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Architecture, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories

Youthful exuberance

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Co-owners at Wiltshire Homes Canada bring an approach that strikes a chord with millennials

As builders go, Lamont Wiltshire and Odeen Eccleston stand out from the crowd in a number of ways.

However, perhaps the most significant difference the co-owners of Wiltshire Homes Canada Inc. can point to is their business demographic – they are millennials through and through.

“I think we are known for our attention to detail and for incorporating heavy traditionalism and youthful modernity in graceful harmony,” says Eccleston, also well-known as a real estate broker in Durham region, the downtown Toronto core, and across the GTA.

“And as millennials, the environment and energy efficiency is extremely important to us. We like to acquire property that optimizes natural sunlight, energy-efficient windows, furnaces, lighting and develop energy conscious interiors and outdoor living space.”

The young company, spearheaded by Wiltshire and Eccleston, has been building and remodelling distinctive residences in the area for over five years. A second-generation builder, Wiltshire picked up entrepreneurialism and construction techniques from his father, a respected businessman who built the family residence that Wiltshire grew up in, among many others, in the 1990s.

Wiltshire and Eccleston love what they do and it’s evident. In real estate, they have sold over $50-million in properties in the past five years alone. The duo designs grand and elegant residences crafted to exquisite standards which stand out as timeless and classic. They integrate European-inspired design and Old World craftsmanship. The result? World-class homes.

They adhere to a simple, yet effective, philosophy: Ingenuity and design excellence are signatures of quality at Wiltshire Homes, targeting intricate construction for every home.
“Our involvement with expert local craftsmen and subcontractors is evident in each and every home we build,” says Wiltshire. “Again, in such a rapidly changing world of swift technological advances and ever-evolving design trends, Wiltshire Homes tries our best to maintain an intimate balance between Old World charm and contemporary cool.

“We bring a passion for perfection and superb execution in each and every home that we build with attention to detail and pride in customization being paramount. We like to say ‘if you can dream it, we can build it.’”
On their company website, their passion for development is clear through the featured video presentations, including projects ranging from the Pickering area to the Region of Peel. It’s evident they try to incorporate features that a younger demographic is looking for.

Asked to provide a list of company strengths and ideals, Eccleston unveils a potpourri of features:

  • Meticulous attention to detail;
  • Fun features such as waterfall-accented, built-in wine displays;
  • Smart homes that showcase cutting edge technology;
  • Interior and exterior energy efficiency;
  • Transitional design;
  • Quality of craftsmanship;
  • Optimization of living space (smart use of square footage);
  • Third-floor lofts (optimizing height restrictions);
  • And beautiful marriage of classic traditionalism and cool contemporary.

To summarize, Eccleston says: “We try our best to provide our clients with the luxe lifestyles of their dreams, within their budget.”

Along with her successful entry into the real estate/construction industry in the Toronto area, Odeen Eccleston has made a name for herself as an acclaimed author and speaker and is a fascinating example of a successful millennial businesswoman for the ages. Wiltshire and Eccleston’s WE REALTY INC., BROKERAGE, another arm of this duo’s ever-expanding real estate empire, is set to open its doors in 2018.

Web
wiltshirehomes.com

propertiesindurhamregion.com

misstorontorealtor.com

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Top Stories, Trends

The Bentway: hidden in plain sight

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By Ken Greenberg

The Bentway was named through a public competition. The “Bents” are the composite column-and-beam structures that frame the space under the Gardiner Expressway.

The Bentway reveals the possibility of a new cultural landscape beneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway, celebrating its monumental presence by inviting a new generation of use and activity. A new place in the city, it offers a dynamic and vital public space for all citizens that links physical and cultural communities, neighbourhoods and people, catalyzing an unprecedented level of community engagement and creating a legacy for the city.

