Livable City Design Award, Life-time Achievement Award
Practice
Architect
Buildings
Kingston Frontenac Public Library
Lily Inglis (1926-2010) was a Canadianarchitect born in Milan, Italy and received her education in England.[1] She moved to Canada and joined the Ontario Association of Architects, becoming involved in the preservation of historic buildings in Kingston, Ontario.[2] Inglis was also a member of Royal Institute of British Architects (1953) [1] and Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (1985).[1] She was a partner in Inglis and Downey Architects, Inc.[3] She made a strong name for herself by proving to clients that even as a woman she was able to solve complex issues.[3] This increased her creditability within the architectural field.[3]
Inglis was raised as a child in Milan, Italy, where she became interested in architecture.[1] Illness forced her to stay in her room, which helped her find her passion for drawing and constructing 3-D miniature buildings from paper.[3] At age 12, her parents sent her to England (in order to protect her from the Nazis), and she attended a British boarding school.[3] Eventually she would go on to be an apprentice, at the age of 18, in Cheltenham before attending the University of Edinburgh for architecture.[3] Inglis received a traveling scholarship, allowing her to study post-war architecture in Europe and North America.[3] Her interest in landscape design encouraged her to gain a certificate from University College London, England in 1957 for this field.[4] After moving to Kingston, Ontario, architect Wilfred Sorensen provided her with practical training between 1962 and 1963.[4]
In 1953, she married Edinburgh James Inglis (psychologist), lasting 45 years.[3] In London, she started her own architectural firm and practiced there for six years.[3] In 1959, Inglis and her husband moved to Kingston, Ontario after James received a teaching job opportunity from Queen's University at Kingston.[4] Her an her husband had two daughters, Jane and Kate.[5] She produced work from home, while also having to care for her two daughters, until 1984.[4] After this point, she created a firm alongside architect Bruce Downey called Inglis & Downey Architects, who was a previous Carleton University graduate.[4] The two became knowledgeable in redesigning group homes to create barrier-free accessible areas.[4] There, she found inspiration in the stone architecture of the city and decided to explore building preservation by utilizing the stone style of Kingston in her own designs, paying homage.[4] She also worked to redesign heritage buildings for contemporary use and conservation.[4] Some of her notable projects include the Kingston Public Library, Chez Piggy restaurant, the Kingston Brew Pub and the Wolfe Island ferry terminal.[5] Inglis also gained connections with Margaret Angus, who was a historian and author.[4] Together, they worked to give Kingston heritage buildings a voice when they were being threatened with demolition.[4] Instead, they were advocating for preservation which went against the typical practice occurring within the city.[4] This caused the city to create "The City of Kingston Act, 1970", recognizing the heritage value of buildings in Kingston.[4] Overall, the quote "my pleasure is in seeing people enjoying places I have helped to make" by Inglis describes her main focus when designing.[4]
Inglis was known by the community as a social activist who fought for children and homeless rights.[4] With her passion for Kingston's social welfare, a shelter was renamed Lily's Place in 2012.[4] The address of this family-oriented shelter is 333 Kingscourt Ave, Kingston, Ontario.[4]
Inglis passed away from cancer on 11 January 2010.[5]
This is an incomplete list of projects. Most if not all of these projects are restoration, renovation, heritage conservation projects or additions to preexisting buildings:
