Winter 2017 by Green Building Media Inc.

Building Green + ARCHITECTURE

winter 2017

In this issue: • Zaha Hadid Architects • Vincent Callebaut Architectures • Killa Design • Barbini Design Build • New Royal Homes

Wiltshire Homes Canada Youthful Exuberance

GREENBUILDING GREENBUILDING & ARCHITECTURE

AnnuAl

Green BuildinG expo

+ ARCHITECTURE

Volume 6, Number 4 – Winter 2017 www.gbplusamag.com PUBLISHER: Giulio Marinescu 416-250-0664 gbamedia@bellnet.ca

Canada’s premier virtual trade show for green building

2109-256 Doris Ave. Toronto, ON M2N 6X8

“Live” on November 1st, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time and continuing for 3 months

MANAGING EDITOR: Greg McMillan editor@gbssmag.com

Green Building Expo is budget-friendly for participating exhibitors and free for attendees.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tony Lomuto Graphic Designs Unlimited LTONY@sympatico.ca

Green BuildinG

expo

Increase awareness of your company and its products and services and increase sales by generating highly qualified leads and prospects from the comfort of your office.

CONTENTS

Save money and eliminate travel time, construction, logistics, and carbon emissions associated with physical meetings and trade exhibitions.

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2 From the Publisher’s Desk The first edition of the virtual Green Building Expo has been a success 4 Cover Story Youthful exuberance Co-owners at Wiltshire Homes Canada bring an approach that strikes a chord with millennial 10 Making deserts bloom Hybrid tower using Milessa Modules accommodates layers of vertical gardens 13 THE BENTWAY: HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Testimonials The organization and the set up of this virtual expo were amazing and I think that this first edition was a success. The platform was great at simulating a real Expo hall. A good variety of people visited my booth so that I was able to network with many interesting companies. I loved the sustainable nature of this event: no brochures to print, no booth to build, no travel. Overall an amazing and completely new experience! Congratulations to organizers and we wish you more success at the second edition! Nicholas Varias, Dipl.Arch.,CBCO President Flexsola International Development Corporation For me it was exciting to meet and exchange contact information with so many people from the green building network. High quality exhibitors were easily reached directly from my PC. Walking around the expo was easy and fun. The webinars were extremely informative and easy to attend just in one click without stressing over travelling problems. A smart way of doing business! A great experience for all involved and I’m looking forward to the next such event. Thumbs up!! Virgiliu Petre OAA LEED AP MBA DEA M.Arch. Principal, Eco Revival Consulting

To learn more on how to become a sponsor or exhibitor please contact Giulio Marinescu - Executive Managing Director at 416-250–664 or giulio@green-building-expo.com

Get more details at www.green-building-expo.com

16 Feature Story Standing the test of time The focus at New Royal Homes is building superior custom houses that last 20 ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS KAPSARC (King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre) 25 Feature Story Going the extra mile An architectural backstory at the heart of a glorious Kensington Market renovation 28 Killa Design OFFICE OF THE FUTURE World’s first fully functional 3D printed office building 32 Fast forward Flexibility of Flexsola design key to creating sustainable and environmentally-friendly housing 34 The 5 Farming Bridges Architect Vincent Callebaut proposes reconstruction model for Mosul using high-tech 3D-printing technology involving spider-like robots and drones Recyling (and upcycling) debris helps historic, war-torn Mosul emerge from ruins

Photo credits: G Photography, Vincent Callebaut Architectures, Hufton + Crow, WAM, Aaron Mason, New Royal Homes Contributors: Greg McMillan, Zaha Hadid Architects, Killa Design, Ken Greenberg Submit articles, event, news to Giulio Marinescu gbamedia@bellnet.ca Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement number 42332013 Undeliverable mail return to: 2109-256 Doris Ave. Toronto, ON M2N 6X8 Printed in Canada by: CoFax Printing © 2017 Green Building + Architecture No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means, in any form, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the respective authors and not necessarily those of this publication. Green Building + Architecture does not specifically endorse the editorial, products or services presented in this magazine.

Subscription Rates Canada: 1 year $24, 2 years $40, single copy $6 United States: 1 year: $32 International: $36 Plus applicable taxes

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Green Building + Architecture

From the Publisher’s Desk

Green BuildinG expo Giulio Marinescu, Publisher

Canada’s premier virtual trade show for green building

The first edition of the virtual Green Building Expo has been a Green success BuildinG

irtual Trade Shows are quickly gaining popularity among exhibitors and event marketing professionals due to their relatively low cost and high rate of return. The ability to generate leads directly from your office without having to incur the cost of travel and lodging is appealing for many companies, which allows for a wider range of diversity among exhibitors and attendees. For exhibitors, Green Building Expo, the initial Canadian virtual trade fair for green buildings, has been an opportunity to highlight their leadership and commitment to sustainable building. It has also been a chance to showcase their green offerings to a laser-focused group in the green building industry. Having received over 1,500 visits to date, including visitors from Canada and other countries such as United States, Germany, Italy, Romania, India, Lithuania and Great Britain (and coupled with the upward trend in event registrations), it