This re-adaptation of a1.75 kilometre stretch of land beneath the Gardiner expressway – from west of Strachan Avenue to Spadina – was advanced and supported by a $25-million donation by Judy and Wil Matthews, dedicated urbanites and long-time Torontonians. The donors’ profound love for Toronto and their focus on public space as a means to enhance the vitality and amenity of the city prompted them to embrace this public realm initiative. The first phase of the project – 1.1km stretching from Strachan Avenue to just before Bathurst Street – is now under construction. It is being realised by the City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto with additional assistance from Artscape. The design was developed by myself in collaboration with the urban design and landscape architecture PUBLIC WORK. The Bentway Conservancy – a new independent not-for-profit organization – has been created to operate, maintain and program the space.

As we make the transformation from a mid-20th century auto-oriented city to a denser, more sustainable, mixed urban place we need to re-imagine our urban infrastructure. The Bentway’s recycling of the Gardiner Expressway – an unloved piece of utilitarian urban infrastructure is a demonstration of this new way of thinking and a critical resourcefulness. It involves re-purposing what we have inherited in new and unexpected ways to meet pressing needs, reinterpreting a structure essentially designed to move vehicles to serve a whole range of new social, cultural and economic purposes while providing a new model for the governance and stewardship of public space through a not-for-profit, The Bentway Conservancy.

It is a creative response to a downtown core experiencing radical growth and a particular public space challenge – how to expand common ground in one of the most diverse cities in the world (as dramatically attested to the 2016census, which shows that more than half of respondents – 51.5 per cent – identify as belonging to a visible minority). Seeing the undercroft of this elevated structure constructed in mid-twentieth century with fresh eyes opened up a whole world of new possibilities. In 2011 I had written an article in the Fife and Drum about the potential for this space, combined with some 50 acres of green space at historic Fort York, to be a new “central park’ for the series of newly emerging neighbourhoods surrounding it including Liberty Village, Fort York Neighbourhood, City Place, Bathurst Quay and The Niagara Neighbourhood –ow with over 70,000 residents newly arrived in the last fifteen or so years, many of whom were born outside the country and with thousands of their children now living in high-rise neighbourhoods. Through the great act of civic generosity by Wil and Judy Matthews that vision is being realized.

The plan for this prime space transforms this portion of the Gardiner Expressway’s neglected but grand under belly structure into compelling sites of activity and public gathering. This ever-so-slightly curved linear free-standing colonnade has the potential to be so many things: at 24 metres wide and 14.5 metres high, the dramatic proportions of this 1.75 kilometre-long space present endless opportunities for diverse programs. Defined by the series of concrete post-and-beam structural elements (‘bents’) supporting the Gardiner, the space can be fashioned to house a kaleidoscope of year round activities: gardens, gathering spaces, performance areas, play spaces, a continuous multi-modal trails and other recreational amenities, cafés, public markets, art fairs and exhibitions, creative workshops, festivals, theatre and musical performances. Over time, a connective cultural precinct will emerge, a place that activates and inspires creativity in a way that only Toronto can.

The project leverages the city’s recent $150 millions investment in the restoration of this part of the Gardiner deck structure. This area of the city is much like an island, cut off from the surrounding areas by the Gardiner and railway to the north, Lakeshore Blvd. to the south, The Gardiner again as it curves across Bathurst St to the east and the massive underutilized Exhibition Place to the west. The Bentway changes this – it connects what is currently disconnected on all sides – close but seeming inaccessible. Existing key landmarks serve as anchors in the comprehensive scheme: They include Historic Fort York, with its new Visitor Centre and “Liquid Landscape” along Fort York Boulevard recalling Lake Ontario’s former shoreline, plus the new Fort York Library – which now welcomes neighbourhood residents to its airy and well-lit spaces. Contiguous green spaces such as June Callwood Park, Coronation Park, the Toronto Music Garden (also supported by the Matthews), the Martin Goodman Waterfront Trail, the soon to come extension of the West Toronto Rail Path and the new Fort York Pedestrian and Cycle bridge from the expanded Stanley Park, all converge on this strategic site. Other significant developments are on the horizon, such as the Block 31 community centre and schools in City Place, and the historic Loblaw warehouse conversion and associated redevelopment at the corner of Bathurst Street and Lake Shore Boulevard.

