Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Unsurprisingly, despite efforts from the Bank of Canada to tame it, the housing market continues to climb.

A report released last week from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation stated the average home in the Hammer is expected to cost over $1 million beyond 2024. The average single-family home in the city is currently $992,500.

With that in mind, here are Hamiltons least and most expensive homes listed on Zoocasa, as of April 26.

Five lowest-priced homes

28 Northcote St.

Listed for $399,000, this recently renovated home sold at $550,000 after eight days on the market. Located around the corner from Dofasco, the four-bedroom, two-bath house has a open-concept main floor and a unique loft space that can be transformed into whatever tickles your fancy.

174 Emerald St. N.

This semi-detached, three-bedroom in the Landsdale area was listed at $449,900 on April 8. Over a week later, it sold for $635,000. The home had been recently renovated, including the addition of a newly landscaped backyard.

6 Frederick Ave.

This Crown Point East home was listed on April 13 for $449,900 before selling on April 22 at $635,000. Its detached, has three bedrooms, parking and a few upgrades to the flooring and half-bath.

97 Evans St.

This simple bungalow can be yours for $479,900. It could be a chance for a first-time homebuyer to break into the market. It is fully renovated, with a car port and a rather small second bedroom.

54 Britannia Ave.

Listed on the first of the month at $499,000, this two-storey Crown Point East home spent two weeks on the market before getting scooped up. The three-bedroom, two-bath detached property sold at $600,000.

Five highest-priced homes

3 Appleridge Crt.

This custom-built Carlisle estate that backs onto conservation lands was listed March 18 at $3,999,999. Its opulence knows no bounds. Situated on a private cul-de-sac, this luxury home has six bedrooms, six baths, three kitchens, four fireplaces and two staircases.

1537 Jerseyville Rd. W.

This Ancaster home comes with 73 acres of land and a lake in the backyard. Listed for $3,999,990 on April 1, its also got a pool and five massive bedrooms, along with a custom kitchen. Vibrant gardens await.

35 Palomino Dr.

Over an acre of property in a popular Carlisle neighbourhood, this detached home was listed for $3,850,000 March 21. Its located across the street from a park and surrounded by greenery. The home is also dripping in custom features throughout think wine pantry.

53 Windemere Rd.

This Stoney Creek lakeside home is a bit different with a five-level sidesplit. The house was newly listed for $2,999,888 on April 22. It was previously listed for $3,195,000 on April 8 before being terminated. Its located right next to Fifty Point Conservation Area. Its all about that view.

10 Meander Close

Another Carlisle property, this one fresh to the housing market April 1 at $2,799,900. But it didnt last long. It was sold at $2,705,000 on April 27. Plenty of living space, six bedrooms, gourmet kitchen, wood-burning fireplace and the backyard has a getaway feel complete with saltwater pool and cabana.

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April listings: Hamilton's most and least expensive homes on the market - Hamilton Spectator

AboveWater PR and Marketing| Special to Naples Daily News

Situated on Little Hickory Island on the Gulf of Mexico, the peaceful destination offers 5.7 miles of beachfront available to all residents and their guests. The private club has arranged for attendants to provide umbrellas, beach chairs and towel service and 200 feet of direct beach access for lounging, dining, swimming, and kayaking, as well as fishing. Note that a saltwater fishing license is required to fish from shore. There is no fee for Florida residents. West Bay Beach Club also provides convenient mens and womens locker rooms and showers. Now under construction is a new 4,245-square-foot building that will include a full-service restaurant and bar with indoor and outdoor dining throughout the day and expansive deck space to enjoy the view and skip the sandy toes. The anticipated opening is scheduled for the winter of 2023.

As one of the few local communities with its own private beach club, West Bay has expanded the parking areas to accommodate up to 60 vehicles and offers valet service during the busy season when friends and family descend upon Southwest Florida to enjoy our lifestyle. Residents here have already discovered the invigorating, yet relaxing life at West Bay Club. From the Golf House to the Beach Club, the Bay House to the River Park and The Net Tennis Center to The Sports Park, new residents of The Island will join a well-established community of doers.

Homeowners and their guests can spend a day playing 18 holes of championship golf, designed by the father-and-son team of Pete and P.B. Dye followed by a celebratory meal in the Golf House or a toast at the 19th hole known as the Niblick. For members who prefer racquet sports, The Tennis Center is home to eight Har-Tru courts and a full schedule of tournaments and socials. In addition, the always active and engaging Sports Park offers pickleball, bocce, shuffleboard, a picnic area and two dog parks.

