The Globe and Mail

When it comes to building homes, Bing Thom can afford to be picky. Best known locally for his work on the University of British Columbia's Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and Richmond's Aberdeen Centre, Thom's residential designs have become something of a coveted commodity among Vancouver homeowners. Mr. Thom has designed only a handful of Vancouver homes since starting his firm, Bing Thom Architects, in 1980, many of which have garnered acclaim -- and none of which he has taken on without careful consideration. The firm's most recent residential project, referred to simply as "L1," was no exception. "We actually interviewed the client as much as they interviewed us," says Mr. Thom from the comfortable elegance of his Vancouver office, a space befitting the visionary's polo shirt-clad figure and easy smile. "We don't build homes for money, we do it for love. So unless we and the client have common values, we're not interested in the project."