All posts by Giulio

Architecture, Building Envelope, Ideas, Net Zero, Style, Sustainability, Technology

Sluishuis Residential Building / Barcode Architects + BIG

A new icon and entrance for Amsterdam IJburg

After four years of construction, Sluishuis has been completed. Amsterdam IJburg now has a new, architecturally iconic landmark. The building forms a bridge between IJburg and the city center. With 442 different types of owner-occupied and rental homes, a public green roof garden with a rooftop walkway, bird and recreational islands, jetties for boats, and catering facilities, Sluishuis is a place for everyone.

Leading architecture

Sluishuis offers a modern and sustainable way of living on and around water. It is a remarkable building with a unique volume that seems to float on the water thanks to the double cantilever. The cantilevers come together in a high corner that forms a large gateway from the IJ to the inner harbor of the building. On the other side, the building is complemented with stairs leading towards its rooftop and green, welcoming terraces: an inviting gesture towards the neighborhood of IJburg.

Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner at BIG, says: “Having spent my formative years as an architect in The Netherlands at the end of the 20th century, it feels like a homecoming to now get to contribute to the architecture of the city that I have loved and admired for so long.” Dirk Peters, Founding Partner at Barcode Architects adds: “With iconic architecture, as well as new housing typologies, high-quality outdoor spaces, and breathtaking views of the IJmeer, Sluishuis is a new landmark for IJburg as well as Amsterdam.”

A new living experience on the water

Sluishuis consists of 442 energy-neutral owner-occupied and rental apartments and an offer featuring houseboat lots, jetties for pleasure crafts, hospitality facilities, commercial spaces, and a fully integrated water landscape with islands for recreation, water sports, fauna and flora, and even power generation. The project is largely publicly accessible. Residents and visitors can linger in the inner harbor, enjoy the promenade with stunning rooftop views, and benefit from the jetties and islands, spot water birds or admire the historic houseboats.

Sluishuis offers different apartment types and was designed for a variety of target groups, income levels, and age categories. In addition to compact city studios and water sports apartments, Sluishuis features duplex penthouses with views on both the inner harbor and the IJ-lake. The stepped part of the building comprises premium apartments with luxurious wooden sun-oriented roof terraces with views over IJburg. The apartments at the bottom of the cantilever with splendid views over the IJ-lake are particularly remarkable.

Integral sustainability

The sustainability of Sluishuis is an integral part of the project. With an energy performance coefficient (EPC) of 0.00, the building generates more energy than it consumes. The building’s heating requirements are minimized by combining high-performance insulation techniques, triple glazing, and heat recovery on the ventilation systems and wastewater. Energy consumption is further reduced by a heat and cold storage (CHS) system in the ground for heat and cooling in combination with a connection to the district heating system for peak times.

The remaining energy consumption for heating, heat pumps, ventilation, and LED lighting is fully compensated by approximately 2,200 m² of solar panels, to which an entire floating island adjacent to the project is dedicated. The development team of Sluishuis paid particular attention to green space and water collection. The front sides and the inner harbor of the building feature gardens with local plant species. The greenery runs across the roof terraces up into integrated planters, creating a pleasant green atmosphere.

Reinforcing social cohesion

In addition to the building’s sustainable features, Sluishuis aims to stimulate and strengthen the social connections between residents and visitors. The staggered balconies encourage relationships and exchanges. The public walkway towards the rooftop, but also the children’s playground in the inner harbor, the landscape with jetties, and the wooden roof terraces promote spontaneous encounters.

Hans Meurs, CEO VORM: “If we were to design all the Netherlands like Sluishuis, we would no longer have an energy problem and loneliness would be almost impossible. A successful project in every sense of the word. We all worked with passion on this project. That makes me proud.”

Natural materials

The building materials contrast and connect with their environment. Natural materials were chosen for their material palette, which will give the building a rich and natural look over the years. The abstract, untreated aluminum of the facade reflects the water and gives the volume a different look at any time of day. In contrast, the stepped roof terraces and the jetties landscape are made of wood which gives a tactile appearance. The building’s façade is circular.