Now selling rapidly are 86 luxurious condominiums in The Island at West Bay Club. Designed by architects Garcia Stromberg of West Palm Beach, every home claims a corner position with expansive terraces capturing views of the Gulf of Mexico, Estero Bay and nature preserves. Levels two through seven of the building feature extraordinarily large wraparound terraces. Limited to only four unique residences per floor, the 24-story tower will feature a single core elevator and over 3,250 square feet of living space under air in each residence. Open concept floorplans include a choice of a three-bedroom plus den, four-and-a half bath residence or a four-bedroom, four-bath residence all with 10-foot ceilings.

Penthouse homes at The Island at West Bay Club have 12-foot ceilings. Two units with 6,025 square feet of luxury living space are on the top floor, and four more penthouse residences comprise the 23rd floor.

The Island at West Bay Clubs striking architecture inspires an inviting indoor-outdoor lifestyle, especially with the wide terraces and glass-railed balconies. On The Islands rooftop, an amenity deck creates a breathtaking backdrop for morning exercise in the shaded fitness and yoga space, refreshing dips in the adults-only relaxation pool, and sunset celebrations overlooking the expansive Gulf of Mexico vistas. For entertaining, the rooftop wine bar and catering kitchen, ample seating, shaded lounge areas and fire pits gather friends and family year-round. Additional amenities include a lap pool, a family swimming pool and comfortable private cabanas, a fitness center, golf simulator, pet grooming area, business center, club room, and convenient grill and entertainment areas.

Visit the sales center at 22050 S. Tamiami Trail, Estero, FL 33928. For more information on The Island at West Bay Club and to stay updated on its progress, visit IslandWestBay.com or call West Bay Realty at 239-948-9009.

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New Gulf Front Beach Club Adds to The Island at West Bay's Allure - Naples Daily News

If designers had a dime for every client who requested a space to feel like the boutique hotel where they once stayed, they could retreat to said resort themselves, permanently. While these jewel-box hotels have long been the inspiration for a chic primary bath or the ultimate, out-on-the-town home bar, the trend has made its way outdoors; for everyone, not just those lucky Southern Californians. As such, sun chaises have made serious strides.

Glam cabanas and futuristic pods once novelties around hotel pools to shield high-profile guests from prying eyes (not to mention the sun) are now readily available online and commonplace in backyards. We chose five ultra-posh standouts that provide style, privacy and protection. Theres the ladder-like daybed from Gloster that could double as a jungle gym, the triangular cabana from Vondom that gives off A-frame cabin vibes and a clean-lined, unassuming chaise with a sun canopy from MamaGreen. Theyre all a tiny slice of stay-at-home nirvana.

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5 Ultra-Posh Daybeds That Bring Style and Privacy to Your Backyard - Robb Report

Pickleball, a mashup of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, is trending, and luxury real estate developers are racing to keep up.

About 4.8 million people play, according to USA Pickleball, the sports governing body. The game can range from a social activity to play with children to a fast-paced, competitive match.

Everyone calls pickleball the great equalizer, said Matt Nixon, the chief marketing officer at Southworth Development. You could be 10 years old, 12 years old, playing with anyone of any age. He said that for the Abaco Club, a development owned by Southworth in The Bahamas, the recreational activity serves as a key channel for building community around health, wellness and the enjoyment of the sport.

For some buyers downsizing from country club neighborhoods, pickleball is already a daily hobby. Theyre drawn to onsite courts because it affords a sense of community close to home.

More: Courtyard Houses for $10 Million and Up

Buyers are definitely asking about pickleball, said Wendy Pines, the sales director for the Casamar Residences, starting at $1.5 million, in Pompano Beach, Florida. Theyre excited were going to have it on the property and it appeals to people of all ages. Its become a popular social activity where people can come together and congregate. A lot of people play doubles, like in tennis. You always have people waiting to jump into the game. Its become that popular.

Since pickleball appeals to all ages, many kinds of properties can benefit from offering courts as a part of their amenity packages. Far from stripped-down public park facilities, pickleball courts are popping up in luxury developments from coast to coast with thoughtful touches including plush seating and branded equipment.

Whether its a retirement community, a housing development thats master planned with a variety of product types for different ages and demographics or a private club, you name it, theyre adding pickle[ball], said Mary Cook, a Chicago-based designer specializing in multi-family developments and amenity facilities.

