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Entries in Courtyard (2)

Tuesday
Mar202018

Courtyard, studied.

Over the course of its design development, this project underwent some material and compositional refinements within the courtyard.  The project consists of a detached two car garage, a one storey study with a deck at the back of the house, plus the courtyard between these two structures.

The cladding materials were updated to show primarily a treated wood cladding product at the garage facade, adjacent fencing and deck, with the Study clad in charcoal coloured concrete panels.  Gravel was selected as the ground material to provide a permeable surface for drainage.  Areas for planting were kept at the east and west sides.  The adjustments were made to simplify the number of materials on view, given the relatively small size of the courtyard.  The image above is rendered to show the most sunlight at the summer solstice, when the sun is at its highest.  But how much light would the courtyard receive at other times of the year?

In the image above you can see the noontime sun at the equinox, on March or September 21st.  Due to the lower grade at the vehicle entry and laneway, the height of the garage facade at the courtyard is relatively low.  This allows for some direct sunlight to enter - the chairs and table rendered close to the main house receive partial exposure.  The area of shade at the south may also be desirable at times, given the heat and volatility of the summer season in Toronto.

During the summer solstice (shown above), most of the courtyard is sunlit.  The canopy projection above the corner window of the Study however, provides shade to prevent excessive summer sun from penetrating the house.    

While it may be unwise to be outside during the winter solstice in a T-shirt, note that part of the deck will receive sunlight.  Even at its lowest position, the sun will penetrate through the windows of the Study, without obstruction from the garage. 

From these renderings one can see that a fair amount of sunlight will enliven the courtyard during the warm seasons, providing a variety of conditions to suit one's needs, while mitigating excessive sunlight into the Study in summer.  A sort of sheltered microclimate is created, partly out of program and circumstance, and partly by design. 

While construction is expected to begin soon, the vegetated roof over the garage will not proceed due the client's concerns regarding cost and the maintenance regime required.  Unfortunate, but understandable. 

Sunday
May142017

A Garage, Courtyard and Study.

This project proposes a new 2 car garage, a courtyard, and a renovation to the 1 storey structure at the back of a semi-detached home in the east side of Toronto.  With a grade difference of several steps rising towards the house, the new garage incorporates the steps within. 

A vegetated roof is proposed to increase the extent of green space, and to provide a pleasant view from the second floor of the main house.  The resulting courtyard creates outdoor amenity space and landscaped areas to accommodate outdoor dining and gardening.  A canopy provides shade at the corner windows of the 1 storey study, the accompanying deck, and steps.  Wood veneered panelling is proposed at two facades to create a consistent and warm character within the courtyards.  A trellis, with vines running along the garage wall will create a direct connection between the landscaping at grade and the vegetated roof.

The facade of the garage facing the laneway incorporates a clerestory window to provide natural lighting.  With glazed sliding doors at the courtyard side, natural daylight can enter from 2 facades.  The cladding proposed at the garage car entry is cement panelling – a robust material appropriate for a laneway that sees traffic from the commercial properties on the other side of the laneway.