16/02/10 – Toronto – Apt./Lofts

Comment: This unit is part of a building in liberty village- now a 45 acre development near the lake in Toronto. This is in that artistic area of Toronto on the west side.

Here we have a one bed condo at liberty on the park. With a little research looks like Liberty has some LEED but not this block.

Yes a L shaped kitchen. The developer shows an island as optional? I would go for it and make it a breakfast bar thereby eliminating the need for a table. Instead I would tuck a desk the living area.
Windows that span the space and go to a terrace! The bedroom has a sliding door into it which saves space and the closet is adequate. We can picture where the TV would go. The laundry though in a closet is recessed enough that we can put a basket down without tripping on it.
Only issue – This entry is almost there. Seems quite large and I can see a wall defines the space but the closet is tucked about 10 feet up. Also it would be nice if it did not open to the kitchen(maybe the buyer is messy in there!) but away. We can fit a hall table however!

Project Name: Liberty On The Park

Size: 635

Project Address: King and Stachan Toronto ON

Project URL: http://www.liveinliberty.com/park/images/plans/Liberty%20On%20The%20Park%20-%20Elemental.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 17

Comment:

Project Name: Concord CityPlace, Panorama – Suite 12 (Tower)

Size: 1098 sq ft

Project Address: 23 Spadina Ave Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.cityplace.ca/panorama/

Slow Home Test Score: 11

Comment: Round building form is incompatible with interior spaces, creating a lot of wasted space / odd shaped spaces that are virtually unusable (ie. master balcony). It seems that the shape of the building was the primary design idea for this one, trying to make the building stand out from all the others – rather than making good units.

Project Name: Concord CityPlace, Parade: Grand 2 – Suite 06

Size: 1432 sq ft

Project Address: 23 Spadina Ave Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.cityplace.ca/parade/

Slow Home Test Score: 12

Comment: Unit is west facing = hot in Toronto. Location of kitchen creates problem circulation. There isn’t any room for a proper dining table. Dislike the angled facade, creates waste of space in corner of living room – also sliding door in living room makes it hard to place furniture (do you push your couch up against it? or do you sit an inch from the tv? or do you have to look sideways at it?)

Project Name: Infinity 3 – Arena

Size: 573 sq. ft.

Project Address: 43.64131,-79.38327

Project URL: http://www.conservatorygroup.com/infinity3_arena.html

Slow Home Test Score: 11

Comment: 98/100 walkscore!
Windowless study (den)!
Shoeboxy unit shape

Project Name: London, unit 1k+d

Size: 1015 sq ft

Project Address: 38 The Esplanade Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.londoncondos.ca/flash/floorplans/floorplans2/1k-d.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 14

Comment: Terrible unit.

Project Name: London, unit 1d

Size: 680 sq ft

Project Address: 38 The Esplanade Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.londoncondos.ca/flash/floorplans/floorplans2/1d.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 8

Comment: I agree with Matilde that a view of dishes isn’t that nice, but is not enough of a deterrent to revoke a yes on the entry point. Overall, a good, compact unit.

Project Name: Infinity 2 – York

Size: 547 sq ft

Project Address: 43.642202, -79.383238

Project URL: http://www.conservatorygroup.com/infinity2_york.html

Slow Home Test Score: 18

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Work Lofts.
Interesting concept but lots of issues: huge bathrooms, lots of wasted space, huge outdoor space, angled walls,…

source: http://www.worklofts.ca

Comment: I think I would change the position of the W/D and the refrigerator so that the laundry was by the bathroom door and not in the kitchen.

Project Name: Iron Works Lofts

Size:

Project Address: 99 Chandos Ave

Project URL: http://www.torontolofts.ca/ironworks_floor_plan01.html

Slow Home Test Score: 12

Comment: I decided to compare the smallest and the largest lofts in the same building and it appears that the smaller loft is a lot less successful than the larger loft because of orientation. The windows in the smaller loft face west in the unit I looked at and there could be issues with cooling during Toronto’s hot, humid summers.

Project Name: The Curve – unit L03

Size: 470 sq ft

Project Address: Queen St, West Side Lofts, Across from Drake Hotel

Project URL: http://www.westsidelofts.ca/470sqft-L03.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 13

http://www.absolute-condos.com/
Interesting exterior form
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=303
Sorry couldn’t find the link to the floor plans, I know they exist. Should be interesting due to the curved outer walls

Comment: Mainly I hate the fact that the main bedroom has no windows. This space may have benefitted from being a true loft with the bedroom created in the main living space.

Project Name: Merchandise Lofts – 444

Size:

Project Address: 444, 155 Dalhousie St

Project URL: http://www.torontolofts.ca/loft161f_merchandise444.html

Slow Home Test Score: 15

Comment: Alejandro- I like the stadium plan most over at Infinity 3. No strangle angles within this unit. Went ahead and scored it in this test.

Architect is EI Richmond Architects. Found the address too.

I cannot give them the environment point – not a Leed project and I see nothing about a commitment toward green on the website.

What I like. The entry, bedroom, and wall of glass at the end. Living and Dining is that great room concept which is fine as long as you do not also use bar stools (then it gets tight).