The Case for New Pickleball Courts

Requiring little more than a badminton-size court, a 34-inch net, paddles and a perforated plastic ball, pickleball is easier to accommodate than other popular amenities, such as golf courses, swimming pools or bowling alleys. Developers are pulling out all the stops, often pairing the recreational activity with cocktail bars and other socially minded additions.

In Miami, the Standard Residences opted to design an indoor court that can be converted into a party room. Giant disco balls will spin from the ceiling, while spectators and players can don branded apparel and paddles styled after the Wes Anderson film The Royal Tenenbaums. The building, with pieds-a-terre offered in the mid $700,000s, is expected to be completed in 2023.

We were thinking about what type of sport we could put in the building without affecting the people there. If you put in paddle[ball] or bowling, it can get too noisy and that becomes an issue, said Carlos Rosso, the CEO of Rosso Development, the company behind the Standard Residences. We have a karaoke bar that bleeds into the pickleball court area, so that whole scene will be a very cool way of activating the building.

In The Bahamas, the Abaco Club transformed an underutilized area into pickleball courts and a basketball half-court. The bright blue courts are along a quiet, palm tree-lined road a stones throw from the beach. Lights illuminate the courts for evening matches. Cottages on the Caribbean property are priced up to $3 million and villas are expected to be priced up to $12 million.

More: Mothers Day Gifts for the Mom Who Takes Pride in Her Home

Its opened up the whole area and changed the dynamic, said Matt Young, the Abaco Clubs director of outdoor pursuits. Plans are underway to build an outlet of sorts, with a coffee stand in the mornings where people can sit and watch pickleball or have a cup of coffee in between games.

In the evenings, players and spectators will be able to grab a beer or cocktail while enjoying a game.

Making Use of Existing Tennis and Basketball Courts

Before installing dedicated courts, luxury developers can try out pickleball at their facilities for a negligible price. They can add lines to existing tennis and basketball courts and roll out temporary nets.

The Abaco Club gauged residents interest in the game by adding stripes to its tennis court before committing to the smaller-sized courts. The residential developer Optima Inc., which owns properties in Scottsdale, Arizona and Chicago, did the same by painting stripes on indoor basketball courts.

The requirements are similar to those of an indoor basketball court, so its been an easy addition. The most important thing to consider in planning a pickleball court is space and creating the striping overlay on the existing court in a way thats cohesive, said David Hovey Jr., AIA, president, COO and principal architect of Optima, Inc.

More: Whether in a Garden or on a Windowsill, These High-Tech Gardening Accessories Will Help Your Plants Thrive

To meet demand, theyve planned an outdoor pickleball stadium at their forthcoming luxury apartment tower, 7190 Optima Kierland. The 216-unit tower is slated to open in 2023 in Scottsdale, with prices ranging from $1.75 million to $3.25 million. Were excited to build resident programming around this newest feature, possibly hosting a tournament, Mr. Hovey said.

Taking It to the Next Level With Lessons and Coaching

Coaches, who act as ambassadors of the sport, can rally excitement for residents, organize tournaments and take the pastime to the next level. Typically, coaches are experienced racket sports players and natural community organizers.

Fun Bob is our resident pro tennis and pickleball player. Hes involved with all the lessons, hosting tournaments on a weekly basis, Mr. Young said. Hes also involved in the local community program; hes a fantastic guy and our members love him. Hes a great tennis and pickleball player, and sometimes his line calls are questionable, so you need to keep an eye out for that.

Celebrities, too, can add to the excitement around the sport. We want to bring famous artists to the opening of the pickleball court, Mr. Rosso said. I dont know if you know, but Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres and even Kim Kardashian have pickleball courts at their homes. Maybe we can get them to play doubles.

More: With Working From Home Prevalent Across Australia, Two Are Better Than One When It Comes to Home Offices

Comfort From the Elementsand for the Spectators

If not indoors, courts require a less windy location than tennis due to the lightweight, perforated plastic ball at play. Even if a court is surrounded by lush tropical palms and cabanas, being too close to ocean wind can zap the fun out of a game.

We took into consideration the location because you dont want to have a lot of wind involved with such a light ball. The building blocks the wind from the ocean, Ms. Pines said of Casamars planned court in close proximity to the ocean in Pompano Beach.

Its common for people to watch matches while waiting for their time on the court. Luxury developers are taking this into consideration, building out cabanas and cafe structures to support all who meet around the sport.

The goal is to make a pickleball court a very inviting area with shade and seating for spectators, along with a summer kitchen, so it can be more of an event instead of pickleball all by itself, Ms. Pines said.