Photographs :Ossip van Duivenbode

Architecture, Eco Tourism, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Top Stories, Trends, Wood

A luxury hotel on a cliff in Crete with rooms carved out of the rock

The Arco Suites complex has 49 suites and villas in buildings constructed of stone and wood. Some of the rooms are carved into the cliffs of Crete’s Mononaftis Bay. Each of the suites at this Greek hotel has its own private saltwater pool overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Some of the suites were carved directly into the cliff, with parts of the rock exposed around the pool terraces and throughout the interior to preserve the feeling of a cave. The stone walls also help maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the year, reducing the need for heating and air conditioning.

The hotel’s common areas are furnished with custom-made marble, natural fabrics and copper and wood details. It features several outdoor lagoons and an indoor spa, with oval design and smooth stone, which contrast with the roughly carved walls and wooden doors.

In addition, this wellness-focused establishment houses a Byzantine hammam, a Finnish sauna, two treatment rooms, an outdoor pool and a heated pool.

Architecture, Building Envelope, Covid19, Net Zero, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

The RND Solution

 

Ottawa’s premier green builder forges ahead during pandemic with net-zero homes

 

As incredible as it sounds, RND Construction overcame one obstacle after another to build nine net-zero-ready homes while dealing with Covid-19 organizational realities.

The result is Farmside Green, the brainchild of RND president Roy Nandram, who nurtured the Ottawa project from the get-go.

“The challenges during Covid included a steep increase in building material costs, especially in lumber,” says Nandram, whose company has been building green for 30 years and is a regular award winner at local, provincial and national levels. “But there were also long lead times for delivery of finishing products and securing trades. And there were also challenges building homes during the winter on a tight site.”

Designed by Hobin Architecture, the development was planned for R-2000 standards, which is 50 per cent more energy efficient than conventional builds. RND decided to upgrade these homes to net-zero during the construction process. Hobin looked to farmhouse design concepts as inspiration for the homes’ exteriors, showcasing prominent gables, then combined that with bright, modern-themed interiors.

Farmside Green consists of three pairs of semi-detached and three single-detached net-zero homes. The development backs onto Ottawa’s historic 427-hectare Central Experimental Farm and features smart floorplans, tasteful style and an eco-friendly base that positions it as a futuristic energy-efficient standard incorporating resilient construction techniques.

With square-footage ranges from about 1,800 to 2,450, the homes were designed to complement the nearby area and scenery.  Nandram named the various homes after traditional Canadian trees, including Maple, Hemlock, Walnut and Birch. The development features a bike path that leads to the adjoining farmland.

Also close to the Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital, Nandram points out that Farmside Green is an “amazing” location.

 

“The Central Experimental Farm was the clincher and, with no backyard neighbours, the project is like a little island,” he says.

 

The overall design utilizes a forceful colour palette so each house is slightly different, to eliminate the sameness so often evident in standard developments. With Farmside Green there is also eco-conscious construction that includes upgraded insulation, triple-glazed windows and high-performance heating systems.

Besides exceptional backyards and design, Farmside Green is close to the Queensway, which provides easy access to the events, restaurants and shops downtown. Also close by is Preston Street, known as home to the vibrant Little Italy community. Again, a bike path extends from the development, reaching across Central Experimental Farm and ensuring an accessible link to the city network.

RND Construction builds these kinds of net-zero-ready homes to be at least 50 per cent more energy-efficient than standard builds, with Nandram’s green passion  evident every step of the way.

“I am very concerned for the environment,” he says. “Plus homeowners know they are getting a thermally comfortable home and take pride in the fact they are helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As more and more customers request net-zero-ready homes, we will continue to build them when the opportunities present themselves.”

While working on Farmside Green, RND built Vista Green, a two-home development on a corner lot at Alta Vista Drive and Mountbatten Avenue in Ottawa. The lot was severed, which promoted efficient land use and compact form. Both homes have also been certified as R-2000 and net-zero.  One model is called The Veranda, and has a large front porch. The other, The Terrace, has a rooftop terrace and elevator. Nandram confirmed that his company has another five net-zero-ready homes under construction.

