Incoming: Brian MacKay-Lyons, Canadian architect extraordinaire

We're delighted to announce, along with our Home of the Year partners Altherm Window Systems, that the international member of our Home of the Year 2012 jury will be Canadian architect Brian MacKay-Lyons.

Born and raised in Arcadia, Nova Scotia, Brian studied in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He has worked and studied in China, Japan and Italy, returning to Nova Scotia in 1983 to challenge the region's 'brain drain' and make an architectural contribution to the area.

Since then, he's become a leading proponent of regionalist architecture, designing some fantastic houses and, increasingly, important public buildings in Canada and abroad. He has won five Canadian Governor-General's medals for architecture, as well as the American Institute of Architects' Honor Award.

Needless to say, we're really looking forward to his visit and are honoured that he's chosen to come here. He'll be visiting in February, and will give lectures in Auckland on Wednesday February 8 and Wellington on Thursday February 9. Stay tuned for ticket purchase details.

In the meantime, here's a short YouTube clip featuring Brian and his work. You can also see more of his work at his firm's website here.