More: Homes With Wild Family-Friendly Features Ensure Your Kids Will Never Be Bored

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Pickleball Takes Its Place as the Must-Have Luxury Amenity - Mansion Global

T

he title of mom extends far past motherhood. It also carries the duties of chauffeur, doctor, teacher, and chef. With all those job titles, it's a must to put some effort into praising her every year and making sure she stays out of the kitchen on her special day. Breakfast in bed can feel played out so why not let her sleep in and instead take her to brunch?

You can't cut any corners when it comes to celebrating Mother's Day so it's better to make reservations in advance of the big day, Sunday, May 8. Houston's best brunches are gearing up for a family-filled arena - here's where you should go.

Pondicheri:If mom prefers a more glam brunch experience, this buzzy Upper Kirby restaurant will add some color and spice into her life. Shell love the chefs' picture-perfect dishes and the Bake Labs sweet treats. Plus, as a woman-run establishment, owner Anita Jaisinghani knows just what mom needs, and thats the restaurant's Mothers Day gift box, which comes with skin oils, and baked goodies, including the infamous Crack Balls. Menu specials start at $12. Gift box is $50.

Pondicheri, 2800 Kirby Dr., B 132.

Bloom & Bee:After you surprise mom with a Deep Knead massage from The Spa at Post Oak Hotel, you can head to the main lobby for a three-course brunch that will serve as the perfect backdrop for a mother-daughter day. With a view overlooking the hotel pool, shades of pink sprinkled throughout the restaurant, and a full bar with cocktails perfectfor the occasion, you and mom will be set for the ultimate photo-op. Entrees include vegetable wellington, corned beef hash and eggs, and grilled Alaskan salmon. Plus, indulge her in some sweet treats at the dessert buffet, offering Praline Paris Brest, Pina Colada Verrine, and Hummingbird Cupcakes. $75 per person.

Bloom & Bee, 1600 W Loop S.

The Warwick:Who doesnt love a complimentary mimosa? The newly opened Galleria restaurant will hand mom the well-deserved cocktail when she walks in the door. Dont be surprised if she says the restaurant feels familiar, its the same building as the former Houstons restaurant. The cozy booths are great if you want to have a a more intimate time with mom and express your love for her over succulent plates such as the Hawaiian Ribeye, Charbroiled Gulf Oysters, and the Snapper Orleans.

The Warwick, 5888 Westheimer Rd.

B&B Butchers & Restaurant:Tell mom to get dressed to the nines and take her to this Washington Corridor restaurant. The stellar wine cellar will indeed have her favorite red or white, or she can sip her complimentary Bellini. Dont forget to request a handy purse rack so mom has somewhere to store her bag and keep her hands and arms free for gifts and hugs. Ask to sit on the patio, where you'll get to enjoy live music and a picture with the longhorns out front for a memorable Mothers Day photo.

B&B Butchers & Restaurant, 1814 Washington Ave.

B.B. Lemon:Your mom wont lifta finger at B.B. Lemon except to eat those delicious blue crab beignets and to drink her on-the-house mimosa. Sit outside to appreciate the good weather and the live music under the cabanas, and be sure to tell mom she can order whatever she wants, even if that means a dozen oysters on the half shell.

B.B. Lemon, 1809 Washington Ave.

Turners:Old-world charm and sophistication are the characteristics that embody this Galleria area diner. Brunch here is a dining experience like no other. Executive Chef Robert Del Grande and Chef de Cuisine Jose Valencia curated a menu with Turner's reserve caviar, steak tartare, and monkey bread french toast. She will dine while being serenaded by Henry Darragh and Barry Sames, who will perform live. $250 per person.

Turners, 1800 Post Oak Blvd. Entrance on Ambassador Way.

The Annie Cafe & Bar:This bustling Uptown eatery is the epitome of class; moms will get to bask in the sophisticated ambiance from the dimly lit indoor dining room to the patio. Plus, Moms get a free mimosa or Bellini, while the kiddos are occupied with the balloon artist on site.

The Annie Cafe & Bar, 1800 Post Oak Blvd., Suite #6170.

NoPo Caf, Market & Bar:This quaint North Post Oak restaurant shouldn't be overlooked for brunch with mom, especially if she's a casual diner. You're met with beautiful decor and an inviting ambiance when you walk in. And what mom doesn't want to be welcomed with a cocktail? Satisfy all of her tastebud's desireswhether smoked salmon + schmeer, steak & eggs, or buttermilk pancakes she'll leave feeling satisfied.