RND subscribes to a philosophy that promotes ‘green’ as a method of constructing homes and buildings which utilizes environmentally-friendly techniques while creating a sustainable and energy-efficient final product. Nandram says the advantages are many, including long-term savings and numerous health benefits for the homeowners. Perhaps most importantly, he points out, it gives homeowners an active role in protecting against climate changes and preserving natural resources for future generations.

To that end, RND focuses on incorporating design, comfort and operational efficiency into each project, always with an eye on a net-zero possibility. The combination of all three aspects helps to create an ideal living environment that is sustainable, as well as stylish and cost-effective.

 

Web / rndconstruction.ca

 

Net-zero homes were once only seen in custom homes, but committed and passionate builders such as RND Construction now offer net-zero and net-zero-ready production of homes and communities. Energy efficient homes are becoming more desirable to many Canadians who are looking for superior quality, greater comfort, and who want to be environmentally responsible. And net-zero communities are helping reach Canada’s emission reduction targets. (Note: A net-zero home produces the same amount of energy that it consumes annually through renewable energy resources).

 

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, LEED, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

The Wellness Center of the future

DCL Healthcare Properties setting new standard in medical office space

 

Like most visionaries, Frank Deluca looked into the future and clearly understood what was about to transpire in healthcare.

A tsunami of educated, health-oriented boomers straining the healthcare system.

In his case, back in 2012, that foresight involved developing one of the greenest, most sustainable and integrated healthcare facilities in Canada.  Fast-forward and those intuitive feelings are coming to fruition today with DCL Healthcare Properties Inc., setting a new standard in medical office space delivery and design.

“Yes, my motivation started years ago,” says Deluca, the CEO and Chief Imagineer at DCL. “I had been hired to design-build a few walk-in clinics and noticed a trend – they were being built as cheaply as possible with no real regard for design or wellness.

Many factors that I penciled out back then have come to roost today..  says Deluca…  High energy costs, end of life cycle buildings, practitioner burnout, and the big one… viral infections.

“Even then it seemed inevitable that energy costs would never go down, so I contemplated how to mitigate the reality of rising costs within medical space; I was very interested in the building envelope efficiency, energy savings potential, and building technology integration.”Adding to that was the notion that people can often feel more ill entering a medical building than leaving and that sent me on an exploration of “why”. Why do medical buildings have to be draining on us?

Hence – the genesis of the DCL Healthcare Properties was sparked and their mission statement; to re-engineer the medical space environment from a sustainability and wellness perspective”

DCL’s pilot project is the DCL Niagara Medical Arts Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This project, referred to as a community healthcare hub, is slated for occupancy by the fall of 2023. The facility is designed and engineered to mitigate and address the future concerns of climate change, carbon footprint, and environmental as well as infections. While advocating wellness-oriented spaces for the user.

Located on a four-acre site alongside the Queen Elizabeth Way, and next to the McBain Community Center in Niagara Falls, the healthcare hub will be home to a 145,000-square-foot seniors living center which has already broken ground. DCL’s 60,000 square-foot green sustainable medical facility is on the same site and hosts free parking for over 200 vehicles.  Yes free.. “to the best of my knowledge we are the only dedicated medical facility with free parking, and doctors love it,” says Deluca.

Getting to this point was not for the faint at heart but this Imagineer is not your average entrepreneur.  DCL started with a grey-field property which Deluca envisioned as a site that would be easily accessible green, sustainable, and integrated into what the community needed – more healthcare services. Deluca acquired the parcel and then commenced the typically lengthy process of planning, zoning, etc..  Deluca sub-divided the parcel and commenced the search for an allied neighbor to compliment his vision of a medical facility of the future… “I can’t not thank enough the support of City of Niagara Falls and Mayor Jim Deodati” says Deluca.

He found that in Reichmann International and today the results are speaking for themselves as Reichmann’s retirement facility comes out of the ground.  These developments definitely impact the region’s growing footprint for the advancement of healthcare services.

Less than three kilometers away on the same road is the location of the new South Niagara Hospital, a 1.3-million-square-foot state-of-the-art facility that will be Canada’s first WELL-certified hospital. (WELL is a system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.)

