Noah Ryzewicz
Project 2 - The Good Neighbour:
Project 2 - The Good Neighbour:
A Missing Middle Project
With the population rapidly growing in Toronto, a need for more housing in older and more recent suburbs is necessary, as not everyone wants to live in the busy city. As more high-rise towers begin to appear, and smaller scale homes such as laneway suites become more common, there is still a need for a typology in between, this is the missing middle. The missing middle can be understood as a mid rise building or a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units, located in walkable neighbourhoods. For this project the objective was to design a missing middle building along a main retail street in the Bloor West Village, keeping in mind the character of the area and the future potential of the village. Bloor West is a low-density, once suburban neighbourhood in western Toronto with a lot of character and low-rise buildings, this proposal will be one of the first midrise buildings within the neighbourhood and should be aware of its surrounding neighbours. It is crucial to approach this design by first looking at life, then space, then finally, the building.
The proposed design for the missing middle project intends to fit comfortably into its immediate context, providing public spaces to use, local retail shops, and a range of units to fit a variety of families. The retail shops at grade are consistent with the others across the street, creating a sense of familiarity and consistency with this new building. The placement of a café and open public space near the main intersection attracts users into this versatile space, whether it be for public events, street fairs, or just meeting a friend to sit in some shade. There are multiple residential entrances, both from the main street as well as the opposing side of the building, the first floor consists of 1–2-bedroom units, while the other 3 floors prioritize 2-3 bedrooms. The third floor of this building is situated with a shared space for all residences, including a community garden, group seating, as well as a play structure for children, meant to enhance the sense of community. Each room was designed with the intention of providing adequate space, as well as sufficient views and natural lighting.
The proposed design for the missing middle project intends to fit comfortably into its immediate context, providing public spaces to use, local retail shops, and a range of units to fit a variety of families. The retail shops at grade are consistent with the others across the street, creating a sense of familiarity and consistency with this new building. The placement of a café and open public space near the main intersection attracts users into this versatile space, whether it be for public events, street fairs, or just meeting a friend to sit in some shade. There are multiple residential entrances, both from the main street as well as the opposing side of the building, the first floor consists of 1–2-bedroom units, while the other 3 floors prioritize 2-3 bedrooms. The third floor of this building is situated with a shared space for all residences, including a community garden, group seating, as well as a play structure for children, meant to enhance the sense of community. Each room was designed with the intention of providing adequate space, as well as sufficient views and natural lighting.