NoPo Cafe, Market & Bar, 1244 N Post Oak Rd Suite #150.

Ouisies Table:Families are notorious for passing down antiques, and Ouisies Table reflects that, from the menu to the decor. The Southern restaurant has just the right touch of elegance, and some quirkiness too. Theres a porcelain dog named Patience thats placed throughout the restaurant, and a red dress called Miss Ruby that the owners sister wore in a 1958 debutante ball in Houston. Expect rustic dishes like cornmeal pancakes, grilled beef tenderloin and eggs, and chicken fried chicken. As an additional gift, Ouisies will present each mom with a boxed chocolate at the end of the meal. If mom is looking to escape the crowds Sunday, Ouisies entire menu will be available to-go. Orders should be placed at least several hours in advance of the desired pick-up time.

Ouisies Table, 3939 San Felipe St.

The rest is here:
Where to Get Mother's Day Brunch in Houston - Houstonia Magazine

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 31, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at the offices of Oak Terrace MHP c/o Riverstone Communities located at 1618 Marion Road SE, #175, Rochester, MN 55904, the following property will be sold at public auction by the Sheriff of Olmsted County: A 1978 Nort HS MFG single wide manufactured home, Vin 3139 and any contents therein or about the premises. The manufactured home is located within Oak Terrance MHP c/o Riverstone Communities at 1618 Marion Road SE, #216, Rochester, MN 55904. This sale will be held to satisfy a claim upon the above-described property held by Oak Terrace MHP c/o Riverstone Communities. Upon information and belief, this property is owned by Steven Paul Phillips. The mobile home and contents therein or about the premises was abandoned on January 31, 2022. The amount of the claim against the above referenced property is $5,550.42, computed to the date of sale, exclusive of the expenses of said sale, together with the actual expenses of making said sale. Dated: April 25, 2022 ANDERSON LAW FIRM /s/: Brenda Benitez Brenda Benitez Attorney Registration No.: 0398287 1812 Second Street SW, Suite B Rochester, MN 55902 T: 507 / 536-9933 F: 507 / 536-9391 brenda@carlandersonlaw.com (April 30; May 7 & 14, 2022) 58123

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY G - Rochester Post Bulletin

Kohler has launched a limited edition creative AR experience to celebrate the new Statement & Anthem showering collection. The hybrid launch concept extends the boundaries of a showroom by offering digital and physical touchpoints through a Statement & Anthem sculpture, which reflects the colours and finishes of the new collection, and an accompanying QR code which transports the user to a virtual world.

Once the sculpture is configured and the QR code scanned, the user is transported to a virtual world where they can explore different spaces of wellbeing inspired by the stunning design cues of the new Statement Showering Collection and Anthem Digital & Mechanical Controls.The physical pieces create an immersive experience for architects and designers, and encourage Kohlers creative audience to touch and feel the various materials, admire the unique shapes and forms, and build their own configurations.

Our new Statement & Anthem collection represents a generational shift in the shower experience and we wanted to celebrate that, explains Angela Zahn, Kohler Kitchen & Bath Group Director of Global Campaigns and Channel Marketing

As these products break out of traditional bathroom design, by blurring the lines between the bathroom and other interior spaces (Statement forms were inspired by household objects found outside of the bathroom) as well as allowing users to control the shower mechanically or digitally, we saw an opportunity to showcase them by creating a hybrid experience that similarly blurred the lines between home/work, and digital/physical.

The spatially-aware, mobile and webAR browser experience enables participants to step inside a 360 virtual space to explore three beautiful landscapes that showcase Kohlers products. Within these landscapes, participants can find and interact with a life-sized, animated, abstract sculpture inspired by the physical sculpture, as well as rotate, pinch and zoom in to examine the details.

Architects are also able to leverage their own physical environments and transform them into interactive playspaces by virtually walking around, examining the product from all angles, and taking in their surroundings. Each sculpture is accompanied by high-quality product cards containing imagery and helpful specifying information.

Through this immersive hybrid experience, architects and designers can discover the endless ways Kohler products can bring a sense of harmony and revitalization into their designs and create their own spaces of wellbeing.

We understand our audience of global architects, designers, developers and hoteliers gains so much more from an experience that can be seen, felt, and appreciated in the context of a physical environment, continues Angela. Therefore, the creative team landed on a concept that was both transportive and grounded, while embracing the constraints of a remote setting in a thoughtful, sophisticated, and innovative way.

