ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Beech House in Toronto, Ontario by Altius Architecture, Inc.March 5th, 2014 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Altius Architecture, Inc. Efficient, clean design and simple, modern spaces went hand in hand with wheelchair accessibility for this modest, 2200 square foot house. This project was designed to be an accessible house that maintained the warm feel of a family home.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.
 Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc. While planning for wheelchair access was a fundamental part of the design process, the creation of a comfortable family home was the ultimate goal. This house was to be equally appropriate for children as it would be for an occupant in a wheelchair. More than being simply accessible, it was intended to be an example of good, universal design and a model for the creation of living spaces that will function for generations.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc. The house is sited on an urban lot on Beech Avenue in Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood. The site slopes steeply upward from the street in front and is also accessed from a lane at the rear. The massing of the house is governed by views, the requirement to protect mature trees on the site, and solar orientation. Aligned East-West, the main volume pushes to the north side of the property to create a sunny courtyard-like outdoor space directly connected to the living and dining spaces.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc. A glassy double height dining room suggests a transparent division between the public spaces at the front and the private spaces at the rear of the lot. A generous front porch extends the living spaces toward the street and connects the house to the eclectic fabric of the neighbourhood. The volumes of the house tuck into the existing canopy of trees, lessening the impact on the existing streetscape.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc. Vertically, the floor plates are organized around a stair and elevator configuration that has travel by both routes arrive at the same landings. While spatially efficient, the intent also was to never make the barrier free path of travel a secondary route. Two bedrooms face the rear yard while a bridge over the kitchen area extends to the master bedroom suite. High operable windows in the double height space, centered over the kitchen and dining areas, create natural stack-effect ventilation. Generous spaces and fluid circulation routes contribute to the flexibility and accessibility of the house.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc. The selection of finishes achieves a modern aesthetic and meets the technical requirements of accessible spaces. The main floor is polished concrete with radiant, in-floor heating, while the upstairs has have bamboo flooring throughout. Flush door thresholds and large sliding doors seamlessly connect interior and exterior spaces. Careful millwork design, plumbing fixture selection, and advanced lighting and control systems with iPhone/iPad connectivity contribute to the ease of use of the house. This house accommodates the needs of a growing family while seamlessly integrating wheelchair accessibility.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.  Image Courtesy © Altius Architecture, Inc.
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