Programmatically The Bentway will be a space like no other – re-imagined, unexpected, only in Toronto. The continuous multi-use trail and series of public spaces will transform this area under the Gardiner into a new gathering place. As a forum for social engagement, artistic experimentation and creative expression, the site brings to life the multilayered history of the area as a gathering place for indigenous peoples, a strategic military location at the foot of Fort York, the arrival of the railway era in mid-nineteenth century and now an artery linking former industrial lands and new post-industrial neighbourhoods along the city’s waterfront. As a new model for public space in Toronto the Bentway will reconnect visitors with this unique and evolving landscape.
The Bentway will present an all-season programme of public events, including a unique skate trail experience, recreational amenities, public markets, educational workshops, public art installations, theatre, dance, musical performances and more. Events will range in scale and scope but all will focus on encouraging a sense of discovery, openness and shared community experience. Through arts, culture, recreation, and more,

The Bentway will challenge the way we inhabit public space and spark new opportunities in Toronto and beyond. As this occurs the Bentway is stimulating more changes in its vicinity forming a new network of public space in what was formerly an underappreciated urban vacuum. This is a case of simultaneous discovery as similar projects re-appropriating post – industrial wastelands as new forms of public space appear in many places. The Bentway has been invited to join The Highline Network http://network.thehighline.org/ a network of 19 similar North American projects to share best practices and insights. The Bentway is stimulating change, encouraging a new way of looking at urban infrastructure, and creating new opportunities for gathering and activity. As construction continues, the first sections will open to the public in very soon – a skate trail this winter and the full extent of the site in June 2018. It will be fascinating to see how this formerly neglected vacuum is received by the public.

Ken Greenberg is an urban designer, teacher, writer, former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the City of Toronto and Principal of Greenberg Consultants. For over four decades he has played a pivotal role on public and private assignments in urban settings throughout North America and Europe, focusing on the rejuvenation of downtowns, waterfronts, neighborhoods and on campus master planning, regional growth management, and new community planning. A frequent writer for periodicals, he is the author of Walking Home: the Life and Lessons of a City Builder published by Random House. His current major project is as urban design lead and client representative for Project:Under the Gardiner in Toronto.

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

A Vertical Forest on Mars?

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“Vertical Forest • Seeds on Mars” landing at SUSAS 2017

A Vertical Forest on Mars? It is one of the hypotheses developed by SBA China along with the Tongji University’s Future City Lab to imagine Shanghai in 2117. A great metropolis that will be well flooded by water – if humanity will not be capable to reverse the warming of the planet. Thus, in collaboration with the Chinese Space Agency, was born the idea -so far in the form of vision – of a colony of Shanghai on the Red Planet. A “New Shanghai” that could be born thanks to the rooting on Mars’s surface of real “eco-systemic seeds” (which would travel through an interplanetary space station) within which to create an atmosphere and a favorable climate for plants and human life.


The “Vertical Forest Seeds on Mars” will be presented at the entrance of the great SUSAS 2017 exhibition, opening on October 15th in Minsheng Port in Shanghai.
The edition 2017 of Shanghai Urban Space and Art Season is curated by Stefano Boeri with Lee Xiangning, dean of School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji
University• and Fang Zhenning, contemporary independent artist and interational critic. With the contribution of co-curators Guo Xiaoyan, Feng Lu and Tommaso Sacchi, SUSAS invited nearly 200 well-known curators, architects, artists from all over the world, to create cultural festival of urban renovation.