Gift boxes containg the sculpture, product codes and portal QR code have been sent to 500 key figures in the architect and design community. As travel resumes, the AR experience will be featured at Kohler events and retail locations, providing Kohler with an opportunity to enable its customers to explore both the physical and digital world of Kohler Showering simultaneously.

https://experience.kohlerglobalshowers.com

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Kohler turns to AR to immerse architects and designers in latest launch - TOPHOTELNEWS

When I first moved to Toronto about a decade ago, Tel Aviv-born, Paris-educated architect and urban designer Naama Blonder recalls, the one complaint I heard the most was about the ugly condos with cold, monstrous features.

Sound familiar? With condo construction continuing to dominate redevelopment around the city, many fear more bland blocks of steel and green glass will follow. But among developers and city planners, signs of point to a new focus being put on not only what new buildings themselves will look like, but also how they can best fit into existing neighbourhoods and streetscapes.

Fifteen years ago, Toronto established the Design Review Panel, a group of design and landscape architects, transportation engineers and experts in heritage and environmental sustainability, who voluntarily evaluate development proposals and tell the builders as well as city planners how to improve them. (The city also has other panels specializing in waterfront and transit infrastructure development proposals.)

Emilia Floro, Torontos director of urban design and head of the department to which the Design Review Panel provides feedback, says the panel looks at both the esthetics of new buildings as well as their compatibility and fit with the public realm around them streets, parks, open spaces.

Were really focused on the highest quality of life for people using (them), Floro says, and achieving a high quality of architecture, and landscape architecture that incorporates heritage preservation and environmental sustainability.

Floro points to One Bloor Street East as an example of substantial improvement through the Design Review Panel process. The new tower, on the southeast corner of Yonge and Bloor, was reshaped at street level to better match Yonge Streets narrower and multiple-unit retail face. Sidewalk space was enlarged and enhanced and provides better weather protection, while the buildings top was refined with an eye toward its significant impact upon the skyline, Floro says.

King Toronto, a massive condo development now under construction on King Street west of Spadina, promises to be a dramatic new addition to the face of the city. Inspired by Moshe Safdies Habitat housing complex built for Expo 67 in Montreal, it stacks terraced units into four main mountains, with each suite facing at a 45-degree angle. This gives the complex an undulating appearance, in contrast to the usual flat wall-and-windows faade.

Ground-level retail will frame wide passageways leading into courtyard of more shops, rigged with a mist-producing cloud-maker for hot summer days. A new public park will mark the south flank.

King Toronto will incorporate several of the streets classic red-brick heritage buildings into its decidedly modern motif. The developments Danish architect, Bjarke Ingels, told the Star in an interview when the development was first announced in 2018, that he understands the importance Toronto places on preserving city streetscapes.

You have to tread carefully when you have existing qualities like we do at King Street, he said.

There should be a way where the two can successfully co-exist. By not confusing whats old and whats new, you preserve the past and reinvent it and contribute something toward the future.

For Naama Blonder, who is the co-founder of Torontos Smart Density design firm (which recently won the 2022 Ontario Association of Architects award for best emerging practice), that compatibility between new developments and their surroundings is key. Design (of the building) matters, design of the public realm matters, design of the ground floor and of retail matters, she says. All of the things that build your experience as a pedestrian will matter far more than just the height of the building or the number of windows.

Blonder says development in Toronto is very bottom-line-driven, and pressures to cut costs have led to the dominance of steel and glass facades. Its the most feasible form of construction, she acknowledges, but its unnatural to the human eye to see the same window hundreds of times in a tall building with hundreds of units. In nature, you dont have anything that repeats itself like that.

In Blonders view, the Ontario College of Art and Design building (completed in 2004) and the Brookfield Place atrium (1992, also home to the Hockey Hall of Fame) are some of the most recent innovative, yet already dated, standouts. Eighty per cent of the architecture in this city is not star flashy buildings, she says.

However, Blonder looks forward to the completion of the Well, the mixed-use residential/retail/office complex and future home of the Toronto Star under development on Wellington Street west of Spadina, praising its design, which includes a beautiful, two-storey, high-ceilinged food court.

For similar reasons, she thinks the redevelopment of the former Honest Eds site at Mirvish Village (to feature a new market area and brewery) holds promise, as does the Waterworks condo on Richmond Street West, which incorporates a large food hall into the Art Deco-inspired public works building constructed in the 1930s.

