WINNER OF A 2021 CANADIAN ARCHITECT AWARD OF MERIT
This building includes an open shared workspace downstairs, and a residential space upstairs, combined with an urban agriculture component. The jury found the design to be well executed, and was excited to see an architecture firm taking the initiative to experiment with this mix of programs on an urban infill site in Halifax. This architect could not find a willing developer to explore an infill solution using mass timber, so became their own client. The urban agriculture is important to consider for its sustainability features but also as an inclusivity measure. These gardens can contribute positively to issues of food security and provide a means to grow uncommon produce that is specific to immigrant and newly arrived communities. –Jury Comment Providing a model for mixed-use development in Atlantic Canada, the building includes three levels of office space, two residential levels with a total of seven units, and a rooftop garden terrace. Its structure includes glulam columns and beams, as well as a nail-laminated timber floor assembly. Concrete is used for the building?s foundation walls, shear walls, floor topping, slab-on-grade, and car-port slab.
Covid-19 has radically changed work culture. Many architects will return to design studios and some will continue to work from home, but most people desire the flexibility of both worlds. The collaboration, socialization, and serendipity of a group environment, as well...