The exhibition 2017 is entitled “This-CONNECTION – sharing a future of public space”, it features art, architecture, urban planning, design interpreting the future of the cities.
Stefano Boeri Architetti will present the Marsian experiment through an installation with augmented reality high-tech. The visitors can use the on-site equipment or download the online application software provided by Archi Maker, in order to experience the green city view in the future interstellar after 100 years. In addition, RADURA the conceptual installation by Stefano Boeri Architetti will debut in China. It will work as an antenna inside the “Vertical Forest Mars Seed”, enabling it to receive information from the past, present and future.
SUSAS 2017 will be open to visitors for the following three months.

Architecture, Building Envelope, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends, Wood

Tree Tower Toronto

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Proposed project utilizing wood and plants seen as catalyst for future sustainable buildings

Penda architects have teamed up with wood consultants from CLT-brand Tmber to propose a modular and natural high-rise tower in Toronto.

The Tree Tower Toronto project is seen as a catalyst for future residential buildings that are “more efficient to construct” and “more ecological to our environment” than common construction methods, says a principal at Penda, an international creative team with offices in China and Austria.

“Our cities are an assembly of steel, concrete and glass,” says Chris Precht, partner at Penda. “If you walk through the city and suddenly see a tower made of wood and plants, it will create an interesting contrast.

“The warm, natural appearance of wood and the plants growing on its facade bring the building to life and that could be a model for environmentally-friendly developments and sustainable extensions of our urban landscape.”

The Tree Tower Toronto is a joint effort of Penda, as architects, and Canadian CLT-consultants at Tmber – they envision sustainable high-rise proposals in urban areas. The 18-storey tower in Toronto would be 62 metres high and have 4,500 square metres of residential area and 550 square metres of public area with a cafe, children’s daycare centre, and workshops for the neighbouring community. A location has not been announced.

Due to its natural appearance, the building would shift the usual ‘building to city’ relation to a ‘building to nature’ relation, the principals say. The tower would showcase a direct connection to nature with plants and its natural materials.

Canada and Sustainable Architecture

Canada has a long tradition of wood construction and was one of the first countries in the world to change its building codes in order to use wood in vertical structures. That makes Canada a pioneer in adding high rises made out of wood to their urban fabric. As a promotion for sustainable developments, the Canadian government awards buildings that exceed carbon footprint standards. Such credits can reach a 10-20 per cent funding of the building cost and are a direct injection to green light sustainable housing proposals and an incentive for forward thinking developers.

A Modular Process

Canada has also been a frontrunner for modular, pre-fabricated construction, which was efficient on one hand and visually interesting on the other. One great example of this is Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67. Inspired by the Habitat, The Tree Tower Toronto would involve a modular building process, where pre-fabricated and pre-cut CLT panels would be assembled off-site at an indoor facility. After the work on site, with foundation, ground floor and a base core is done, all modules, including fixtures and finishes, would be delivered to the site and craned into place.

During the process of stacking the modules, the timber clad facade panels would be installed and sealed. To go fully modular and prefab, the process would be faster, less noisy, reduce waste and allow for a high degree of quality control; that’s because most parts of the building would be assembled in a controlled indoor environment.

The structure of the building would be mainly massive timber panels with a hybrid of CLT, concrete and steel-elements where needed and could be seen as a prominent statement to use engineered wood products in vertical structures.

“The building constructed in a modular process will become more flexible,” says Dayong Sun, a partner at Penda. “In response to a fast pace of life in the future, the building should meet the user’s demand in a faster and more flexible way. Furthermore, a modular system formed in the city of the future will make the module a part of the shared lifestyle more than the building. This way, the service life of the building module will be greatly increased for sustainable development.”

Furthermore, the modular construction system implements an idea about the reusability of building components in an afterlife of a tower. Elements of a building like wires and copper will be scarce resources in the future. Demolishing a tower in the conventional way ends up burying the most valuable elements of a building. Instead, think down-constructing a tower – that helps secure a sustainable life cycle of a building, project principals say.

Wood as a Building Material

Wood is an old building material that has been getting a new life in taller buildings over the last five years. Building with engineered wood has been called the next tidal wave of building in the 21st century. A quality lifestyle, the principals believe, means living in healthy environments. That also means living in a healthy city.

