Competition Entry - Warming Huts v.2019

This competition entry involved designing a temporary warming station for Winnipeg's Red River Trail at The Forks (where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet). The proposed structure provides a place to gather with a series of reflective fabric panels suspended from an organically shaped roof.

 

Normally intended for emergency situations, the aluminized fabric reflects maximum sunlight for warmth, and an additional insulated felt-lined inner layer can provide further comfort.  A wooden bench is proposed, close to the panels for use while seating. 

 

Four steel columns support the roof; its expanse is built of steel members.  A layer of plywood and a roofing membrane will provide protection from the snow.  At the underside of the roof, reflective mirrors will provide a dynamic visual experience.

 

The layout of the suspended fabrics is designed to encourage different scenarios of use: seating, standing, and engaging in conversation with your fellow citizen. 

 

A Garage and Carport in Toronto

This project consists of an enclosed detached garage and an open carport for a single family dwelling in Toronto.  A flat roof covers the two main spaces, with additional storage located within the garage.  The carport area is closest to the rear entry of the main house for convenient access.  Glazing above the rolling door, within the passage door and at the transom provide natural light.

Early in the design phase of the project, the emphasis was on enclosing 2 cars.  However, as the design progressed, it became clear to the owners that they wanted to also use the designated outdoor carport space for recreation and amenity.  The space is currently occupied with seating, resembling an outdoor living room.  It can still be used to house a vehicle - and most likely will during the winter months.  However, it is interesting to me (and also encouraging) to see the car take a secondary role.  

The main cladding material is a traditional bevel-shaped wood profile, expressed in a clear and simple manner.  A new screen adjacent to the neighbours shields the amenity space to create additional privacy.

As any development in the neighbourhood of Rosedale is subject to the review of the city's Heritage Preservation Services, it was important for the design to be contextual.  This was critical during the process of the Committee of Adjustment.  The application of new zoning bylaws on old neighbourhoods with an accumulation of built up density will often invariably result in a trip to the C of A.  The final design of the volume, material selection, window proportions, and colour palate was a response to the immediate context of the adjacent house and the neighbourhood.

Viewed from the sidewalk, I think the overall effect for a casual observer will be complementary.  Or at the very least, seen as a benign addition of a useful garage and carport / amenity space to an established streetscape.  

Kitchen Renovation

This kitchen renovation involved replacing and renewing windows, a door, cabinetry, and surfaces of an existing kitchen.  Care was taken to limit the scope and cost: the ceiling, lighting, outlets and 3 of the wall surfaces remain essentially as is. 

A striking floor tile pattern was laid out to provide a dynamic experience as one moves through the room.  As there is a broad spectrum of tiles available on the market at a variety of prices, the opportunity was there to experiment and play.

Some older elements like door trim, plaster surfaces and baseboards were maintained; the contractor was able to patch and make good.  If one is comfortable with the mixing of older elements with the new, then a strategic approach can be taken on what to keep, what to build at a basic cost, and where to splurge a little.

A Garage and Carport / Amenity Space in Rosedale

A garage with a carport / amenity space is the main function of this project, currently under construction in Toronto.  At the carport, the area can also serve as a sheltered outdoor family room in agreeable weather, depending on user preference.  Additional storage space is located within the garage, to absorb the various items typical of an active family.

As vehicles get typically wider and taller, a garage door opening size was selected to allow for a broad spectrum of car types to enter comfortably.  Glazing at the clerestory, as well as at the hinged door and transom, provide for daylight within.

Beyond and to the left of the flat roof supported by galvanized steel columns, one can see a Victorian version of a Tudor-style residence a few houses away.

 Any given project with a set program, placed in a different setting, will likely have a different outcome.  A garage in one part of the city, with a given client, will have different criteria to meet than with another.  Rosedale is a neighbourhood whereby any development is subject to review from Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Services.  The aesthetic result was in part a process in which comments from the HPS, the client, and other parties were incorporated to suit the context. 

Rear Addition in Bloor West Village (cont.)

With the main volumes of the addition now framed at the ground, 2nd and 3rd floors, the doors and windows can be seen recently installed.  At grade, the sliding glazed doors pocket into the exterior wall, to maximize the relationship between interior and exterior.  The adjacent swing doors are primarily for circulation (and daylight).

Further removal of the existing masonry wall will open up the interior to the new Lounge.  A change area and washroom will complete the new areas, with underfloor heating throughout. 

The contractor mentioned that these triple glazed wood and aluminum doors were in fact quite heavy to lug up to the 2nd floor.  I’m sure I’d be exhausted after carrying this unit.  Their thermal performance over the years will hopefully be worth their efforts.