St. Catharines The Essentialist | 10m | 3s | Elevate Living | Invizij Architects

[jta5]

I know UT doesn't typically pay attention to such relatively small buildings in such relatively irrelevant-to-Toronto communities, but this 28-unit development on a 40-foot-wide lot is a fascinating study in design. The developers are marketing the apartments as $250k studio condos. Address is 268 Oakdale in St. Catharines.

Mods, I don't know how to add the prefix so please assign this to St Catharines.

Renders:

Construction only started in April and it's already structurally complete. The architect shared progress photos from last week:

More info: https://elevateliving.ca/essentialist/

 

[Northern Light]

How fascinatingly American.

The out-facing entrances.

Interesting narrow building. My only gripe: Those balconies could have been enlarged

Not balconies, exterior hallway.

 

[afransen]

Interesting as a fairly affordable housing development. It seems kind of disposable.

 

[Paclo]

Site plan from the Corporate Report of 2020:

 

[Wigs]

How fascinatingly American.

The out-facing entrances.



Not balconies, exterior hallway.

That's unfortunate.
No balconies just exterior hallway... Like a motel

 

[innsertnamehere]

I mean the site is 12 metres wide.. what do you expect?

 

[Northern Light]

That's unfortunate.
No balconies just exterior hallway... Like a motel

This is a fairly common design in the U.S. south, you see it a lot in places like Florida.

It can motel/low-income; or it can be resort/high-income.

You rarely see it in Canada, because of the issue of clearly snow/ice from the exterior hallway/stairs.

I'd be interested to know how they've addressed that here.

The upside is that it does reduce build cost and can reduce operating cost (no heating/air con for common hall) , it also allows units to get a cross-breeze (presuming there are windows on both sides.)

 

[DavidCapizzano]

If this is invizij it’s probably passive house

 

[Wigs]

I mean the site is 12 metres wide.. what do you expect?

Something better designed instead of what looks like could quickly delve into slum condos a few years after completion.

But hey I'm not a developer with profit motive my only goal in life.

 

[Chris R.]

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[Wigs]

Looks even more value engineered from the already spartan renderings

 

[junctionist]

There's a local building in Toronto with exterior hallways, 25 Ritchie Avenue. The facade design obscures them, though. I remember touring it during Doors Open one year with the architect, David Peterson.

He said that a major advantage to external hallways between units was energy savings and lower maintenance costs. The corridors don't have to be heated or cooled. It's a beautiful building that feels high quality.

 

[Wigs]

Yeah that Toronto building actually looks nice.

This St. Kitts one doesn't imho

 

[Branden Simon]

Project complete (From NiagaraDev)

 

[Chris R.]

This is a really interesting project to me. If it can be replicated (perhaps at 3 storeys and fewer parking spots) it could really be a model for market-driven more affordable housing.

Our local leaders would do well do look at this type of project and look for ways to encourage and support it through zoning changes and the like.

It's not a solution for everyone, but it can help provide supply quickly and in a specific area that can have downward pressure on housing costs and rental costs.