The building industry is by far the biggest contributor to pollution, they point out, and solutions for more ecological buildings need to be actively sought and legislated. Because buildings account for almost half of all energy used worldwide, the quintessential focus of the design community has to be on strategies to reduce the energy consumption in buildings and in their construction. The process that creates structural engineered wood products takes far less energy than steel, cement or concrete and produces fewer greenhouse gases during manufacturing. Further, wood stores carbon in itself (approximately one tonne per cubic metre) thus it has, compared to other building materials, a lighter overall environmental footprint.

Symbiosis of Architecture and Botany

A key element of the project is to communicate its innovative use of wood and engineered wood technology used in the building, according to principals. The tower would not only use massive wood panels as its main structural element, but would also incorporate timber clad panels as its facade. Despite wood as a structural and cladding material, trees and plants would also be a key component on the building’s facade. Large outdoor areas would provide a space for herb and vegetable planters for the residents. The vegetation on the terraces would offer a private garden for each apartment, which would create a certain degree of privacy within the density of the city. The trees would also provide a shade in summer and help to keep the temperature low on warm days.

Wood as a construction material and trees on the facade offer a unique and coherent ecological design and exhibit a symbiosis of a built and a natural environment, say the principals.
“In a way, we are growing the material for an extension of the tower on its terraces,” says Mark Stein, CEO of Tmber. “This connection helps further develop a true ecological high rise, supplies its residents with fresher air and provides a lower carbon footprint.

“The extensive use of wood would set ambitious sustainability targets and be a catalyst for similar developments in Canada,” Stein added.

Web

tmber.net

home-of-penda.com

Architecture, HVAC, Ideas, LEED, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Progetto CMR – Your Villa in the Sky

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Oxygen Eco-Tower – sustainable design and luxury

Oxygen Eco-Tower, awarded the “People’s Choice Award” at MIPIM, the largest international real estate fair, integrates elegance, well-being and technology in the concept of vertical residence. It is a true showcase for Italian expertise and sustainable design, especially as it was the outcome of close cooperation between the architects and a series of leading Italian companies that brought their technologies and products to the design table.

The concept design is developed from the geometric model of a flower that grows upward, with an organic shape. A vertical constellation of villas, a 125.800 sqm residential tower, green and luxurious, developed on 75 floors (total height of 277 meters), designed to fulfill the dreams and meet the needs of people who will live those spaces. The 161 villas, each one with private garden and swimming pool, are organized in 4 different typologies, surrounded by 61.000 sqm of gardens, where man and nature live in symbiosis.

The four different typologies of villas are repeated in sequence creating an amazing effect, forming the tower. Shops, restaurants, library, kindergarten, VIP-lounge, cigar bar, SPA, tennis courts, running track and large swimming pools are part of the services, further improving the quality of life to the residents.

This project becomes a vehicle for the promotion of sustainable design. A sustainable technology that expresses itself in every design choice, that transforms Oxygen Eco-Tower into a true green-building thanks to technical solutions which allow a strong synergy with the environment by using natural energies. The entire roof is set up for auto-generation of electricity through photovoltaic panels; the “heating and cooling” system is provided by a geothermal system, eliminating carbon dioxide emissions; a centralized ventilation system filters the outside air, ensuring the correct temperature in a natural way; regenerative and clever use of energy utilized for the elevators allows a considerable energy saving; and special pools collect the rainwater, preserving the aquifer.

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Back to the future

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The world catches up to visionary Milessa Modules home design

It was 54 years ago when Carlo Milessa first unveiled his innovative way of building houses to the National Home Show in Toronto.