The DCL Niagara Medical Arts Centre is also registered with WELL. From biophilic, indigenous landscape design and nature trails, to rain and stormwater harvesting.  DCL is driven to make a significant impact on the community it serves.  “I believe I was practicing ESG before it was all the rave buzzword in the real estate investment world”, says Deluca.

DCL’s innovations do not just included many of the sustainability initiatives. The DCL facility has been engineering to be primarily built in a modular off-site construction method, as well as cutting construction timeliness by 1/3rd. Again, not an easy accomplishment. Deluca had to go as far as hiring his own internal engineering team after a number challenges from traditional thinking engineers who seemed unable to adopt this building process.

Perhaps the most unique feature that DCL has initiated in the medical facility envelope is the modular methodology construction, which can be replicated and delivered to communities in a half the traditional construction build time.  The structure, Canada’s first permanent modular medical building, is engineered into pods that are built and finished entirely within a manufactured assembly line.  The focus is on an exceptional high-performance energy-efficient envelope, high-level engineering, and reduced carbon footprint.

 

DCL has paid close attention to all features of the site. Every entrance is barrier-free with canopy-covered parking. There are heated sidewalks for reduced maintenance and liability, plus 50 fully landscaped low-maintenance indigenous plants and semi-mature trees. To help in saving water, the site has rain and stormwater harvesting systems for non-potable water, which are utilized for landscape irrigation and general site maintenance.  Non- potable waters also used for flushing toilets so in a medical facility you can image the potential water costs savings by using the sites’ own stored water for this function. Also available are the 12 vehicle charging stations for EV, as well as a building generator with natural gas as a backup in case of power loss due the storms.

“I am most proud of the integration of the core building technologies and how they integrate and will function together,” says Deluca. “That goes for the smart glazing to the LED features, which communicate with the building’s HVAC system to optimize office space temperatures, lighting, and obvious patient/practitioner comfort.  The overall visual design, or curb appeal, is modern, contemporary, and timeless.”

DCL, then, presents a stress-free healthcare facility that encourages social contact, physical exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices which help in enhancing the well-being of users.

“I believe that COVID drew attention to our healthcare deficiencies,” says Deluca. “Not just in Ontario but possibly globally. Although the primary focus was on front-line workers, as the pandemic became almost a way of life for two years, medical space designers and engineers realized that a few core factors – such as HVAC – needed attention. We have even adopted a common European practice to integrate antimicrobial touchpoints in the building…  To that point, we believe we have created the finest, if not perfect, healthy building.”

www.dclhcp.com

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

Maldives Floating City – Waterstudio

For centuries, native people from Asia to the Americas have made their lives on the water. Whether perched atop lakes, in streams, the ocean or the sea, far-sighted pioneers have worked with the waves to support their families, homes and communities. Contemporary property developers have long eyed the planet’s unique “floating islands” – envying them for their utility, ingenuity and sustainability. But translating these local dwellings into modern, scalable, commercially-viable real estate has always appeared beyond reach. Until now. This month Waterstudio – in coorperation with Netherlands-based Dutch Docklands and the Government of The Maldives – reveals plans for Maldives Floating City (MFC).

The location

Set in a warm-water lagoon 10 minutes by boat from the Maldivian capital, Male, and Male International Airport. This first-of-its-kind “island city” offers a revolutionary approach to modern sustainable living perched against a backdrop of the azure Indian Ocean . It’s the world’s first true floating island city – a futuristic dreamscape finally poised to become reality. In development for more than a decade, MFC will feature thousands of residences. All waterfront, floating along a flexible, functional grid across a 200-hectare lagoon.

Development

Inspired by traditional Maldivian sea-faring culture and developed in close cooperation with Maldivian authorities. MFC homes will eventually be joined by hotels, restaurants, stylish boutiques and a world-class marina. Maldives Floating City is the first of its kind across the globe – developed to equally embrace sustainability and livability. While attempts at floating cities have been tried before, none have featured MFC’s most compelling selling points: Full-scale technical, logistical and legal expertise. By partnering with the Government of the Maldives, MFC not only offers the most. Dutch Docklands Maldives Government of Maldives ambitious architectural planning available. But also a world-class ownership structure that is transparent, value-driven and legally-binding.