Its a fact of life in Toronto that most major new builds will be condos. Blonder says because of residential zonings dominance in the city, along with the ongoing demand for new housing, its imperative that the city strike the right balances between new projects design and their integration into their communities.

With Boston or New York, Blonder says, the character is not of one building. Its mostly the streets of the city that create the identity, the brand that you think of.

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Leading architects and city planners share their ideas for Torontos urban vista - Toronto Star

Renew Calumet / wkshp/bluemarble

By Wkshp/bluemarble

A Green New Deal means designers can live up to their potential to address the wicked problems of our time. Landscape architects, planners, and architects may be familiar with the Green New Deal Superstudio, which was a call for designers to spatially manifest the Green New Deal, or to imagine projects centering jobs, justice and decarbonization.

The Superstudio marks an inflection point for landscape architecture. Grounded in policy and the context of climate change and social unrest, the Superstudio is the landscape architecture communitys public acknowledgement that our work is deeply intertwined with politics.

As a collective of young practitioners, we understand the significance of the Green New Deal conversation happening within and outside of our profession. ASLA and the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) have embraced the Green New Deal, and organized students and practitioners to imagine its tangible implications within the built environment. These steps represent real action towards the shift in practice that Billy Fleming, ASLA, the Wilks Family Director at the McHarg Center at the University of Pennsylvania, called for in his 2019 article, Design and the Green New Deal. Like Fleming and the professions organizations, we recognize a shift that needs to happen if landscape architecture is to stand a chance.

It is crucial for landscape architecture to change if we are to have a meaningful contribution toward a habitable future. As Superstudio participants, Wkshp, a team of emerging professionals, viewed the Superstudio as a way to imagine both future projects and adapted practice.

For us, the Superstudio was fulfilling in several ways. With limited experience in professional practice, we found a shared sentiment that our professional experiences were not in complete alignment with what we were sold in school a sometimes romanticized version of our personal career paths and the impact they will have. After a couple of years in practice, we have maintained faith in the potential of landscape architecture to make large-scale change. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Superstudio was that it prompted us to make space to rekindle our passions and sense of purpose, in ways that often dont fit into typical modes of practice.

What exactly doesnt fit into existing practice and why? While developing our Superstudio submission, our time was dedicated to identifying barriers to implementation and asking questions. Repeatedly, we were brought back to the same power dilemmas, which are beyond the scope of the typical landscape architecture project, but were centered in our Superstudio work: structural racism, a patriarchal society, colonialism, severe economic inequity, and environmental injustice, among others.

Working under the framework of the Green New Deal was liberating it meant that we could transcend the constraints of the current market, and a model of practice formulated to serve it. It allowed us to imagine design processes and projects to serve geographies and communities that have been economically, socially, and environmentally abandoned, while considering how we can work differently.

We imagine a culture that has moved beyond megalomania, utopianism, and individualism. In the Superstudio, we find the seeds of a collaborative realism and inclusive organizing that we are now working to scale and ground. So, a Green New Deal project is not necessarily a new project in its built form, but the where, how, and for whom represent a practice transformed. The Green New Deal creates living infrastructure in places that need it but cant afford it, repairing landscapes that have been endlessly extracted from, preparing underserved communities for unpredictable futures, with an emphasis that it will all be co-designed. This is a new means and mode of practice one of which does not yet exist, but desperately needs to.

The Superstudio was an experiment in process, just as much as it was a design project. Wkshp/bluemarble, a non-hierarchical collective with collaborators from multiple firms working together across three time zones, embodied this ethos throughout. We understand that ethics of flexible leadership and constant growth are critical for facing the challenges of our generation.

The Modernist approach exemplified by architects Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright is a deeply flawed, failed model. We cannot rely on individuals to save the planet. In the same vein, we must stop placing individuals on a pedestal within design culture as a whole. Almost nothing in our field is created or even conceived by a single individual, and its time to acknowledge the power of a team as well as elevate the power of the ideas, rather than praise a single person. On this note, we reject destructive criticism by those in power within our tiny profession. Young designers need support, especially those willing to dedicate a career (or even one year as a thought experiment) to re-conceiving our collective future.

With this transformational spirit, the Superstudio summit, Grounding the Green New Deal, was an opportunity to begin imagining next steps with fellow Superstudio participants and leaders. The summit organized by LAF, with the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, ASLA, and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., featured a curated selection of projects and speakers from practice, policy, and advocacy. The summit which was thought-provoking, informative, and beautifully executed, igniting a series of deep reflections.

