Building Blocks, a concept for sustainable housing developed by a design team led by Toronto interior designer Terrell Wong, has been picked as the winner of the Design Exchange Archetype Sustainable House Competition.
The chosen design will be built later this year as a full-scale demonstration model for sustainable development at the Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan.
"We are inspired by the range of possibilities presented for sustainable design," said Samantha Sannella, president and chief executive officer of the Design Exchange. "From traditional to contemporary styles, people seem to be open to change, and all of these styles can accommodate sustainability requirements."
The Design Exchange is charitable organization that seeks to promote the value of Canadian design.
Building Blocks incorporates numerous strategies to maximize energy conservation.
Building Blocks incorporates numerous strategies to maximize energy conservation and other "green" strategies. The houses will have a gold certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and under the EnergyStar program for indoor air quality and energy efficiency. A "zero lot line" design gives the individual modules the flexibility to be adapted to urban, row and infill sites, and a renovation-ready attic can be finished by the homeowner with a minimum of cost, allowing the house to grow and change with the family.
Other features include a barrier-free design; an adaptable garage that can be converted into a guest suite, rental apartment, home office or workshop; a green roof; sun shades; an engineered wetland wastewater system; a geothermal heating system; and insulation of R40 for the roof and R30 in the walls.
The Building Blocks design team was made up of Ms. Wong, architects Anne Stevens, Clelia Lori and Christina Cardys, mechanical engineer Al Davies, industrial design student Sunmee Kim and real estate advisers McKellar Associates Inc.
"Green housing is now a reality," said Brian Denney of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, one of the competition's sponsors.
"These architects, engineers and designers have created a viable future for sustainable development that will resonate across the country for many years to come."
All of the competition entries are on display at the Design Exchange until Sunday, June 25, and can be viewed on line at www.dx.org.
