The Challenge

According to a recent study, 40 percent of all Canadians are interested in creating a more liveable space within their homes. The concept of the New Garage Design Challenge was to empower and encourage conceptual thought, leaders of new ideas and concepts and to provide inspiration for every Canadian eligible to reevaluate the relationship between vehicles and garages. The results the challenge hoped to achieve were sustainable elements with a beautiful design and true innovation.

The Short-List Finalists and the Winner

The key criteria used to determine the short-list finalists is:

  • The creativity, innovation and originality of the vision
  • Succeeding in complimenting the design and concept of the Volvo XC40 Recharge key features
  • Creating a sustainable design for the future
  • The winner of the challenge was announced by the Toronto Interior Design Show and Volvo Cars Canada. Tiam Maeiyat from Montreal created the winning design with "Parking-Parc". His design enables a garage to be used as a different kind of family room. He used a combination of transparency and light to link together the inside and outside to created new options for families to spend quality time together for every season.

According to Tiam Maeiyat, his inspiration for the Volvo XC40 Recharge was both flexibility and freedom. He stated freedom in form is the result of how the space is used. He used this type of freedom to include more attachments and opportunity in addition to a feeling of belonging. The core of his design was environmental considerations.

He provided a rainwater buffer with a green roof, decreased the ambient temperature, purified the air, saved energy and regulated the temperature indoors. To ensure the effective use of daylight, he created a design with flexible solar panels and a photovoltaic, semi-transparent glass facade. Tiam Maeiyat wanted to create a space to seamlessly connect the outdoors with the indoors.

His design is an excellent example of sustainable elements and current Scandinavian aesthetics similar in nature to the Volvo XC40 Recharge. His design resulted in a cash prize for $2,500, his vision showcased at the Toronto IDS in 2021 and a House and Home and Maison et Demeure promotion.

The Runner Up

Mainspring was the runner-up design created by Travis Hanks, Jorge Roman, Shirley Shen, Ana Cadena and John Roddick of Haeccity Studio Architecture located in Vancouver, BC. The space was transformed into an opportunity for car-sharing for the entire community. The challenge was launched just last year as inspiration to encourage new ideas for the garage space. The submission period was just two months for all entries.

The design brief issued a challenge to Canadians to reevaluate vehicle relationships with the garage space to create new innovations, sustainability and living options. The requirement was the inspiration for both design and concept must compliment the most important features of the Volvo XC40 recharge. This is the first compact SUV running on pure electricity.

The Competition Judges

  • Jessica Nakanishi and Jonathan Sabine: MSDS Studio co-founders
  • Javier Campos: Campos Studio principal designer and founder
  • Robin Page: Volvo Cars head of design
  • Kim Pariseau: APPAREIL architecture founder