expo

seems highly likely that this will be Canada’s biggest virtual trade show yet by event participation and lead generation. For sponsors and exhibitors, the platform provides built-in tracking, lead management and attendee profiling to help exhibitors identify high-potential leads based on the level of their engagement with company representatives and booth content. The ample branding space in the virtual landscape is fully utilized by incorporating clickable corporate logos that are tactfully placed in all high visibility spots at the expo. November 1, 2017 was the “live” day when visitors and exhibitors interacted through audio, video and text messages. Product manuals, demos, brochures, posters, videos and other valuable informational material were conveniently downloaded by visitors. In the virtual auditorium, Svend De bruyn and Erik Janssen from Toronto and Region Conserva-

tion Authority (TRCA) presented Attending Net Zero webinar – An Introduction to Heat Pumps and Photovoltaics, with numerous visitors in attendance. For those who couldn’t make it to the November 1 “live” show – or want to see it again – the individual booths and webinars will remain active for six months and available online 24/7. The fair’s exhibition booths function as a website and the exhibitors can still have the visibility and availability of their information. For attendees, our Green Building Expo is free. The following are some testimonials from both exhibitors and visitors: “The organization and the setup of this virtual expo were amazing and I think that this first edition was a success. The platform was great at simulating a real expo hall. A good variety of people visited my booth so that I was able to network with many interesting companies.

I loved the sustainable nature of this event: no brochures to print, no booth to build, no travel. Overall an amazing and completely new experience! Congratulations to organizers and we wish you more success at the second edition!” Nicholas Varias Dipl. Arch.,CBCO President Flexsola International Development Corporation “Kudos for marketing! The expo proved to be a great venue for my new wall product. For the first time I could showcase what I have been working on for the past 26 years. How great is it that your green building expo site will continue to showcase my Structural Cellular Forms SCFs for the next six months. Site visitors have commented on the good quality of the presentation.” Daniel Charlton Principal Charlton Building Concepts Inc. “For me it was exciting to meet and exchange contact information with so many people from the green building network. High quality exhibitors were easily reached directly from my PC. Walking around the expo was easy and fun. The webinars were extremely informative and easy to attend, just in one click, without stressing over travelling problems. A smart way of doing business! A great experience for all involved and I’m looking forward to the next such event. Thumbs up!” Virgiliu Petre OAA LEED AP MBA DEA M.Arch Principal Eco Revival Consulting The 2nd edition of Green Building Expo will take place “live” on November 1, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time and will continue for three months after that. To learn how to become a sponsor or exhibitor, contact Giulio Marinescu, Executive Managing Director at 416.250.0664 or giulio@green-buildingexpo.com Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram for updates. www.green-building-expo.com

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Green Building + Architecture

winter 2017

Green Building + Architecture

cover coverSTORY STORY

Photo credits: ©G Photography

Youthful exuberance

“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.”

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

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.

s builders go, Lamont Wiltshire and Odeen Eccleston stand out from the crowd in a number of ways. However, perhaps the most significant difference the coowners of Wiltshire Homes Canada Inc. can point to is their business demographic – they are millennials through and through. 4

Green Building + Architecture

“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.

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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; Green Building + Architecture

• Optimization of living space (smart use of square footage); • Third-floor lofts (optimizing height restric-

tions); • 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 everexpanding real estate empire, is set to open its doors in 2018.

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Green Building + Architecture

Making deserts bloom

Already, though, he has tweaked the initiative, by adding a vertical garden element that would see these similar buildings perfectly suited for construction in deserts bordering saltwater seas. The high-rise model is a hybrid, utilizing Milessa’s original module design. “I call this ‘Make Deserts Bloom,’” says Milessa, who originally came up with the Milessa Modules concept over 50 years ago, then kickstarted it earlier this year. “You can place the five-storey structures in the desert, near the sea. Due to the hexagonal shape, with vertexes pointing north and south, sunlight can be allowed in, during the morning, noon and afternoon. “With the structure close to the sea, filtration systems will be applied and then fresh water can be pumped to the top, and sprinklers will make it ‘rain’ on the Milessa Modules below.” This is a new development, and one that Milessa believes will pique interest in his work. The essence of his visionary concept remains, however, and he is convinced the Milessa Modules will find a niche market. Bolstered by a tie-in to climate change concerns, the original Milessa Modules’ approach is a concept that 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 massproduced, 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.” Previously, he explained that the hexagonal modular setup could be utilized in many ways. Milessa says housing units, holiday rentals, greenhouse, retirement communities – even summer camps – would be ideal commonsense 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, when first unveiled at the National Home Show in Toronto, but seem to be the status quo heading into 2018.

Hybrid tower using Milessa Modules accommodates layers of vertical gardens

arlo Milessa isn’t one to rest on his laurels. In great detail, just a few short months ago, Milessa drew attention to his novel approach to architectural design – the Milessa Modules, a hexagonal housing cluster that essentially resembles a honeycomb.

Green Building + Architecture

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Green Building + Architecture

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. As to the addition of the vertical gardens, Milessa explained that they seamlessly complement the original design. “Essentially, with these high-rise structures in a desert near the sea, you would have concrete slabs sitting on top of each other, with spans of 12 feet between them,” he says. “That will accommodate an equal number of Milessa Modules’ spaces for roof gardens.” Keeping in line with his think-outside-thebox mentality, Milessa speculates on other positives that could be derived by utilizing Milessa Modules. “I continue to explore 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.”