What needs help. Kitchen and Den. They put this small kitchen in and a small den across from it. Den has no door for privacy and that is a spot full of circulation. For the size of unit this should have more counter!

Project Name: Infinity 3

Size: 741 (stadium)

Project Address: 30 Grand Trunk Crescent Toronto ON

Project URL: http://conservatorygroup.com/infinity3_stadium.html

Slow Home Test Score: 16

Comment: Here is a condo development near the university, museums, two subway lines, and high end shopping on Bloor street.

This is about the address – they do not mention their LEED certification. Units are basically 1 million and up and guess what- most are sold.

Burka Architects Inc.

What I like. One large terrace and then another smaller balcony. Normal sized 2 bath. Light everywhere! Kitchen space is dedicated to its own space on the far side of the plan. I love that the living and dining space orients to the terrace. Ceilings are 9 at this level so feels more spacious. *Speaking of which you would want the NORTH and EAST units in this building. Though I know you are thinking why not south and west? It is due to orientation of the unit in relation to the buildings surrounding this development. South faces to another condo being built right next door. No nice southern sun. The north has nothing right next to it but a small couple story high or so bank and retail stores on Bloor. The west side of the building looks over a side street and toward high rise on the other side of the road. The east faces the short retail on Yonge.

What I do not like. Bed 2 is too small at 8 or so wide. Kitchen nook is too tight to handle a table and the slider to the Terrace.

Project Name: Uptown

Size: 1057- Davis

Project Address: 35 balmuto Toronto ON

Project URL: http://www.theuptownresidences.ca/images/thedavis1057-2bd.gif

Slow Home Test Score: 18

Comment: Ignore the “desk” in the master bedroom, there really isn’t a study and one isn’t needed. The layout as shown in the living room is weird, but it can be reorganized to work. Again, no Environmental Performance point, this project would have been a 19.

Project Name: Charlie – Voile

Size: 834 sq. ft.

Project Address: 345 Adelaide St W Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.charliecondos.com/media/floorplans/voile.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 17

Comment:

Project Name: Aura @ College Park

Size: 859 sq.ft.

Project Address: 400 Yonge St Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.collegeparkcondos.com/pdf/tower_floorplans/2ct-rev.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 15

oop’sie, that first one is supposed to be Plan 2CT (Reversed)

Comment:

Project Name: Iron Works Lofts – Plan 01

Size: 640 sqft

Project Address: 99 Chandos Ave, Toronto

Project URL: http://www.torontolofts.ca/ironworks_floor_plan01.html

Slow Home Test Score: 8

Comment:

Project Name: Westside Lofts – Loft 04

Size: 505 sqft

Project Address: 1151 Queen St W, Toronto

Project URL: http://www.westsidelofts.ca/505sqft-L04.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 11

WEBMASTER… I noticed few pins of mine missing though I had something in address. Perhaps format is not good enough?
1. For one cole it is not there. I guess I need an address in UPPER case? 500 Dundas Street East, Toronto ON

2. Then the liberty on the park project is NOT where the pin is (I gave intersection) but near the lake. use this: 69 Lynn Williams Street Toronto Ontario.

thanks!

Comment:

Project Name: James Cooper Mansion – Residence 1D+D

Size: 660 square feet

Project Address: 2 Carlton St. Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.tridel.com/jamescoopermansion/p1/1dd_suite.php

Slow Home Test Score: 14

Comment: By referring to famous designers, you think that they could have gone just a bit further and spent the time looking at HOW those designers designed! West facing, access to bedroom directly off living, hallway-entry, den/study is a windowless space, poor access to balcony!

Project Name: X Condos – Le Corbusier

Size: 704 sq ft

Project Address: 235 Bloor St E Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.xcondos.com/floorplans/le_corbusier.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 10

Comment: And finally, the Neutra. That tiny balcony marooned over near bed 2, you have to sneak around the column to get there! The living room isn’t well oriented for a clear tv location. As well, it’s ridiculous that you have the main circulation route for the house cutting right through the center of the kitchen – that just makes no sense at all.

Project Name: X Condos – Neutra

Size: 935 sq ft

Project Address: 235 Bloor St E Toronto, ON

Project URL: http://www.xcondos.com/floorplans/neutra.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 12

Comment: Another LEED project from the developer who brought us Giraffe, Tas DesignBuild, called M5V.

Architect is Core Architects Inc.

On the main site – http://www.m5vlife.com/phase3/root.html you will notice that there is some colored glass on this one and then in the middle a wall of red. Much better than the builder GRAY most new condos take on.

But such a great change does not reflect in the floorplans.

What can I say? Sun coverage is good. Balcony is big enough for a few chairs. There is an L shaped kitchen with the refrigerator near the dining side. Master bedroom size is sufficient.

Then the rest.
-The back bedroom. Interesting way to get light with a glass panel above the counter. I assume frosted or transom but then it is not really long. The closet is set back which is a pleasant surprise. They save space by use of a slider. I wish it was at least one foot more each way so I cannot give it a point.
-The other bedroom has a walk in with such a narrow spot in the back that I never can imagine clothes there.. maybe shoes.
-The dining area has a weird open space near the kitchen.
-The living has entry to the terrace and you have to go through it for the dining making this very small.
-Laundry is a closet with no good space for a basket.
-The second bath has a corner shower and feels tight.
-Entry is narrow .

