Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2024 - 70

SUS T AINABLE DE SIGN
Starting From Green
A historic home in Canada gains space without growing its footprint
AT THE EDGE OF DOWNTOWN TORONTO, an
1880s Victorian home that had been an ideal fi t
for a couple had become signifi cantly less accommodating
several years later when the family had
grown by three children. Knowing that the more
sustainable solution is staying in a home and renovating,
rather than building new, the homeowners
called on Dubbeldam Architecture + Design to
improve the space in the existing structure. Because
the home is historic, it had to happen without
changing anything about the front of the house.
" Everything had to be hidden, so you couldn't
see it from the street, " said Andrew Snow, associate,
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design. " We
had to take advantage of every nook and cranny
to squeeze extra space out of the home. "
The house had only one useable bathroom
and a small one in the basement beneath a 6-ft.
ceiling, so adding these was a big driver of the
project. Changes included transforming the
third-fl oor attic into a dedicated space for the
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/ JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024
parents with a new bathroom. On the second fl oor, one bathroom became
two. To make the basement into functional living space, the team dug
down and underpinned it, enabling a higher ceiling clearance and allowing
for the inclusion of an in-law suite. Finally, a powder room was added on
the ground level. Th is all happened without major changes to the home's
footprint and with eco-friendly solutions at every level.
" Sustainability is our starting point, and I think the clients came to us partially
for that reason, " said Snow, whose fi rm won Canada's Prix de Rome in
Architecture in 2016 and earned a grant to research sustainable architecture
in Scandinavia. " We tend to employ low-cost strategies that put sustainability
at the forefront - simple things like orientating windows to increase passive
cooling. "
DESIGNING A NATURAL FLOW
In the kitchen, sustainability and well-being were built into the new design,
which features fl oor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors that let in natural light.
Th e kitchen is open to other rooms through arched doorways, and on the
third fl oor, an operable skylight pulls hotter air up and out during warmer
months, limiting the need for air conditioning.
Th e team used FSC-certifi ed lumber and materials made from recycled
post-consumer waste for construction, and in the kitchen the fl ooring has
ABOVE The glass doors let
plenty of natural light and the
option of fresh air into this
modern kitchen in a historic
Victorian home. Melamine and
laminate panels that look and
feel like wood were chosen for
the cabinets. The panels are
produced using sustainable
materials and do not require
fi nishing, plus they are more
durable than real wood.
Likewise, the Caesarstone
countertops are more durable
than all-natural stone and
have a lower carbon footprint.
The sink was locally crafted
from a piece of extra marble
the fabricator had.
By CARRIE WHITNEY
Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2024

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