Looking west towards Strachan Gate amphitheatre and performance terrace

THE BENTWAY: HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

www.milessamodules.ca

By Ken Greenberg

FYI Carlo Milessa has mailed information pertinent to his ongoing research on variable geometry to architectural firms. He says his business plan involves this strategy: When a U.S. firm wants to utilize Canadian intellectual property, in this case Milessa Modules, it will contact the appropriate Canadian trade commissioner, looking for a joint venture with a Canadian architectural firm. Then Milessa will be contacted for the adaptation rights. Up to this point, Milessa says he 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.

Green Building + Architecture

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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.

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he 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 Mat-

thews, 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-forprofit organization – has been created to operate, maintain and program the space.

Green Building + Architecture

Looking east towards along skating trail

As we make the transformation from a mid20th 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

Green Building + Architecture

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-andbeam 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

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Looking south towards Strachan Gate performance terrace

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 postindustrial 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 -

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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.

Salvaged demolition rubble will find new life at The Bentway in recycled rock gardens

Recycled materials such as glass, porcelain and asphalt are used to animate the concrete paving Green Building + Architecture

FEATURE STORY “New Royal Homes Inc. is passionate about building beautiful homes. Our mission is to provide outstanding design, quality and flexibility to new homebuyers. We think it is essential that homebuyers are completely satfisfied with their new home, that they feel that their home is their castle”. Dino Scalia

Standing the test of time The focus at New Royal Homes is building superior custom houses that last

ino Scalia doesn’t pull any punches – he is totally committed to building quality luxury homes that are unique and have a very long shelf life. And the president of New Royal Homes never takes the easy way out. From the getgo, that much is evident in each and every project. “Our focus is on building homes that last, homes that do not age,” says Scalia, whose company is based in Ancaster, Ontario. “It’s about longevity for us. “The home construction industry has had a dirty period, where a focus on cost cutting became so extreme that houses were not only aesthetically unappealing, but went downhill and ended up in poor condition after only a few years.

“All you have to do is look at many homes built 100 years ago, which generally stand the test of time. We see that and it has inspired us to build homes that have a traditional, rustic appearance, with an open-concept design.” At its core, New Royal Homes is passionate about building beautiful homes. Its mission is to provide outstanding design, quality and flexibility to new homebuyers; that homebuyers are completely satisfied and feel that their home is indeed their castle. So that’s the starting point. From there, Scalia stresses that open-concept designs are the norm, with unique layouts that make the homes feel open and spacious. “Personally, I am extremely involved in every project, from start to post-completion,” Scalia says. “I am on site daily taking an active role in the construction of the home. I believe a true homebuilder needs to be proficient in the various trades, as well, which I am. “And this allows me to monitor quality in real time and lend a hand when needed. Quality is extremely important to us and I think that this comes from my engineering background. I also received specialized quality management training, which has been very applicable to construction. At the end of the day, this allows us to start with a clean, organized work site, with an emphasis on safety and daily quality checks.” Scalia embraces the challenge of customization. He relishes an opportunity to meet, or even exceed, a homebuyer’s expectations. Starting with a basic picture, Scalia finds a way to move from concept to reality. And he finds that clients really appreciate the flexibility. “This is something that many other builders are unwilling to do because of the extra time and co-ordination,” he explains. “But we like to innovate and at the end of the day it is all about building a beautiful home that our

homebuyers are excited about.” Innovation finds its way into each new build, from materials to vision. For example, New Royal Homes are now finding a competitive niche by ‘bringing the bungalow back’. The bungalow had fallen out of favour with builders over the years, but Scalia says his company has had great success by focusing on building spacious bungalows to meet a growing demand. “The results have been fantastic,” he says. “There is a real need for this and no one is offering it. Moreover, bungalows are generally more environmentally friendly and consume less energy.”

That feeds into their green building conscientiousness. At every turn, New Royal Homes is embracing sustainability. From spray-foam insulation, to LED lighting, and more, Scalia says New Royal Homes always works with homebuyers to meet any green requirements they might have, including net-zero homes and geothermal heating and cooling. “Quality is the foremost concern in all we do,” he adds. “All of the materials we use must meet our high standards. We have the same exacting standards for the trades that we hire. We ensure there are no weak links.” www.newroyalhomes.ca

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Dino Scalia, President of New Royal Homes, has been building quality homes for over 15 years. He was groomed by his father, who built and renovated residential homes through his company Scalia Quality Construction Inc. (established in 1992).

Through this experience, Dino achieved proficiency in all trades related to construction, with quality being of the utmost importance. He is passionate about building homes that are beautiful and functional, using only top quality materials and workmanship.

Christy Scalia, Finance & Administration at New Royal Homes, provides 10 years of accounting expertise and five years of supply chain management. Bolstered by her realtor designation, she has found her passion in helping homebuyers make their dream home a reality.