At that time, his novel approach to architectural housing design was not particularly lauded, nor did it garner the support that he had anticipated.
But that was then, and today his visionary concept, entitled Milessa Modules, seems poised to find its appropriate niche in an ever-changing world.
“Back in 1963, developers were not interested,” says Milessa, who is kickstarting his project, hoping to appeal to a modern industry, fully supportive of sustainable initiatives. “People back then said ‘shelve it’ or ‘it’s ahead of its time.’
“Now, with climate change concerns magnified, I believe it’s time to try again.”
Milessa Modules is a ground-breaking hexagonal housing cluster concept based on a geometric theorem that Milessa conceptualized and copyrighted all those years ago. The first image that comes to mind when looking at drawings is a honeycomb.
His concept involves having six hexagonal buildings arranged in a large hexagonal shape, all connected by outside walls, with a seventh building placed in the centre of a courtyard.
What this does is allow one cluster of buildings to be easily linked to another to create a honeycomb network of self-contained spaces where each modular building could be customized for a different function. Moreover, this type of modular building could be mass-produced, and disassembled and reassembled as well, much like a LEGO effect.

“If you can build one, you can build many,”Milessa says. “Mass production of the modular buildings would significantly lower the cost compared to traditional housing options. This would make the modules appealing to both Canadian and international markets.

Milessa’s foresight extended to other forms of consumer trends, as well. Case in point? Housing in general.
“Large houses will soon go the way of large cars,” he’s said, forecasting the gradual shift in preference. “We’ve seen consumers go for compact, environmentally-friendly, fuel-efficient vehicles; in my opinion housing will follow the same trend. It’s happening already.

“Milessa Modules are just the thing to pique homebuyer interest.”
The hexagonal modular setup can be utilized in many ways. Milessa says housing units, holiday rentals, greenhouse, retirement communities – even summer camps – would be ideal common-sense fits for Milessa Modules. He stresses that the unit’s hexagonal shape allows for more efficient use of space, but what really creates a winning alternative to traditional housing are the green building features.

Many of his ideas were met with dubious reactions back in the Sixties, but seem to be the status quo in 2017. He points to the use of gardens, rainwater collection systems, natural light and solar panels as examples of how developers can maintain an eco-friendly and cost-efficient operation.

“Plus, the spaces between rooms would be glass enclosures,” he explains. “On sunny days in the winter you would have natural heat. So you don’t spend money on heating. In the summer, you might have more shade, and less use for air-conditioners.
“If you cover the courtyard with a canopy of plants, you would add to the shade and get good quality fresh air in the summer months. “

Keeping in line with his think-outside-the-box mentality, Milessa speculates on other positives that could be derived by utilizing Milessa Modules.
“Right now I am exploring the advantages of variable geometry architecture in planning a modular components synthetic biosphere for a future space academy,” he says. “They could be used for space farms to feed scientists, deep space exploration or storage units for space-based mineral reserves. There’s also the fact that an air pocket can ben created if the module is turned upside down in the water. This could turn into development of a subsea wellhead maintenance and ocean floor exploration platform, where rare minerals could be accessed.

“I am also concentrating on the rain harvesting feature. This could capture rainfall in cisterns and create small artificial lakes. That could be very impactful for the dry regions of the world.”

Did you know?
Carlo Milessa first built a prototype of the modular building on an island in Northern Ontario in 1967 to support his geometrical theorem. The prototype was used as a summer camp by a Toronto-based Italian club, and then as a cottage by Milessa and his family, before its eventual sale to a private buyer.

Milessa has been in talks with companies in China, Malaysia and India regarding possible furnishing options for the modules.

Additionally, a book on Milessa Modules, authored by Milessa, can be found in various university libraries, including the University of California, Los Angeles

Architecture, Ideas, Style

Call it the U-Pad … your style of living

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Inspired concept by custom home builder and founder of Stonemill Developments would see three-storey house utilized in a whole different way

Paul Ribau has a vision.

And the Principal Owner of Stonemill Developments Inc. has also done the necessary homework and is confident his idea will quickly translate into a very popular option for people looking to get the most out of their living situation.

In a nutshell, Ribau believes he’s on to something big; something that does not even exist in the real estate market today and will generate a tremendous amount of interest. His plan would see an affordable luxury three-storey unit being used as both a home, and a source of income.

