Location
Hamilton, ON
Size
40,289 sf
Client
CONNECT Communities
Status
Complete
Built off our client’s Life Redesign Model, this is a transitional residence for those recovering from acquired brain injuries or stroke. This treatment programme requested that traditional barrier-free code requirements be creatively avoided or hidden where possible, creating a definitively residential environment. The 42 bedrooms with accessible ensuites and communal living spaces are connected to amenity spaces and offices. The living spaces are complemented by a tangible connection to the landscape and thoughtful access to the surrounding community. The care facility consciously fits within the context and scale of the residential community it which exists.
The building was to be a home first, not a facility. Every design decision needed to be about what one would do in their owe home. We achieved this through a unique family-style format which groups residents at varying stages of recovery in each apartment. This project challenged the traditional design and construction norms.
It was essential to eliminate the barrier-free and typical institutional elements of the design to evoke a truly residential atmosphere. This required in-depth research into the Ontario Building Code which led to a collaboration with the local building department to procure an agreement clarifying certain requirements that satisfied both the design and the client’s vision.
The 1.2 ha property was a remnant block of parcels in a large suburban survey intended for single-family homes. Although it is significantly larger than the surrounding homes, there was a desire to fit within the community and seamlessly integrate into the streetscape. The existing rhythm of building mass and spacing along the street was extended by flipping the building along its connecting spine – placing the residential scale pieces on the street, and the larger building block and parking lot along the backside of the property.
