Statement
Design Intent
3 to 4-storey high individual units as a preferable alternative to low or medium-rise blocks.
Private yards with direct access from each unit, and connected to landscaped communal open space.
Maximum amount of green, landscaped open areas obtained by minimizing building and paved area.
Reduction of building coverage by compact, vertical unit design with underground parking.
One private, covered parking space with an adjacent multi-purpose storage room per unit, immediately accessible from unit.
Efficient plan with maximum space utilization by use of stair as only internal circulation space.
Maximum visual privacy by avoiding orientation of living spaces in opposite direction.
Modular design to encourage "self-made" improvements and additions while retaining design coherence.
The following are pre-designed, "easy-to-build" features that may be added by owner:
conservatory
solar-heating system
decks
fences
skylight
walk-out
fireplace
trellises
This accomplishes initial cost reduction while permitting future controlled expansion and improvement.
Grouping of units in small clusters adapted to existing site conditions.
Location of playground distant from roads, between backyards; and visible from living, dining and kitchen areas for security and control.
Separation of vehicular and pedestrian circulation to improve security and reduce visual and physical impact of automobile.
Cluster design with varied volumetry but controlled vocabulary for interesting but coherent design.
Reduction of unit width to minimum (4 metres) reducing external cost and exposure.
Plan flexibility to allow adaptation to different preferences (i.e. kitchen location, access, fenestration).
Maximum amount of storage, including multi-purpose storage room at garage level for bicycles, equipment, etc.
Landscaping
Use of evergreen vegetation and berming to protect from prevailing winds and as buffer from road noise and adjacent parking lot.
Use of deciduous trees in southern exposures.
Guest parking restricted to location adjacent to road to minimize its visual and physical impact.
Extended network of walkways designed as linear parks, connecting and linking all private backyards and providing access to the park, playgrounds, recreation centre and surrounding developments.
Energy Conservation Concepts
Buildings exposed to low winter sun between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.
All units are oriented with interior and exterior living spaces facing southern exposures.
All side walls facing north to be solid.
Reduction of exposed building surfaces by compact design of linked units with a small volume to perimeter ratio.
Natural ventilation obtained by double exposure and facilitated by use of skylights and stairwells for maximum use of summer breezes, cooling potential.
Control of shading co-efficient by utilization of horizontal sun-shades at all windows to protect from high summer sun while allowing through the low rays of the sun in winter.
Summer cooling to be obtained by opening building up at night to ventilate and cool interior thermal mass and closing it up during the daytime to keep heat out.
Incorporation of passive solar system, enabling use of solar collections in the roof and thermal storage at basement.
Use of evergreen vegetation for protection from prevailing winds. Use of deciduous trees in southern exposures for summer cooling.
Optional conservatory at southern exposures for utilization of greenhouse effect.
Protected entrances (i.e. vestibules) to provide an airlock between building and exterior.
Major window openings located to the southeast, south and southwest exposures.
Window areas to the north are small and recessed to reduce heat loss.
Use of bio-degradable and low energy-consuming materials (i.e. concrete, wood siding).
Admitting sunlight through the roof by optional use of skylights or clerestories.
Structural Design
Concrete slab on grade at garage level.
Concrete slab spanning 4 metres at first-floor level to obtain fire separation between living spaces and garage/mechanical-electrical and storage areas.
Load-bearing shear walls in wood, concrete block and concrete to provide fire separation between units.
4 metre span conventional wood structure at second and third floors and roof.
Elevated walkway structure in wood.
(From competitor's text)
This submission was recognized primarily for two reasons. First, its unit planning, both interior and exterior was found to be sensible and thorough. Then too, the intention of the site plan that is to say, the effort to lay out all the units at or close to the ground, with gardens for most units and vehicular access as well was admired. But while the jury thought the unit planning succeeded it didn't agree that the site planning did. Even though the intention was commended, the jury reached the conclusion that it was probably impossible to provide ground relationship for all the units at this density and still maintain other desirable conditions of living as well. For example, the jury mostly found the access system labyrinthine and underscaled, suggesting problems with snow clearance, service and emergency vehicles. Headroom for such vehicles would have been a problem in the areas where the upper-level bridges occurred. And the continuous frontage of carports and garages would have been unpleasant and confusing for visitors. The jury was split on the matter of the architectural expression of the project. Most admired it indeed ranked it higher than other submissions in this regard but one juror objected to what he saw as somewhat of a cliché.
(From jury report)
8 scanned / 4 viewable
- Site Plan
- Perspective
- Plan & Section
- Plan & Section