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

A spectacular prefabricated and sustainable cabin built in the trees in just a few days

The design of the house, which seems to be suspended in the air and is located in Texas (USA), is inspired by the sketch of the owners’ daughter

Imagination is one of those qualities that boys and girls almost irremediably have. Unfortunately, many of us lose that capacity that we once had and with which we create fantastic worlds tailored to our needs. Fortunately, some still have this gift, and even apply it in their daily lives or at work. And the world of architecture is one of the most conducive to it, as this tree house in a backyard demonstrates, built by Ryan Street Architecture Studio in Austin, the capital of the state of Texas , but inspired by the drawings of the daughter of the owners.

Designed primarily to be a backyard play space for their two daughters, the couple decided to turn the treehouse into something much larger. Atop a system of pilings that mimic clusters of tree branches, the Tree House almost seems to float above the clearing below .

To build the treehouse, the studio had the support of a local company, Escobedo Group, known for developing a prefabricated panel system called Dario . The company builds the panels off-site at a state-of-the-art facility in Buda, Texas, and then transports them directly to the job site. Once they arrive, they can be assembled in a matter of days instead of months.
The construction is covered with uneven and incongruous wooden slats, extracted from some fir trees. In this way, a certain coherence is maintained with the couple’s main residence, located just a couple of meters in front of the Tree House.

Although the sketch became the main and main source of inspiration, this is not the only one. The environment in which it is located is the second leg on which the design of Ryan Street Architecture Studio has been supported. In fact, one of the most characteristic elements are the mirror panels on the façade that allow the reflection of everything that surrounds it . These create the illusion that the trees and greenery are closer than they really are, giving it a more magical and lush touch.


Built in a factory, the panels were transported from the Escobedo Group factory to the site chosen for their construction. In this way, the concern for sustainability and the environment materializes , avoiding excess waste and speeding up the process of assembling the house.

Outfitted with plumbing and electrical rooted in the house’s steel stilt supports, while the exterior may appear crudely refined, the interior is as comfortable as any hotel . With a single room located on the first floor of the house and a loft-type room with two beds, this tree house has a marked multifunctional character, since it can be used to accommodate a family that wants to rest in a natural environment or to accommodate guests.

 

The cabins in the trees of A Coruña that collect Architecture awards
In the province of A Coruña, looking at the mouth of the river Tambre, there are some special cabins. An almost perfect accommodation where you can experience the tranquility of the Galician forest perched on a tree. The dream space for lovers of design, architecture and nature. Cabaniñas do Bosque De Outes are 41 cabins built on top of hundred-year-old oak trees or on sheds rehabilitated with recycled materials and using clean energy. In 2020 the Albeida cabins received the Architecture Award.


This is the tree house that any child (and more than one adult) would want to have

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

Forma: First look at stunning new designs for Frank Gehry’s acclaimed project and never-before-seen details for the 73-storey mixed-use residential tower

New details include custom Gehry-designed lobby and artwork installation as well as interiors by internationally recognized Studio Paolo Ferrari.

 

Great Gulf, Dream and Westdale Properties have unveiled design details for Frank Gehry’s newest masterpiece in Toronto. Marking Gehry’s first residential tower in Canada and tallest building in the world yet, the new designs for the 73-storey east tower include a thoughtfully-appointed Gehry-designed lobby along with a striking custom art installation that reflects his visionary approach.

 

From the onset, Forma has been an exercise in defining the urban space along King Street and Duncan Street in Toronto with a set of towers that would inject visual dynamism and movement onto the skyline. The relationship of the various building volumes, as well as the void between the towers, change as onlookers move around the site, creating an effect that’s further amplified by the material selection and the geometries of the façade. The resulting undulating fluidity is meant to become even more dynamic over the course of the day because of the way the metal reflects the changing light.
Forma is a set of two towers that will inject visual dynamism and movement onto the Toronto skyline.
Born in Toronto, it was important to Gehry that Forma’s design harken back to some of the buildings that were important to him growing up, like Old City Hall, where the architectural definition and texture of the sandstone helped establish an air of gravitas.

