63-B House
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Situated on a narrow corner lot within an established downtown Toronto neighbourhood, 63_B is a new private residence distributed over three floors of living space and a detached garage. Dealing with the constraints of a long and narrow site similar to those of the east adjacent properties, the urban response takes its cues from the established figure-ground, aligning itself with neighbouring dwellings at the front elevation and maintaining the flanking street setback of the original house to be demolished. With its deferential urban response, the architecture is consciously introspective, exploring potentialities within the interfaces and interstices of the house as environmental and spatial mediators.
The original house which is slated for demolition, is one in a series of five houses sited on lots of similar sizes, and akin to its neighbours, suffers from a spatially dysfunctional response to the long and narrow site.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN [ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIATION]
An analysis of the horizontal and vertical spatial configurations, mechanical system and residual surfaces of the building envelope reveal passive and sustainable design opportunities inherent within the interstices and interfaces of the house. By consciously configuring the vertical circulation as a continuous interconnected volume through the building’s section to maximize natural lighting and ventilation, replacing conventional forced-air mechanical systems with radiant systems and integrating solar thermal water heating and green roof technology, the architecture begins to re-establish a more symbiotic relationship between the house and the natural environment.
PROGRAMME [SPATIAL MEDIATION]
Through an analysis of the spatial and planar boundaries, the architecture explores the potentials contained within these non-programmed elements as possible mediating devices. Through selective programming and manipulations of the building’s interfaces and interstices, these hidden potentialities are realized as mediating spatial and planar transitions which re-establish connections between the constituent interior spaces and their relationships to the exterior.
PROJECT DATA
- Architect: nkA, www.nkarchitect.ca
- Contractor: Derek Nicholson Incorporated
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
- Area: 2,400 sq ft
- Completion: Summer 2009