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Collaborating with international research centres, public policy organizations, worldwide government institutions and global industry, KAPSARC brings together leading experts from around the world to tackle energy challenges; freely sharing its knowledge, insights and analytical frameworks. The 70,000m2 KAPSARC campus incorporates five buildings: the Energy Knowledge Centre; the Energy Computer Centre; a Conference Centre with exhibition hall and 300-seat auditorium; a Re-

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search Library with archives for 100,000 volumes; and the Musalla, an inspirational place for prayer within the campus. KAPSARCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design has solid technical and environmental considerations at its heart, drawing the five elements of the campus into a unified whole. ZHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first project to be awarded LEED Platinum certification by the US Green Building Council, the centre is designed in response to the environmental conditions of the Riyadh Plateau to minimize energy and resource consumption.

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The primary organizing strategy of the design is a cellular, partially modular system that integrates different departmental buildings as a single ensemble with interconnecting public spaces. Hexagonal prismatic honeycomb structures use the least material to create a lattice of cells within a given volume. This structural and organizational principle determined KAPSARC’s composition as an amalgamation of crystalline forms that emerges from the desert landscape, evolving to best respond to the environmental conditions and internal program requirements. The honeycomb grid is compressed towards its central axis as an extension of the natural wadi that runs to the west. A research centre is by its very nature a forward-looking institution and KAPSARC’s 22

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architecture also looks to the future with a formal composition that can be expanded or adapted without compromising the centre’s visual character. The modular design generates consistent organizational, spatial and structural strategies that drive all elements of the plan. The six sides of the hexagonal cells also offer greater opportunities for increased connectivity when compared to rectangular cells with only four sides. KAPSARC’s five buildings differ in size and organization to best suit their use. Each building is divided into its component functions and can be adapted to respond to changes in requirements or working methods. Additional cells can readily be introduced by extending KAPSARC’s honeycomb grid for

future expansion of the research campus. The specific arrangement and form of KAPSARC’s buildings contribute to softening the strong light and heat of the Riyadh Plateau. The buildings of the campus surround a large public courtyard shaded by canopies supported from a forest of crafted steel columns. Presenting a solid, protecting shell to the harsh sunlight from the south, the KAPSARC campus opens to north and west; encouraging prevailing winds from the north to cool the courtyard during temperate months and facilitating connections with any future expansion of the campus to the north, as well as creating connections with the researcher’s residential community to the west. winter 2017

Privileging the pedestrian, each of the ‘Wind-catchers’ integrated within the roof profiles on the southern sides of each courtyard catch the prevailing winds from the north, cooling each courtyard. KAPSARC’s architecture promotes transparency and encourages an active exchange between researchers and visitors. By strategically off-setting floorplates, spatial layering effects are created throughout the centre to provide views to the floors above and below; offering transparency between floors in public areas designed as collective zones for researchers to meet informally and exchange ideas. Secure areas and rooms requiring privacy are located within areas of each building where floorplates overlap. winter 2017

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FEATURE STORY

KAPSARC was awarded LEED Platinum certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) through its application of passive and active solutions including: • A 45% reduction in energy performance (compared to the ASHRAE baseline standards) achieved via KAPSARC’s building massing and orientation, façade optimization, system selection and the solar PV array located on the roof of the southfacing Conference Centre with a capacity of 5,000MWh/year. • All KAPSARC’s potable water is recycled and reused on site and 100% of irrigation water is from non-potable sources. • 40% of KAPSARC’s construction materials have been sourced from within 500 miles, and 30% of materials made with recycled content. • 98% of all wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). • 4,000 tonnes of waste separated and diverted from landfill. KAPSARC has also been named Saudi Arabia’s ‘smartest’ building in the Honeywell Smart Building Awards program. Based on criteria that include environmental sustainability, safety and productivity, KAPSARC received outstanding scores across all three categories. As a forum of innovation and collective research, KAPSARC’s convention centre recently hosted its first major public conference, with more than 20,000 visitors attending Saudi Design Week 2017. Photography is by Hufton + Crow.

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Photo credit: Aaron Mason

Going the extra mile An architectural backstory at the heart of a glorious Kensington Market renovation

his is a story behind the story about the metamorphosis of a century-old property in Toronto’s Kensington Market district. The project? The Kensington, 299/301 Augusta Avenue. The main player? Design/ Build company Barbini Corporation. The backstory, supporting cast, in this scenario? Two architectural specialists: James L. Sa’d and Brian L. Abbey. Their task? To perform a wholesale makeover of a mixed-use building – with a storied history to say the least – owned by winter 2017

John McBride. “One of the more interesting challenges,” says Sa’d, OAA, Principal, Paradigm Architecture + Design, “was that the building is located on a very compact, restrictive site, with a proximity to neighbours that required us to prescribe several innovative envelope solutions in order to be able to comply with fire-resistance requirements set out in the building code.” Keep in mind that architectural considerations always factored in the core wishes of the owner – to create a new landmark building

for a neighbourhood that is undergoing significant change, albeit at a much slower, more selective pace, than the rest of Toronto. As the process evolved, the site underwent a gradual transformation. Today, it’s a threestorey, mixed-use building consisting of a new home for the Kensington Brewing Company on the ground floor, a commercial office space on the second, and four executive rental microapartments on the third. “Looking back on our first meeting, over six years ago, sitting there in the Barbini office, it’s really hard to believe what you see today,” Green Building + Architecture