“I’m a Toronto traditionalist, because I remember Osgoode Hall, University Avenue, the Parliament Buildings, and the Royal York Hotel. There is a feeling of Toronto that I had as a kid, and I wanted that to be in the DNA of our design,” says Frank Gehry, Gehry Partners LLP. “Every city in the world has its own light and the light is modified by the buildings in the city. I wanted this building to capture the essence of Toronto. It’s not like everywhere else. The light is different. The heritage is different. It’s a different place. I hope that is what people see when they look up.”

Not only did that feeling guide the design of the façade, which aimed to achieve a unique presence in Toronto, it extended into the Gehry-designed lobby, inspired by the Group of Seven and the ties between the natural landscape and Canada’s identity.
The Gehry-designed lobby is inspired by the Group of Seven and the ties between the natural landscape and Canada’s identity.
The material palette of the east tower lobby offers a counterpoint to the stainless steel of the tower with curved wood furniture and accents, along with limestone cladding the walls and flooring. The ceiling is dominated by a sculptural installation designed by Gehry’s design team, offering a shimmering motif of maple leaves that can be viewed from the street.

Drawing on the vocabulary of the façade, alternating stainless steel and glass canopies wrap the corners of both towers at street level, giving coverage to future potential commercial tenants and maximizing the public realm with active street frontage.

Remaining interior spaces were helmed by internationally-acclaimed designer, Studio Paolo Ferrari, who built on Gehry’s initial inspiration, delivering designs that served as a metaphor for the city. Drawing on the studio’s extensive international hospitality experience designing five-star luxury hotels and resorts, Forma marks Ferrari’s first condominium residence design in his studio’s hometown of Toronto.

Ferrari’s designs strike a balance between spaces that feel exuberant and lively, and others that are serene. Amenity spaces highlight the importance of a user-centric approach that reflects how future residents will live in and use the spaces. Rather than concentrating amenities in one area of the building, spaces were grouped by theme and strategically located throughout. Separating the amenities in this way allowed the design to focus on the actual uses of each space, providing spaces that are more intimate and accessible.

Hospitality and entertainment amenities are grouped in the Grand Suite on the 73rd floor, taking advantage of spectacular views. Conceived as a generous extension of the building’s residences, the Grand Suite features a chef’s kitchen, interconnected entertainment rooms and an intimate theatre intended for smaller groups of ten or twelve.
Within the Grand Suite, residents can enjoy interconnected entertainment rooms and a chef’s kitchen.
The Grand Suite features an intimate theatre intended for groups of ten or twelve.
The Creator’s Club focuses on moments of inspiration and creativity, featuring a multi-functional co-working space, which shifts from private and semi-private spaces to more open areas for working and collaboration. An adjoining Maker’s Studio offers space for hands-on tasks, crafts, and hobbies, while the soundproof recording studio allows content creators to record podcasts, or work on social media videos and other creations.

Finally, the Health and Wellness Retreat balances the amenity offering, with a focus on the duality of restoration and high energy. Grounded in mind, body, and wellness, Forma features a spa, a jacuzzi with warm grey stone, and a sauna, which complements a warm, lively fitness studio complete with the latest equipment, including a dedicated spin room.
The Creator’s Club amenity space features a multi-functional co-working space.
The Health and Wellness Retreat focus on the duality of restoration and high energy, including a lively fitness studio complete with the latest equipment.
“Our intention was to craft purposeful spaces that oscillate between social and serene. Toronto is an unrelenting, energetic city that, at the same time, also has incredible connections to the lake and nature. We wanted to capture a balance between the exuberance and the restorative,” saysPaolo Ferrari, founder of Studio Paolo Ferrari. “It’s been incredible to collaborate with Gehry on this vision– he is an incredible ambassador for creativity and inventiveness. We saw first-hand how Gehry and the entire team were genuinely passionate about this work and found a natural alignment from the very beginning.”

