- Words by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe

After nearly 30 years at the helm of Zebra Group, designer Rus Collins is as energized as ever by the creative process that sees ideas transformed into reality. And that enthusiasm and energy has only increased since launching Zebra Construction in 2004 with his business partner Martin Whitehead.

91裸聊视频淲e couldn91裸聊视频檛 possibly build all the houses we design, but every one that we get to do, it91裸聊视频檚 satisfying and rewarding to see how the vision we all had at the beginning is fully realized at the end,91裸聊视频� says Rus, adding, 91裸聊视频淚 get most excited about working on infill projects. Whether it91裸聊视频檚 tearing an old house down, or having it picked up and taken away on a barge, you91裸聊视频檙e left with a blank lot. Starting from scratch in an established neighbourhood91裸聊视频攆or me I find it challenging.91裸聊视频�

With the trend in design still leaning modern, it adds another layer of complexity to fitting those puzzle pieces together, especially when the neighbourhood is full of older, traditional homes.

91裸聊视频淚 like modern homes,91裸聊视频� Rus says, 91裸聊视频渁nd I like them to fit wherever they91裸聊视频檙e put.91裸聊视频�

One of the most satisfying moments came recently when Rus decided to take a detour by a modern house Zebra Group had done in Oak Bay for a repeat client, and learned that very often, passersby would stop and just look at the house, complimenting its design and feel.

91裸聊视频淚 hadn91裸聊视频檛 seen it since the lot was vacant and we designed the house,91裸聊视频� says Rus. 91裸聊视频淎nd that91裸聊视频檚 really fulfilling to hear that kind of feedback. I want it to be something people look at because they91裸聊视频檙e interested and intrigued by it, but also because it does fit in as part of that streetscape.91裸聊视频�

He adds: 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 hoping that for a lot of our designs91裸聊视频攐nce the landscaping is mature91裸聊视频攜ou don91裸聊视频檛 know if the house is 10 or 50 years old.91裸聊视频�

Outside of the office, Rus feeds his creativity with cooking, art and painting, among other pursuits.

91裸聊视频淚 love to cook. Ever since the COVID pandemic started, I91裸聊视频檝e been baking bread and making sauerkraut, and making pickles and other neat, fermented things,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淎nd I also like to paint. I find that what I do for a living is so exact91裸聊视频攚hen you draw houses and floor plans, it91裸聊视频檚 so technical91裸聊视频攕o when I go to paint, I want the opposite. I want to be freer with the brush.91裸聊视频�

He91裸聊视频檚 drawn to abstracts, and since getting 91裸聊视频渟eriously91裸聊视频� into painting in 2007, has sold some pieces.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 definitely a parallel between painting and art and architecture,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淎 painting is supposed to capture your interest, and lead you through it. [A paintings is] like a house. To me, a house needs to draw you in. When you open the front door, you don91裸聊视频檛 want to run to the back of the house to look at the view. If you draw them in, and lead them through it, then maybe they91裸聊视频檙e experiencing your artwork, or some architectural feature, and then when they get to the view, it91裸聊视频檚 a completely different experience.91裸聊视频�

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

I91裸聊视频檓 actually quite comfortable walking in my own shoes. If there is one thing I91裸聊视频檝e learned over the years, it91裸聊视频檚 that no matter how appealing someone else91裸聊视频檚 life may look from the outside, every one of us carries our own demons.

Gluttony:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

Sashimi and sushi. And did I mention I like to drink red wine? Oh, and pizza91裸聊视频�

Greed:

You91裸聊视频檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

After COVID, I91裸聊视频檇 buy two first-class tickets to travel around the world until I run out of money.

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

Political correctness has gone too far, and there are too many rules that control how we live.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Anywhere in the world that is warm, with a beautiful beach and a good selection of wine. Hawaii, Barcelona, Nice, to name a few!

Pride:

What is the one thing you91裸聊视频檙e secretly proud of?

My business, with my hard-working partners and staff that always show their strong work ethic and integrity, plus the amazing clients who have helped us be successful.

Lust:

What makes your heart beat faster?

A warm, sunny day, driving my car with the top down and the right music playing on the stereo, next to my girl, and on a road trip adventure to somewhere we91裸聊视频檝e never been.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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