added Abbey, Principal, Licensed Technologist, OAA. M.A.A.T.O. BSSO. A Sc.T. CSC. BCQ with Adtek Building Consultants. “The Kensington, 299/301 Augusta Avenue, has completely transformed the neighbourhood over that period of time.” Back in 2011, it was Abbey and Adtek who got things going. Later, Sa’d and his Paradigm team were brought into the mix; fortuitously, as it happened. More on that later. “I realized early on that it would take a lot of ingenuity and creativity to come up with any kind of concept that would be both aesthetically pleasing and financially feasible as well as sustainable, accessible and energy efficient,” Abbey says. “I came up with the idea of creating a three-storey mixed-use building that would contain retail or restaurant space on the main floor, flexible commercial space on the second floor and luxury residential units on the third floor. We all agreed that this concept, in principal, would be an ideal attribute to the Kensington Market community.” What followed was the hard part – making the concept work within a long and narrow lot, and treating the project as a renovation, not a new build, which meant maintaining 50 per

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cent of the main walls in the existing building. Abbey says he wanted to come up with a pleasing design, but also wanted to have as much flexibility as possible to allow for any future change of use. “So I chose to design it as a fully sprinklered, non-combustible construction building, even though it was, technically a ‘small building’ regulated under the Ontario Building Code (OBC),” he explained, “being less than 600m2 in gross building area and no more than three storeys in building height.” It was at this stage of the project that Abbey says he was “thrown a curve.” “This happens in all designs, but in this case the owner wanted to add an additional seven feet at the rear of the building to gain more space,” Abbey recalls. “ We pushed the building over the limit of 600m2 and it then was considered a ‘large building’ and subject to different regulations.” When all was said and done, and the building permit process completed and approved, it was time for Abbey to turn over the architectural design duties to Sa’d and Paradigm. “Although I was pleased and excited to have been instrumental in the conceptual design, the design development, the construc-

tion drawings and the building permit process, I was really upset that being only an accredited architectural technologist that I had to hand over the reins to a licensed architect of record because of the building’s new classification,” says Abbey. “Notwithstanding that hurdle, I have to say that Jim Sa’d and his team from Paradigm Architecture have done a magnificent job and I am really proud to have been part of the project.” With Sa’d and Paradigm at the helm, the reno continued. The building has a façade composed of materials, Sa’d says, that suggest a dichotomy reflective of the struggle between Kensington Market’s past and future, all within a relatively narrow lot frontage. “Two thirds of the façade consists of contemporary, purple-black, high-iron content brick accented with crisp, clear anodized aluminum awnings above each storey,” he explains. “While the last third harkens back to the gritty and organic history of the Market by virtue of a sculptural, Cor-Ten steel-clad elevator shaft with backlit perforated letters that spell out the Market’s namesake, all the while creating a subtle beacon, now recognizable to visitors and residents of the neighbourhood alike.

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“Perforated black steel guardrails on the second and third floor Juliette balconies echo this language of raw materials that are found on various buildings nearby.” Sa’d says the apartments were designed with many space-saving solutions, including Murphy bed units that collapse atop couches, instantly transforming living rooms into bedrooms, and kitchens packed with highly organizational cabinetry and concealed appliances, such as an under-sink dishwasher drawer. Alternate lighting options and high, coved ceilings add to the illusion of larger suites, each of which contains its own washer/dryer. Yes, there were architectural hurdles, but they were circumvented. And that’s one of the trademarks of the Barbini Corporation brand. www.amedeobarbini.com Barbini Corporation is a leader in green building. Architect James L. Sa’d of Paradigm Architecture + Design says a number of sustainable features were incorporated into the project at 299/301 Augusta Avenue. “Mineral wool insulation with R-values above minimum code standards were employed in order to reduce energy consumption costs for heating/cooling; daylight tubes were installed in order to reduce the amount of artificial lighting required during daytime hours; a greywater recycling system was employed that reused rainwater collected and stored in retention tanks in the basement for toilet flushing within the third-storey rental apartments. Generally, materials, finishes and energy efficient technologies were incorporated into the design and construction of the building.”

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KILLA DESIGN

Photography: WAM

OFFICE OF THE FUTURE

The “Office of the Future” is the first 3Dprinted building of its kind. A 3D-printer 20 feet high x 120 feet long x 40 feet wide was

used to print the building. The printer features an automated robotic arm to implement printing process. The entire structure was printed

using a giant cement printer using an additive manufacturing technique, then assembled on site.

World’s first fully functional 3D printed office building

ocated at the foot of Emirates Towers, the Office of the Future is the world’s first fully functional and permanently occupied ‘3D printed’ building. The 253 sqm building acts as the home for the Dubai Future Foundation and as an exhibition space and incubator for future emerging technologies in the emirate.

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Printing took 17 days and installed in two days. Subsequent work on the building services, interiors and landscape took three months. The labour involved in the printing process included one technician to monitor the function of the printer, a team of seven to install the building components on site, 10 electricians and specialists to take care of MEP. Labour cost thus, was cut by more than 50% compared to conventional buildings of similar size.

