Daniel’s Residence.
South Hill Deep Green Heritage Restoration
The Daniels Residence is a carefully orchestrated synthesis of resource and energy-efficient additions, heritage restoration, and deep green retrofit to a Toronto Art Deco masterpiece.
A symphony of 21st-century sustainability, the design takes advantage of the existing site orientation to maximize vistas and capture cooling breezes from the adjacent low-lying lands, harnesses passive solar heating and cooling, and exemplifies a variety of creative reuse opportunities that presented themselves through working with the original structure.
Further sustainable strategies include: rainwater collection for irrigation; highly-effective insulation; green roofs; energy-efficient doors and windows; geo-exchange heating and cooling; multiple optimally-sized heat pumps efficiently zoned throughout the house; solar thermal hot water; sun shading devices; light shelves; thermal mass concrete floors; hydronic radiant floor heating; and best-possible indoor air quality strategies.
The Daniels’ spectacular collection of art, furniture, and light fixtures fills a home that is just as breathtaking in form. As stylish as it is green and sustainable, the ingenious ‘re-imagination’ of its landmark Art Deco nascence is a testament to David and Kate Daniels and their team’s mission to preserve the old while weaving in the new.
Details
Location: Toronto, ON
Completion: 2013
Lot Size: 1,900m²
Building Gross Floor Area: 836m², 9,000 ft²
Project Lead: Paul Dowsett
Energy Use Intensity (Actual): 171 kWh/m²
Total Energy Demand Reduction from Typical: 38%
Structural: Halsall Associates
Heritage: Paul Dowsett, Architect
Interiors: Phillip Moody
Alternative Energy: Generation Solar
Lighting: DarkTools
Landscape: Holbrook & Associates Ltd.
Contractor: Coheze Developments Ltd.
Principal-in-Charge 2005-2008: Paul Dowsett, Architect (Scott Morris Architects Inc.)
Principal-in-Charge 2009-2013: Paul Dowsett, Architect (Sustainable)
Photography: George Opreff
From the client
“Dowsett worked attentively, sensitively and tirelessly on the lenghty, complex reno of our 1930s home with the added challenge of “green” design and materials. He is one of the most experienced “green” architects in Canada yet his humility was refreshing. He was a team player and the odd instance when there was something he didn’t know or even a mistake made (don’t fool yourselves, there are always mistakes...the better architects just make ‘em fewer and smaller!)there was nothing but enthusiasm to learn. This is uncommon behavior in such a competitive business. I’ve been around new construction and renovation (including two other renos of my own) most of my adult life and I can safely say Dowsett is one of the best. If you’re even thinking of “green” renovation/new construction, you would do well to interview Paul Dowsett.”