Goderich Residence
Toronto
Aging in place is the ability to live in one’s own home for as long as confidently and comfortably possible. Having lived in a three storey downtown Toronto Victorian for many years, the clients recognized the future problems that would manifest for them should they remain in their current house; steep stairs, multiple levels, tight and narrow spaces making use of walkers / chairs difficult or impossible. Thinking proactively ahead, a treed property in the beautiful town of Goderich, Ontario was purchased and Kevin Weiss was commissioned to design a carefully considered and sustainable retirement house for the retiring couple.
The house is designed as a fully accessible one story bungalow with a generous living area and bedrooms in the basement for visiting grown children and their families. The main floor sits under a gently sloped and spatially expressed roof which is countered by the living and dining room roof, equally sloping and with exposed glu-lam beams and wood deck creating a high and lofty, and naturally vented sun-lit main living area. The entire roof area is designed as an extensive planted surface. A high performance mechanical system provides radiant heat hydronically distributed through the polished concrete floor. A state-of-the-art heat exchanger pre-heats/cools fresh air.
Credits
Kevin Weiss – Principal, Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited, Larkin Architect Limited
Structural: Picco Engineering
Contractor: Hugh Burgsma
Photos: Holly Dalton