Other projects have tested various elements of 3D printing before, but the Office is the first real building to be built at scale, with full services, that people can use on a daily basis. The initiative comes as part of Dubai’s 3-D Printing Strategy, which was launched on April 27, 2016 and focuses on the development of 3D printing to improve people’s lives. It will tackle three sectors: real estate and construction, medical, and consumer, and commits the

Emirates to the use of 3D printing in 25% of its buildings by 2030. The Office radiates around a tree shaded cafe courtyard. It provides a partnership lounge & gallery for exhibitions, events and workshops, a flexible space for team brainstorming and design work and private meeting rooms. A series of openings throughout the project bring natural daylight deep into the space while allowing occupants to remain connected to the outside environment. The building envelope design is inspired by natural coral. Coral has been used for generations as a traditional building material in the UAE. It is easy to handle and to work, has excellent thermal properties and provides a beautiful texture to the building surfaces. Killa Design aimed to recreate this traditional beauty in a sustainable manner by 3D printing cladding elements with the beauty and complexity of coral. In this way, the project seeks to merge the age-old tradition of coral construction with the latest technologies and fabrication techniques.

The building is extremely energy efficient. It is oriented to maximize visibility and natural light, but to shade the inside through digitally sculpted overhangs above the windows. This minimizes direct solar heating and reduces the need for air conditioning and lighting. Further sustainability features include 100% LED lighting, responsive building systems, green landscaping, and low energy air conditioning and cooling. Wastage on site was minimized and thus helped reduce the environmental footprint of the project. As part of a wider initiative to be involved in the most cutting edge and innovative projects, Killa Design made use of a super insulated cladding system with 800mm thick panels constructed using computer controlled manufacturing techniques to create the unique form of the building and complex geometry of the building envelope, “The progressive design of the office conveys a shift from the traditional form of work environments thus paving the way for stimulating innovation and communication within teams.” – Ben Piper, partner at Killa Design www.killadesign.com

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Green Building + Architecture

Fast forward

Flexibility of Flexsola design key to creating sustainable and environmentally-friendly housing

icholas Varias is an innovator, plain and simple. The president of Flexsola International Development Corporation has a lengthy cutting-edge track record dating back to the 1980s. But the culmination of his ground-breaking design efforts to create affordable, adaptable and environmentallyfriendly housing just might be his latest design – the Flexsola. “The construction sector is lagging behind in terms of innovation,” says Varias, a Canadian architect, artist and writer, whose company is based in Burlington, Ontario. “And that’s especially in respect to dealing with climate change. Flexsola can bring a muchneeded contribution.” Flexsola is a modular system for creating sustainable and environmentally-friendly multi-use developments. Its flexibility makes it affordable and adaptable to peoples’ needs as they change over time. Its functional flexibility can provide lifetime residency, opening the way for the creation of a stable, caring and Photos credit: Tomas Manina economically-sustainable community.

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“Flexsola will appeal mainly to first-time homebuyers and seniors,” says Varias. “That’s thanks to its capability of constructing small units and then expanding them as needed. Cost-wise, for construction, we are aiming for a maxiumum of $150 per square foot.” A patented steel saddle connection is at the heart of the Flexsola modular building system. This novel approach facilitates the creation of space modules, which can be added, removed, or relocated within a three-dimensional rectangular grid. The flexibility and affordability of Flexsola modular building system make it an ideal solution for an ever-increasing demand in homes of all types and other uses. “The steel saddle is the key feature of the system,” explains Varias. “It expedites the installation of the posts and beams, and permits the addition or relocation of modules.” The Flexsola system can be used for a wide range of applications and modules can be made to any size or shape for easier transport. In addition, localized assembly plants can be utilized to increase design flexibility through the use of more complex module shapes. The

system can be adapted to all forms of housing currently available on the market, with the added benefits of unprecedented flexibility and adaptability. It is also ideal for infill developments and can be easily integrated into the existing urban fabric. A Flexsola building system property will be more attractive and economically viable than conventionally-built buildings, says Varias. Economic projections indicate that initial investment could be recovered over a few years if advantage is taken of all the potential financial benefits of using this system. Where a large percentage of the purchase price of a home comes from a mortgage, a conventional house often remains a liability for a long time, despite its growing equity. In contrast, a Flexsola building is a financial asset because of savings not found in conventional buildings. Some examples: • Lower construction cost resulting from prefabrication and the unique modular system further enhanced by the use of the saddle connection system, which speeds up the erection of the posts and beams; winter 2017

• Reduced insurance costs; • Long-term lower costs of energy consumption and maintenance; • Revenue generating options due the functional flexibility of the floor plan (i.e. rental of a secondary unit, or home-based business); • Electricity generation revenue; • And relocation potential of the entire house, or of some of its modules. Varias says a Flexsola building system has a low-carbon footprint because of very important features, such as of its innovative steel structures, landscaped rooftops, and unique devices to generate solar and wind energy. According to the Flexsola president, a building produced and erected in this system will also be more sustainable than alternative structures. This is why: • Quick erection on site due to off-site fabrica-