Gehry’s work has been considered among the most influential in contemporary architecture. Throughout his illustrious career he has been recognized with numerous awards including the Pritzker Prize, the world’s most prestigious architecture award. A few of Gehry’s most notable projects include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.

“In many ways, Forma is a celebration of Toronto, marking the exciting homecoming of top international talent back to this wonderful and beautiful city. Frank and Paolo are among the top visionaries in their respective fields, and we are honoured to work alongside their teams to create a beautiful landmark that will become an architectural hallmark on the world stage,” says Mitchell Cohen, Chief Operating Officer of Westdale Properties.
Architecture, Building Envelope, HVAC, Ideas, Net Zero, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories

DISCOVERY CENTRE – Canada’s Most Sustainable Waterfront Community

A milestone achievement, the Discovery Centre serves as an architectural landmark for the local community and future homeowners to discover and engage with Lakeview Village

The Discovery Centre is a new community hub along Mississauga’s waterfront, serving as a sustainable architectural landmark for Canada’s most transformative waterfront community. As the inaugural building for Lakeview Village, the Discovery Centre sets the tone for the quality and design excellence. The building features spaces for culinary, arts and cultural events, while offering an enhanced experience for the public to learn more about the future community.

Designed by Q4 Architects with interior by II BY IV Design, the Discovery Centre’s modern, open and contemporary feel beautifully captures the intersection of meaningful community connection and sustainable development, reflecting the guiding principles behind Lakeview Village.

Q4 Architects (Q4A) drew inspiration from the site’s past to inform its design, while fusing modern elements throughout to establish a 21st century waterfront community. The Discovery Centre’s façade, featuring a mix of wood, brick and glazing, thoughtfully reflects the site’s industrial past as a coal-fired station and the neighbouring buildings, such as the Small Arms Inspection Building.  Four vertical elements reference the “Four Sisters” chimneys of the old Lakeview Generating Station, while a sloping green roof can be viewed from the street-level, exemplifying the team’s commitment to sustainability. Other sustainable features include free EV chargers for the public and a water harvesting system for irrigation around the site.

Upon entry, visitors are greeted by a stunning double-height pavilion featuring smart glass that refracts blue hues into the expansive space, creates seamless connections from the outdoors in. Rotating digital artwork by local artists is on display in the pavilion and a wraparound floor-to-ceiling green wall with native plantings becomes a crowning feature of the space.

The Centre includes multiple flexible rooms that provide options for community activities, meetings, and sales galleries to support the various phases of the development. A lounge on the second floor and a dedicated community room creates endless opportunities for gatherings and events. An expansive outdoor terrace provides sweeping views of the adjacent green roof, the entire Lakeview Village site and Lake Ontario.

The Discovery Centre represents a thoughtful approach to designing a flexible and responsive space that can service both sales functions and community uses – serving as a model for placemaking and meaningful community infrastructure in master-planned communities.

A PLACE OF CONNECTION AND DISCOVERY
The Discovery Centre, which has been meaningfully built with the community in mind, will serve as an immersive and interactive central gathering place for visitors to discover all aspects behind the Lakeview Village project, from design, public art and construction to technology and sustainability. Each of these characteristics have been thoughtfully incorporated through forward-thinking design elements which emphasize a connection to nature and the site’s natural heritage.

A place of connection and discovery, the Discovery Centre is also a gateway to the larger Lakeview Village site – a network of walkable trails and cycling routes, a new recreational field, a seasonal art trail featuring commissioned works by local artists and stunning waterfront views.

