Climate Action
The architecture profession must play a role in stabilizing the climate change crisis, lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in favour of clean power. This is one of the reasons why the OAA has chosen “climate action” as a theme in its strategic plan.
As it did in 2020, the OAA once again required Energy Usage Intensity (EUI) metrics to be included as part of the submissions process for the 2022 Design Excellence Awards program. EUI is the measurement of a building's annual energy consumption relative to its size. The lower the number, the less impact the building has on our climate. You can learn more about the OAA’s Total EUI Calculator online tool, free for both members and the public, by clicking here. Attached is the 2030 Ontario Target Data chartwhich shows the EUI goals for the 2030 challenge based on the building type.
TEUI of the project: 96 kWh/
m2
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Architect: Kohn Shnier Architects
The Tile House is located on a well-established street populated by older homes in mid-town Toronto. The design of the house seeks to find the “sweet spot” between formal innovations that break with conventional boundaries yet respects and reacts to the essential qualities of its context. The exaggerated shadows and minimal material palette of the clay-tile ensure this house is distinct without being abstentious or trendy. It is innovative and assertive, yet modest and familiar. It is a home that will always be understood as both of its time and a classic.
Photo Credit: Michael van Leur
The house strikes a balance between standing out and blending in; it mimics the form of its adjacent neighbours, however through subtle design moves and no street-facing front door, it announces its differences. The house sits on a deep, sloped site with a forested backyard that provides a quiet sanctuary with views to the downtown core. To maximize the connection to the backyard, primary living spaces are split across two floors: the kitchen and dining sit in the walk-out lower level, and the living room and office on the main floor.
Photo Credit: Michael van Leur
The house employs several passive and mechanical techniques to reduce energy consumption. All south-facing windows are covered with sunshades or large retractable awnings to reduce heat-gain. A large operable skylight is placed over the central staircase that connects all four levels of the house, drawing up cool air from the basement. Instead of a centralized HVAC system, the house relies on radiant heating during the winter months, and more efficient ductless heat-pumps for cooling when required. Every room has ample natural ventilation.
Photo Credit: Michael van Leur
Tile House supports the unique requirements of the empty-nest homeowners through the flexibility inherent in the design. The only traditional doors in the house are to the washrooms; the rest of the house is divided by oversized sliding panels. When the owners are home alone, the panels can be tucked away, allowing for the home to function as one oversized, interconnected suite. When they host guests, the sliding panels can be closed, allowing the house to function as a more traditional four-bedroom home. The compact, stacked footprint permits the use of robust, high-quality materials and products within the budget.
Photo Credit: Michael van Leur
The Tile House seeks to provide an example of innovative, contemporary design that sits comfortably within the spirit of Toronto’s restrictive zoning guidelines. With the exception of a quirk in the zoning bylaws regarding front-yard parking, which made the Committee of Adjustment unavoidable, the house is sized and formed to be ‘as of right’. It seeks to provide an example of contemporary architecture that can both stand-out and fit-in.
This blOAAg post is part of a series exploring the OAA’s 17 Design Excellence Finalists for 2022, as selected by our jury.
Click here to see other projects from this current award cycle.