Patented Flexsola Saddle Connection

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tion and the patented saddle; • Ease of transportation; • Steel is 100 per cent recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely, the only “cradle-to cradle” recycled material in the world; • Durability and longevity; • Steel is a long-term investment that does not go to waste; • Steel manufacturing and fabrication to exact specifications causes minimal waste; • Flexsola system buildings will consume less energy through heating and cooling than other buildings of similar size if clad with approved off-site produced sustainable cladding materials to give the highest level of thermal fabric performance; • The system can outperform conventional construction in virtually every sustainability criteria including acoustic performance,

air tightness, thermal performance and durability. It requires less maintenance by adhering to rigorous quality standards during assembly in the factory; • And enhancement to Flexsola energy reduction benefits include additional options such as green/sedum roofs, parapet and post mounted PV panels and mini wind-turbines. www.flexsola.com Flexsola International Development Corporation has been awarded the 2017 Innovative Product Award by Toronto Construction Association. In 1996, Varias won the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s FlexHousing Design Competition and a model of his design was built in 1997 at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology in Ottawa.

Flexsola Cuboid Module

Green Building + Architecture

The 5 Farming Bridges Architect Vincent Callebaut proposes reconstruction model for Mosul using high-tech 3D-printing technology involving spider-like robots and drones

Photography: WAM

Recyling (and upcycling) debris helps historic, war-torn Mosul emerge from ruins

Green Building + Architecture

n July 9, 2017, after nine months of fierce battle, the Iraqi army, backed by an international coalition, defeated the forces of the Islamic State that had occupied Mosul since the proclamation of the “caliphate” in June 2014. Emerging from the ruins, civilians celebrated the long-awaited liberation of the

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devastated city from apocalyptic streets and ruined buildings. A month earlier, on June 19, 2017, Islamic State militants attacked the city’s historic, social, and cultural heritage. Shiite mausoleums and sanctuaries were blown up, as well as the emblematic Al-Nouri mosque and its tilted minaret from the 12th century.

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Now, lengthy reconstruction work is ahead for the Iraqi government and the inhabitants. Whole neighborhoods were razed: hospitals, mosques, sports complexes, and thousands of houses. In total, between 50 and 75 per cent of the city was wiped out, leaving only millions of tons of rubble looking for a new life through recycling. Everything has to be rebuilt. The shovels are clearing the rubble ... In the logic of a circular economy and upcycling, everything that can be reused, recycled, and transformed must be inventoried and valued. A 100-day plan dealt with immediate problems, such as material sorting as well as de-mining, trash removal, and rehabilitation of utility facilities. This process opens the way to a 10-year reconstruction plan, which will affect all Iraqi cities liberated from ISIS. Initial rehabilitation efforts will include roads and bridges, as well as electricity and water services. According to Iraqi government sources, more than $1-billion will be needed to reha36

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bilitate basic services throughout Mosul and prepare a resilient urban plan to welcome the returning war refugees and internallydisplaced persons to the country with dignity. At the heart of the cleanup is the rebuilding of five Mosul bridges connecting the west and east districts across the Tigris which were destroyed. The concept is to rebuild them as inhabited bridges by building the new city over the old city. It is a matter of recycling the city from its heart, not from rebuilding it to its periphery by encroaching on an obsolescent agricultural land. These inhabited bridges will be printed in 3D using debris from war ruins and rubble to address the shortage of affordable housing, estimated at more than 53,000 dwelling units. They will be covered with urban farms and agricultural fields dedicated to permaculture in order to guarantee food autonomy to their inhabitants and excellent thermal inertia to the built environment. Urban farms and orchards will be irrigated by water from the Tigris, pumped by Archi-

medes screws. Gray water from bathrooms and kitchens will also be recycled and filtered by plants in lagoon waterfalls connected with the river. Biomass composters will feed their orchards and vegetable gardens suspended in biological fertilizers. The bridges will also incorporate wind chimneys for cool, natural air, cold ceilings using the thermal energy of the river, solar water heaters for hot water, and hundreds of photovoltaic pergolas producing the necessary kilowatts. In architectural terms, each bridge will resemble an artificial mountain generated by repetition in the space of one single basic module of 12.96m2: a 3,6m cube creating an edge vault using the intersection of two cradles, which intersect at right angles. Inspired by the muqarnas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the famous ornamental honeycomb pattern used in Islamic architecture since medieval times â&#x20AC;&#x201C; stacking these typical houses in a space creates a corbelled structure consisting of thousands of stalactites, which redescend the structural loads towards the bridge piers. winter 2017

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Green Building + Architecture