Both the immediate and more distant futures of the profession were on display at the summit. For those seeking spark notes on advancing jobs justice and decarbonization, here are some general themes we came away with:

We were especially inspired by the work and vision of organizers such as Colette Pichon Battle, Esq., the executive director of Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy, an organization that is actively bringing justice to front line communities in the Gulf Coast Region, and represents the type of organization that designers could support in projects akin to the Green New Deal. The voices of those with public sector experience stood out as well, such as Mitchell Silver, Hon. ASLA, former Commissioner of New York City Parks & Recreation department. These panelists shared their strategies of working within existing institutions to produce projects embodying the pace, scale, and justice-orientation of the Green New Deal in the now.

Kate Orff, FASLA, founder of SCAPE, and Fleming, both key figures in the Superstudio and the profession at large, provided essential framing through presentations that served as a prompt for advocacy and guide for implementation.

We felt that the lack of organized dialogue among the mass of Superstudio participants was a missed opportunity, and that the format of the summit, while inspiring, felt devoid of the popular, inclusive spirit of the Superstudio. Some challenges mostly of the how do I start doing this right now? variety still need further testing in the real world. For example, once we connect with community organizers, are we prepared to work differently from our normal practice? Can this work happen at scale outside of academic spaces? How does this work get done where there isnt an existing implementation structure, or the structure cannot transcend existing forms of development? How do we scale up this transformative practice outside of the most populous, resource-rich regions of the country?

Urgency is in the air. The summit must be the beginning of a conversation, yes, but most importantly must further contribute to radical action both within and beyond the field locally and globally. Now is the time for landscape architecture to evolve.

Here are our next steps: capacity building, organizing, and, most critically, doubling down on the collective imagination that the Superstudio so radically and meaningfully engaged.

Wkshp/bluemarble is a team of emerging professionals working for transformations within practice and the world at large.

Adriana Hernndez Aguirre, Associate ASLA, Coleman & AssociatesMaddie Clark, Design WorkshopOlivia Pinner, Associate ASLA, SWAAdam Scott, PLA, Associate ASLA, SWANicholas Zurlini, Associate ASLA, GGLO

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Whats Next for the Green New Deal in Landscape Architecture? - American Society of Landscape Architects

ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1958, THE ARCHITECTS RETREAT IS FULLY UPDATED AND READY FOR ITS NEXT CUSTODIAN

Located in Vancouver, Canada, the Architects Retreat is a residential structure previously occupied by three generation of architects and designers. Originally built in 1958, the house has gone through dedicated renovations directed by the different owners, fully updating it to fulfill contemporary necessities.

Listed by West Coast Modern, this cabin in the woods recently sold for nearly $2.4 million 10% above its asking price.

images by Jesse Laver + Yan Timo, courtesy of West Coast Modern

Built and owned by Henry Yorke Mann a contemporary of Ron Thom and Arthur Erickson the Architects Retreat is located on Clements Avenue in North Vancouver. The original cedar box structure was built at a cost of $8,000 and encompassed only 700 square feet and one bedroom. Made with double tongue-and-groove cedar, the walls were not insulated.

For Mann, the place of the architect is alongside great composers, musicians, painters and poets who aspire to fully express the beauty, depth and mystery of humanity. Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC)

Thirty years later, the house changed owners when architect Perter Buchanan bought it. He began his own renovations, which included the addition of two stories. The resulting 1,910-square-foot plan contains the main bedroom and a den, and a two-bedroom basement suite below. Building on Manns design, Buchanan tested out experimental ideas that would lead to some of Vancouvers most iconic buildings.

It was in fact Buchanan who gave the Architects Retreat its current form, drawing inspirations from aerial and nautical designs.

The new structure was built by repurposing old building materials, Buchanan told West Coast Modern. In fact, all of the fir needed was supplied by one single old growth blown down fir tree taken from Sea Schelt. It was a model and experiment for sustainable environmental design. Anne and I lived in the home for 26 years and raised our two kids Nevada and Max in the home and neighborhood until we sold it and moved to Whistler in 2015.

Finding the right buyer was not easy as its effectively a one-bedroom house on a small lot. Buyers kept telling us they could get double the house for the same price, said Trent Rodney from West Coast Modern.

The current owners the Noel family local designers themselves, completely restored the house maintaining the original feel of the home, while improving its livability. The project earned them North Vancouvers 2018 Heritage Award.

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architect's retreat, a home intervened by three generations of architects + designers - Designboom