INNOVATION: FROM AN INDUSTRIAL PAST TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Sustainability, innovation and environmental stewardship are at the core of Lakeview Village. Designed with these principles in mind, the Discovery Centre brings nature indoors through a number of features to encourage authentic, meaningful connections to the environment and future Lakeview Village community:

  • Green Roof: A thriving ecosystem of over 1500 native plants from 30 different species, the roof is made of 100% recycled materials and provides a refuge and habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies while enhancing biodiversity, stormwater management, and acting as a seed orchard for future green roof projects.
  • Living Wall: A wrap-around green wall featuring a diverse ecosystem with over 20 different plant species augments the building’s interior, drawing on the tenets of biophilic design while improving air quality increasing humidity, to provide a more comfortable indoor environment.
  • 4 Sisters: Reflecting the site’s transformation, the centre reimagines the land’s former occupant, a coal-burning powerplant known as the ‘Four Sisters Smokestacks,” as four large windows, drawing light into the space during the day and framing the building at night.
  • Sage Glass: Advanced glass technology used to optimize daylight, manage heat and reduce energy consumption while maintaining panoramic views of the surrounding area, the glass, doors and railings have also been glazed with bird-friendly film to mitigate day and nighttime collisions while making the building less dangerous to migratory birds.

 

With approximately 28,000 inhabitants and workers, supplemented by numerous daily and special-event visitors, Lakeview will become Mississauga’s vibrant waterfront, as well as a leading example of sustainable, high-intensity development that maintains and enhances quality of life for all.

Photos credit: James Bombales

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

Timber House by Adjaye Associates is pegged to be one of the largest residential mass-timber buildings in Canada

Partnership unites local and international talent to deliver needed affordable housing and public spaces, speeding Toronto’s recovery 

Waterfront Toronto picked Dream Unlimited Corp. (Dream) and Great Gulf Group, known as Quayside Impact Limited Partnership, for developing the Quayside site in downtown Toronto.

Among the highlights of the winning submission from Dream and Great Gulf were proposals to create:

  • 800+ affordable housing units, more than doubling the affordable housing Waterfront Toronto has brought to the waterfront, with many delivered in earliest stages to address an urgent need.
  • New public spaces, including a two-acre forested green space, plus a significant urban farm atop one of Canada’s largest residential mass timber buildings.
  • A landmark cultural destination and multi-use arts venue that brings together space for the performing arts, Indigenous-centered cultural celebrations and flexible education spaces.
  • Exemplary low-carbon development and innovations, making Quayside the first all-electric, zero-carbon community at this scale;

Visionary world-class architecture that will raise the bar on design across the entire neighbourhood and create a visually striking focal point on Toronto’s waterfront.

“We set out to make Quayside the kind of community that meaningfully improves the lives of its residents, neighbours and visitors. The proposal from Dream and Great Gulf will make a real difference in the lives of those who live near the waterfront or come to visit, by creating affordable rental housing, extensive public spaces, and new jobs and business opportunities,” said George Zegarac, Waterfront Toronto President and Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks also to all of the proponent teams, whose talent, hard work and passion for city building was clear in their submissions,” added Zegarac.

“The opportunity to develop Quayside with Waterfront Toronto is the perfect development at the perfect time. Dream and Great Gulf regard our activities in real estate as a canvas on which we can make our communities more inclusive, sustainable and healthier. With Quayside, Waterfront Toronto has created the greatest opportunity for impact development in the country, and we believe that the Partnership is ideally suited to deliver on this opportunity,” said Michael Cooper, Chair, Quayside Impact Limited Partnership.

Additional highlights: 

  • Lead developers with a proven ability to deliver on their commitments, together with a team of world-class architects and expert local partners including The Bentway, Centre for Social Innovation, Crow’s Theatre, George Brown College, Rekai Centres and WoodGreen Community Services
  • Five towers plus one of Canada’s largest residential mass timber buildings
  • Affordable housing delivered in each development phase with market housing, with an emphasis on family-sized units
  • Community care hub offering a range of programs and services to support aging-in-place, recreation and wellness for all residents
  • 2-acre (0.8 hectare) community forest providing a network of car-free green spaces for residents and visitors
  • Open space network designed to be barrier-free and accessible for all ages and abilities
  • Canada’s first all-electric, zero-carbon master plan (3.4 million square feet) and a variety of sustainability innovations
  • Strong social and workforce benefits, advancing employment, business and capacity-building opportunities for Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving communities.

Quayside will be “the first all-electric, zero-carbon community at its scale.” George Zegarac, president of Waterfront Toronto, said they set out to make the district “the kind of community that meaningfully improves the lives of its residents, neighbors, and visitors.”