Architect Jesse Garlick shows how a little planning (and a big pre-fab project) can be a beautiful thing.

`WL0116.JesseGarlick_EvaanKherajJesse Garlick, principal of Platform Architecture and Design, isn’t crazy about the term ‘prefabrication.’ “I prefer ‘off-site construction,’” he says. With projects like the Sky House in Washington state and Vancouver’s Circle Wellness Studios, assembling elements off-site encouraged preparation and attention to detail, which are core values of the young Vancouver firm. “Good conversation often forms the basis for good work,” Garlick emphasizes, whether the project in question is a small-footprint residential home on an unusual lot or one of his collaborations with artists that allows freedom to experiment. At the end of the day, design is nothing without hard work—Garlick and his brother put together the laser-cut steel siding of the Sky House by hand. The result is a modern, self-sufficient home that complements its dramatic surroundings.Click to launch slideshow of Platform’s projects

The exterior of the house is panelled with unfinished steel sheets, which will patina over time into an ochre-red to complement the rocky landscape. Photo by The Morrisons.

The exterior of the house is panelled with unfinished steel sheets, which will patina over time into an ochre-red to complement the rocky landscape. Photo by The Morrisons.

The exterior of the house is panelled with unfinished steel sheets, which will patina over time into an ochre-red to complement the rocky landscape. Photo by The Morrisons.

Platform designed these pre-fab structures for Circle Wellness Studios€”personal saunas lined with Himalayan salt. http://circlewellnessstudios.com

The central staircase, made from a swath of white posts, emphasizes the bridging of the earth and the sky.

Garlick renovated a 700 square foot Vancouver apartment, utilizing bright surfaces and innovative space dividers to make the most of a limited square footage. Photo by Latraille Architectural Photography.

Garlick renovated a 700 square foot Vancouver apartment, utilizing bright surfaces and innovative space dividers to make the most of a limited square footage. Photo by Latraille Architectural Photography.