an educator, independent researcher and designer with academic and professional interests in the human settlements at all scales. He is the founder of Metis Design|Build (www.metisdb.com), an innovative practice dedicated to an integrative approach to the design and construction of places. Projects vary in scale from urban design and planning to residential architecture and have been published in various popular publications – such as Western Living - showcasing 'green' design.
Erick is also one of the founders and editors of re:place Magazine (www.regardingplace.com), an up-and-coming publication looking at Metro Vancouver’s public realm and urban landscape. Aside from his regular contributions to the magazine, Erick lectures and writes on topics regarding the built environment for professional, academic and community audiences. Similarly, his passion for mapping and cartography has led to the creation and presentation of various maps dissecting the urban environment.
Erick has received a B.Arch.Sci from Ryerson Polytechnic University and an M.Arch from the University of British Columbia. His research, consulting and writing has influenced patterns of urban development locally and abroad - contributing to the adoption of 'green' urban design processes, plans, codes, standards, guidelines and prototypes.
Erick joined the Landscape Architecture program at the University of British Columbia in 2004 where he continues at all levels in design studio instruction in the LArch and ENDS programs. His courses focus on understanding the systemic relationship between the built and natural environment as seen through different scales.