If you got rid of the second bath and bedroom I think this space would have worked much better. Entry and living could be bigger. Maybe the laundry would have landing space and a real walk in would have been possible.

Project Name: M5V

Size: 835 – the M23A

Project Address: 375 King Street West Toronto Ontario

Project URL: http://www.m5vlife.com/phase3/imageData/m23a.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 13

Comment: John, Matthew, and Slow Homers:

Evaluated Suite 102 The Cornell
Not exactly sure about the site address given on the contact information. It may be a condo model for the building. Anyway the Walk Score is 95 at that location.

Excellent outdoor space with access to east and south sun light.

Building recycles existing building to save energy but could have used renewable energy technologies to get two more points. No way to give it partial credit of 1 out of 2 points for this category on the Slow Home Test.

Great Kitchen.

Laundry should be switched to the storage area south of kitchen which could be enlarged by a couple of feet into the hall to make it a better workspace. This would add another point in my mind and make the entry storage much better.

Study space in each room earns a point from me although a few changes to the hall closet would make a better study in the master.

Tall ceilings (9.5 to 10 feet tall) a plus for making the space feel larger.

Overall a 16/17 but with a couple of minor changes the developer could push 20 on the Slow Home meter.

As a side note, wouldn’t it be nice if someday every new condo or home came with a Slow Home Rating or Slow Home Seal of Approval. It would make developers sit up and take notice on what type of plans they are putting onto the market.

I know that this has been a tremendous learning experience for me listening to the discussions taking place on this website (unfortunately I am not always able to contribute but I am listening). There has been a lot of insight into how people walk around and use the spaces we call home. I know there are many differing opinions but hearing them and considering them makes all of us more educated home buyers and home designers.

Thanks to the Slow Home team and Slow Homers for all the contributions.

Project Name: schoolhouse annex

Size: 1538 SF plus outdoor space

Project Address: 49 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5V 2J1

Project URL: http://www.schoolhouseannex.com/suites.html

Slow Home Test Score: 17

Comment:
Builder did not go green but this unit has been sold out. It is a desirable corner unit in a walkable area.

It is roomy but not too much. What is wrong? The narrow and too many doors in one place entry plus the builder one wall galley kitchen.

Project Name: Fly Condos

Size: 625- Givenchy

Project Address: 352 Front Street West Toronto Ontario

Project URL: http://www.flycondos.com/flash/assets/pdfs/floorplans/givenchy.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 16

[img]empcfloorplanssuite203.jpg[/img]

Here is the floor plan and location for Suite 203.

Comment: Pleasant surprise here.

Today my eyes are growing tired looking at one bed plans… tend to look similar. This one is different. It just feels spacious and only at 618 feet!

The bedroom is one of the largest I have seen at 14 by 10 and the NON walk in closet runs about 8 feet (LOVE IT!). The living/dining space goes almost 19 long WITHOUT a single galley kitchen eating up its floorspace! The kitchen entrance is off the entry hallway and is a double wall galley. The bathroom and W/D entrances are tucked into a short hall off the entry. The vanity in the bath is generous (the largest I have seen for a one bed yet so far), but Not too much. They try to separate the entry to the kitchen with a short wall and there is at least a 4 foot closet 3 steps away, maybe I am just so thankful for everything I do like, I am marking YES for Entry.

Highly desirable neighborhood. Good schools, so many nice old trees, and expensive single family housing. I was worried about walk for stores but it turned up as 88.

What would I change? Laundry. At least if you put a basket down you would trip on it only going to the bathroom and not the main core of circulation.

Too bad not LEED or even a green focus so NO on environment question.

E.I. Richmond Architects Ltd.

Project Name: 500 St Clair

Size: 618- Chadwick

Project Address: 500 St. Clair Ave. West Toronto ON

Project URL: http://www.500stclair.com/img/pdf/16-20%20Chadwick%201A.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 17

Comment: Same architect as 500 st clair

Good things. Wall of glass to the outside. Walkable location in desirable neighborhood. Balcony faces south and spans the front of the unit with entry from living or master. Entry has long closet and opens away from the kitchen. The bedrooms are on one side of the unit and the living on the other. The living and dining space run a generous 22 feet. The master ensuite bath and closet are back from the sleeping area keeping it more private. We found a plan with a washer dryer and space for a basket out of the circulation pattern. We even have a designated linen closet.

What they needed to work on. This plan has a DEN in the center of the unit. Though it is surrounded by three walls- the other is not enclosed and faces the living space. Not private but more nook feel. This would have been better if did some glass on that wall for light and an entry from the bedroom hallway for more quiet privacy. No green initiatives.

Project Name: 530 St. Clair West

Size: 1065- Suite 028

Project Address: 530 St. Clair West Toronto ON

Project URL: http://www.530condos.com/print/028.pdf

Slow Home Test Score: 17