The typical houses will consist of two, five or 10 modules, respectively, forming dwellings of 25, 65, and 120 m2. The constructive system will thus respond to different habitable capacity requirements, according to the size of the Iraqi family to be accommodated. Stacked in large groups, the typical houses will form quarters with ocher-toned facades, and, over the years, a dense, green, and sustainable village above the Tigris. The facades are reminiscent of the ziggurats with their succession of superimposed terraces, distanced with respect to each other. Five 3D printers in the form of articulated spiders will allow the construction of 30 houses per day, or nearly 55,000 housing units in five years spread over the five bridges. All debris will be transformed into resources. To feed these 3D spider printers, drones will continuously bring them construction materials coming from the districts in ruins; previously crushed and transformed in recycling centers. Equipped with an industrial precision robotic arm, the spiders print the housing modules by directing any building nozzle such as those used to pour concrete and insulation materials, or those using a milling head. What kind of impact are we talking about? In 10 years, two-million lives are expected to be positively affected. Restoring the self-confidence of war refugees, their confidence in an optimistic future, and allowing them to participate actively in the repatriation process, is essential to the success of this reconstruction in the heart of the city. Mosul, about 400 kilometres north of Baghdad, will be a showcase with the rebuilding of the five bridges, harkening back to the mythical hanging gardens of Babylon (present-day southern Iraq), offering a vision of a positive future and a prototype of affordable and adaptable housing for each family unit. It is an urban planning model that can be easily replicated with the goal of rapidly increasing the housing capacity in the city and providing a practical and inspiring solution for war repatriates. This pioneering concept could change the way to construct buildings – making the process faster and less costly, fighting poverty and feeding the post-ISIS Mosul. www.vincentcallebaut.org The 5 Farming Bridges is the Winning Project of the Rifat Chadirji Prize Competition (3rd Place) - “Rebuilding Iraq’s Liberated Areas: Mosul’s Housing”

All-inclusive

CedarCoast homes can provide full accessibility and welcome everyone StONeWay marble & granite inc.

Kitchen Countertops Bathroom Vanities & Fireplaces 1295 Muskoka Rd. 118 West Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W8 705-645-3380 stoneway.inc@gmail.com

hey call it the multi-generation approach. That moniker from CedarCoast Timber Homes is apt, certainly when you take a close look at how their customized designs bring timeless benefits for everyone. A case in point – a bungalow in Muskoka, where the owners wanted a plan that meshed style with function. They certainly got that, plus it’s an Energy Star-certified, fully-accessible residence. “Not only is the house completely accessible, but so are the grounds,” says Patrick Bongers, co-owner of CedarCoast, based in Gravenhurst, Ontario. “There are no steps … anywhere.” The CedarCoast design team plans for the actualities of everyday living. Today, that often means designing a home which caters to the needs of up to four generations. That’s a lot, obviously, but CedarCoast routinely goes over every detail with a fine-tooth comb. The process speaks for itself: • CedarCoast plans the views around their homes to be largescale and inviting. This same spirit of easy access demands level entrances, smooth driveways and unhindered paths. There are no stairs, no ramps and no stops. The lack of steps is incorporated smoothly into the curb appeal. This easy walk is planned right through to the rear yard, barrier free from the front to the back. Everything slopes beautifully and flows naturally. Again there are neither ridges nor steps. Features like these help mitigate the future’s inevitable bumps in the road;

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Green Building + Architecture

• Honest, wide-ranging discussions often lead to surprisingly helpful details: lower handles, easy-access cabinets and handy drawers. Big doors that swing wide open, so people can walk side by side through every part of the house. Accessible showers, spacious hallways, even caninefriendly mud rooms will help your family – and your dripping family dog – through every rainy day; • Building a thoroughly modern timber home relies on techniques, equipment and environmental strategies unheard of even a few years ago. Ideas frequently start with the CedarCoast knack of turning customer families into friends through purposeful conversations. The CedarCoast SmartPlan experience turns families from dreamers into key holders. It is never intrusive, but the CedarCoast team does manage to learn about both big intentions and tiny details that go into making a new home right for everyone. Sustainability examples are prevalent in the Muskoka bungalow, as Bongers attests. “We’re talking about a very energy efficient home,” he explains. “There are R30 walls, a R60 roof, a 98 per cent efficient furnace – all Energy Star designed and independently tested. There’s an air tightness rating of less than 1.5, which is far better than Energy Star standard.”

TIGHT AUTOMATED SOLUTIONS

And then there are the minute details when it comes to accessibility, and the CedarCoast conscientiousness is evident anywhere you look, both inside and outside the home. “The pathways, front and back, are all flush to the driveway, decks and porches,” says Bongers. “The garage floor is the same level as the house. No steps and no sills. The back deck is flush to the stone path which leads to the stone patio with a sitting

• • • • • • •

area and waterfall. “There are no raised sills – they are all flat sills. There are no ugly ramps; it looks and feels like any other house. “It’s all about good, well thought-out initial design and good quality control.” Some might say that could be the mantra for a CedarCoast custom home.

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From all of us at GreenBuildinG + ARCHITECTURE

We wish you a great, prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, delightful, mind blowing, energetic, terrific and extremely happy… Happy New Year 2018 Thank you for your support and readership in 2017

Transforming Environments

www.amedeobarbini.com

DESIGN BUILD 40

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In this issue: • ZAS Architects • Vogue Developments • Pine Glen Group • Ateliers Jean Nouvel • A.N.T. Construction

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Green Building + Architecture custom profiles provide you with a highly targeted marketing resource to showcase your services and expertise. Much more than a self-promotional brochure, a custom profile is a third-party endorsement that inspires credibility and confidence in your target audience. Underwritten articles vary from one page to multiple pages in length, and are available as high-quality, four-color reprints that can be used for sales and marketing purposes. Green Building + Architecture custom profiles are available for a fraction of the cost to facilitate the copywriting, photography, layout/design, printing, shipping and other functions associated with developing a new marketing brochure. High quality, professionally produced ePrints can be posted on your website to magnify brand visibility for your company, products and services.

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