Hazen Sise
Encyclopedia
Hazen E. Sise was a Canadian architect, educator, and humanitarian.
. He studied at the Royal Military College of Canada
in Kingston, Ontario
but left after his second year because he decided to become an architect. He was greatly influenced to study architecture by discovering wonderful folios of the works of Christopher Wren
in the Royal Military College of Canada library. He was able to transfer from second-year at Royal Military College into second-year at the School of Architecture at McGill University
. After two years of study at McGill (1925–27), he transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in Cambridge
where he graduated in 1929. After graduation, he went to London, England, to do post-graduate studies in architecture and town planning.
. He participated in the Fourth International Congress of Modern Architecture in Athens
. He was interested in creating a link between the artist and the public, for example through the promotion of mural painting.
He was interested in the international situation during the thirties. When the Spanish Civil War
broke out, he joined Dr. Norman Bethune
in Madrid, Spain and became the chief fundraiser for the Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy. He joined the Canadian Blood Transfusion Unit attached to the "Loyalists." He often drove a Red Cross Ambulance
(1936-9). He became the chief fundraiser for the Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy.
Returning to Canada
just before the beginning of World War II, he joined the Staff of the National Film Board of Canada
serving first in Ottawa, Ontario and later in Washington, D.C. After the war, he was invited to give lectures in architectural history at McGill University School of Architecture. Since he was engaged in the practice of the profession of architecture, his practical experience complemented theoretical studies. In Montreal, he was an active member of the city's Parks and Playgrounds Association, contributing to the restoration and preservation of urban open spaces. He cofounded the architectural co-operative known as ARCOP, the successor firm to Affleck, Desbarats, Dimakopoulos, Lebensold, Sise in 1955. He was an outspoken advocate of social justice and a faithful follower of the modern movement.
He was concerned with the furtherance of modern art and architecture, not only in Montreal but across Canada. In 1968, he retired from the architectural co-operative.
He died in 1974.
The ARCOP, of which he was a founding member, contributed to several projects:
Early life and education
Sise was born in 1906 in Montreal, Quebec. His father was the President of the Northern Electric Company. He attended the Selwyn House School in Montreal and Bishop's College in Lennoxville, QuebecLennoxville, Quebec
Lennoxville is an arrondissement, or borough, of the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Lennoxville is located at the confluence of the St. Francis and Massawippi Rivers approximately five kilometers south of downtown Sherbrooke....
. He studied at the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
but left after his second year because he decided to become an architect. He was greatly influenced to study architecture by discovering wonderful folios of the works of Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
in the Royal Military College of Canada library. He was able to transfer from second-year at Royal Military College into second-year at the School of Architecture at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. After two years of study at McGill (1925–27), he transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
where he graduated in 1929. After graduation, he went to London, England, to do post-graduate studies in architecture and town planning.
Career
He was employed at Le Corbusier’s architectural office in Paris, France, and the Howe and Lescaze firm in New York City. Upon his return to Montreal in 1931, he participated in the establishment the Atelier school, which held art classes, lectures and exhibitions. The Atelier School's aim was to bring together artists interested in modern painting, while stressing the importance of classical principles in art, and the art of the European moderns. He wrote, 'The essential qualities of a work of art lie in the relationships of form to form, and of colour to colour. From these the eye, and especially the trained eye derives its pleasure and all artistic emotion must find its expression through these means.' He was involved in the arts and theatre communities in Montreal. He regularly attended the gatherings held at painter John Lyman’s home, developing friendships with artists such as André Biéler, Jean Palardy, and Jori SmithJori Smith
Jori Smith, CM was a key figure in the 1930s in initiating Canada's modernist art movement. Her early training was at the Art Association of Montreal where she studied under Randolph Hewton in 1922. Subsequently her studies took her to the Ecole des Beaux Arts and in 1938 she became the only woman...
. He participated in the Fourth International Congress of Modern Architecture in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. He was interested in creating a link between the artist and the public, for example through the promotion of mural painting.
He was interested in the international situation during the thirties. When the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
broke out, he joined Dr. Norman Bethune
Norman Bethune
Henry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
in Madrid, Spain and became the chief fundraiser for the Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy. He joined the Canadian Blood Transfusion Unit attached to the "Loyalists." He often drove a Red Cross Ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
(1936-9). He became the chief fundraiser for the Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy.
Returning to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
just before the beginning of World War II, he joined the Staff of the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
serving first in Ottawa, Ontario and later in Washington, D.C. After the war, he was invited to give lectures in architectural history at McGill University School of Architecture. Since he was engaged in the practice of the profession of architecture, his practical experience complemented theoretical studies. In Montreal, he was an active member of the city's Parks and Playgrounds Association, contributing to the restoration and preservation of urban open spaces. He cofounded the architectural co-operative known as ARCOP, the successor firm to Affleck, Desbarats, Dimakopoulos, Lebensold, Sise in 1955. He was an outspoken advocate of social justice and a faithful follower of the modern movement.
He was concerned with the furtherance of modern art and architecture, not only in Montreal but across Canada. In 1968, he retired from the architectural co-operative.
Later life
From 1970-74, he consulted with the National Capital Commission on saving of traditional architecture.He died in 1974.
Project list
- He co-designed the Beaver Lake Pavilion, built in Mount Royal Park, Montreal, Quebec from 1955-1958. A preliminary sketch of the Beaver Lake Pavilion was featured in the first issue of The Canadian Architect in December 1955, and the completed building was covered in 1958.
- He co-designed the Post Office building in the Town of Mount Royal, QuebecMount Royal, QuebecMount Royal is a town located on the northwest side of Mount Royal, north of downtown Montreal, on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. The town is completely surrounded by Montreal. The population was 18,933 at the 2006 census...
for which he received the Massey MedalMassey MedalThe Royal Canadian Geographical Society awards the Massey Medal annually to recognize outstanding personal achievement in the exploration, development or description of the geography of Canada. The award was established in 1959, by the Massey Foundation, named for industrialist Hart...
.
The ARCOP, of which he was a founding member, contributed to several projects:
- Man the Producer and Man the Explorer theme buildings at Expo 67Expo 67The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
, Montreal, Quebec (1967);
External links
- Interview by Charles Hill with Hazen Sise, February 1st, 1974.
- Fonds Hazen E. Sise, Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture / Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal, ARCH193437
- Mark Zuehlke The Gallant Cause - Canadians in the Spanish Civil War, 1936 - 1939. Vancouver: Whitecap Books Ltd. 1996.
- Architecture at McGill University
- Canadian Architects