Call it the U-Pad.

The concept will be brought to life in the form of a modern design that draws attention to its application of windows and to its spacious layout. The U-Pad’s design brings an uplifting environment.

“The U-Pad’s appeal is especially evident for folks who are thinking of retirement,” says Ribau, also Broker of Record, Stonemill Realty Inc. “Imagine a successful couple, whose children have recently moved on with their own lives; their large-scale home now has a rather empty presence.”

Traditionally, perhaps, the go-to move would be to sell and downsize. Paul explains that “couples as such may be ready to downsize, but like many, they are not ready to give up their needs for storage and use of backyard.

“The U-Pad offers a dynamic alternative,” Ribau says, “and a solution for combining an urban or downtown living experience with the convenience of a bungalow style living format, all the while providing a rental income from two separate spacious apartment style units in a three-storey setting, complete with elevator access.”

Ribau, together with Stonemill’s in-house Architect, Kristjan Fortune, has the details all worked out.

“A typical U-Pad would not have a basement. Instead, Ribau says, there would be a drive-in 1,200-square-foot garage on the main floor “to house all the cars or toys, of course” – plus a 1,600-square-foot two-bedroom apartment.

Each floor would have 10-foot ceilings. An elevator would be installed in the common area to provide access to the second and third floors.

The second and third floors each would be a whopping 2,800-square-feet of luxury apartments.

While completing the U-Pad space, owners would have the opportunity to work with Brenda Baranowski, Stonemill’s in-house Lead Designer, in choosing their interior design finishes.

Ribau pointed to the many benefits, including:

The rental income opportunity
The U-Pad owner could choose to live on the main floor or one of the other levels depending on preference. Subject to district market values, the main floor could be rented out for $2,500 a month and the second and third floors could be rented out each for $3,500 a month.

Choice of location
As a custom builder, Ribau stresses: “With my design-build team of real estate agents, a U-Pad owner can choose where to set up their U-Pad living destination and whether they want to be in an urban setting, be close to a downtown annex, close to the waterfront, or place themselves in a quieter urban setting … the freedom of choice is theirs and a huge benefit.”
Ribau says that Stonemill realizes there are countless factors to be considered when it comes to purchasing a new home “but at the end of the day, you want it to be your home and unique to the way you want to live.”

And he says Stonemill provides “you with the freedom of expressing true individuality in your new home. All you need is the inspiration.”

Since 1997, as a leader in the construction industry for custom design and build projects, Stonemill stands out with in-house specialized services. Whether it’s finding that perfect lot, getting qualified for a new home purchase or construction financing, or simply starting the process of a custom design to blueprint to interior, Stonemill provides one-stop service, Ribau says.

Here’s what to expect, according to Ribau, when you see the Stonemill brand:

Custom built homes

“At Stonemill Developments Inc. our inspiration comes from the clients.  Ranging from bungalows, lofted bungalows, modern two-storey scapes and traditional two-storey marvels, Stonemill will deliver the luxurious style of living.  With your custom wish list in hand, ensure that Stonemill can accommodate all with quality workmanship and finishes in mind.”

Large-scale renovations

“For homeowners, a large renovation can be downright daunting. Stonemill has the experience and creative sensibility needed to produce any space you’ve been dreaming of, smoothly from start to finish.”

Professional design

“With 18 years of custom creations, its innovative design focus on enhancing space, movement and flow through the house, with a winning combination of opulent finishes and unique touches, Stonemill ensures an output that all clients should deserve.”

Full real estate services

“At Stonemill, we don’t just design and build homes, but extend beyond by providing full-scale real estate expertise. Our team of agents will assist you with whatever your needs may be, from MLS listing packages to new home buying options and more.”

