The goal of the project was to convert a post-war house into a contemporary home and to provide a much needed addition. Preserving as much of the structure as possible the design team also turned to sustainable solutions that were particularly suited to the heavy masonry construction of this home. By insulating the house on the outside all of the thermal mass can be utilized to both moderate indoor temperatures and humidity and facilitate a nighttime ventilation strategy that will greatly reduce cooling requirements.

Sustainability Features:

Program and Spatial Optimization
Passive Solar Heating
Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling
Natural Daylighting
High Performance Envelope Design
Reclaimed and Recycled Materials
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Non-toxic Materials and Finishes
Radiant Heating
Heat Recovery Ventilation
Low Energy Lighting & Appliances
Water Conserving Appliances & Fixtures

Space heating is delivered through a retrofit staple-up radiant heat application to all floors within the existing building, whilst the rear addition makes use of new in-floor radiant heating throughout. The application of a new external cladding system to all existing facades offers the opportunity to re-insulate all external walls above grade, thus helping to stabilize heating and cooling strategies within the buildings envelope. Along with the re-insulation of the existing basement floor slab and the strapping out and re-insulation of all external basement walls heat losses can be minimized.

The main living areas to the rear addition maximize passive heat gains through the introduction of larger expanses of glazing to the south facade, whilst at the same time enhancing the overall connectivity between internal and external spaces. The second storey has been designed in such as way as to cantilever past the ground floor along both the south and west facades, this in turn creates a brise-soleil, and a means of controlling over-exposure to the sun; eliminating fears of overheating.

Altius Project Team:

Architecture - Graham Smith, Joe Knight

Project Partners:

Engineering - CUCCO engineering + design, Toronto
Builder - David Aaron Associates, Toronto
Mechanical - Canadian HVAC Design, Richmond Hill