Paul Ribau is the founder and President of Stonemill Developments Inc., Proud member of the Home Building & Renovation Warranty Program Tarion License #34286 and Broker of Stonemill Realty Inc., he comes with a cluster of credentials linked to both the building industry and real estate services. Besides the U-Pad initiative, Ribau says he would like to incorporate solar roof panels along with Tesla home battery power banks. “People would use battery power during peak hours and save tons on hydro costs.”

Web / stonemill.ca

 

 

 

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends, Wood

When dreams come true

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World’s leading tree house company caters to every whim while maintaining sustainability focus

There are many ways to connect with your inner child.

But perhaps none can compare with the pure, unadulterated joy experienced when you drift back to less-stressful times when dreams were constant and life was all about having fun.

Two brothers, Andy and Simon Payne, tapped into that feeling in a big way, when they decided to let their imaginations run wild, creating a renowned tree house design and construction empire along the way.

Theirs was no one-off venture – they now, in fact, offer a variety of inspired and luxurious options, featuring everything from fairy-tale towers to spas to living spaces connected by rope bridges high up in trees. And their UK-based company, Blue Forest, has built hundreds of tree houses which mesh with their immediate environment, all utilizing sustainable materials such as timber.

Born in Kenya, the brothers grew up in the English countryside near Sussex, where they followed through on their vision to start a tree house business – realizing the potential after volunteering for a conservation project in their African homeland.

They came up with the name Blue Forest – named after the blue-hued pine forests in Japan’s mountainous Aomori region – and initially began creating tree houses of all shapes and sizes, including a traditional child’s house and party venues for adults and teens.

From that basic beginning, however, Blue Forest has grown. Today, it’s arguably the world’s most prominent tree house company.

“We have been able to fulfill clients’ dreams for unique and exciting tree houses,” says Blue Forest spokesperson Shar Maytum. “We are known for our sustainable practices and structures that which reflect their natural setting.”

Blue Forest works hand in hand with the world’s largest forest certification system, the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), as well as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), to ensure that all the wood used comes from sustainably-managed land. They determine where the original trees were grown, when they were cut down and how many trees were planted to replace the harvested ones.

“Our structures are built using a variety of natural construction materials, including timber which is FSC/PEFC-certified or sourced from sustainably-managed forests,” explains Maytum. “There is an active strategy of replanting and habitat regeneration, enabling them to blend in seamlessly with the beautiful natural environment in which they are situated.”

At the same time, Blue Forest encourages clients to build with high levels of insulation and incorporate renewable energy whenever possible. Achieving off-the-grid capacity is not always easy, but Blue Forest believes that the elements that make the tree houses most sustainable are not always difficult to achieve.

For example, Maytum says that simply insulating the building really well, and using such natural resources as the sun and wind for heating and cooling, plus incorporating low-energy lighting, combine to go a long way towards achieving an off-the-grid goal.


There are many ways Blue Forest helps clients achieve their sustainable goals. Homes are built around trees and utilize hybrid designs so that the weight of the structure is supported by posts and anchored by trees. There are also fully arboreal houses built right in the middle of long-living, deep-rooted trees.

The company designs also cater to client whims. Say a client prefers hardwood to softwood. Blue Forest can provide a more expensive sustainable alternative called Kebony, which uses a bio-based liquid to permanently enhance sustainable softwood, giving it a dark brown finish with premium hardwood features.

Across the board, however, Blue Forest finds that its clients all want to reconnect with nature in some way. And it’s that love of nature that makes sustainability a top priority.

It’s definitely a lifestyle choice, one more and more people are gravitating towards, says Maytum.

“Being built in and around the trees in their natural environment … there is no better place to live than in a tree house,” she says.
Web / blueforest.com
Blue Forest’s primary expertise is in building luxury tree houses but the company has designed and built everything from tree house hotels to woodland playgrounds, tree house classrooms, canopy walkways and eco lodges. Blue Forest provides a turnkey solution, with everything from design and planning to construction and commissioning comes in one package. Blue Forest mainly operates in the UK and Europe but has participated in a number of other projects around the world. The company also offers design or architectural consultancy service for customers further afield.