Stacked Habitat

This project poses the question of how a twin residential high-rise program can act as a platform for active resident interaction, similar to a small community project. Thus, by designing a smaller 10-storey block with stepped balconies and an active roof that meets the intended qualities of interactives, stacking the block four times to reach the unit requirements, the Habitat Stacked becomes a 40-storey twin residential tower with the qualities of a small project. The Habitat Stacked is situated in Toronto, Canada- a country heavily framed in zoning by-laws and codes for residential buildings that typically constrain architects to facade-only designs due to predefined building shapes. This project’s program required two towers that had the opportunity to break free from only a facade design and have an interactive form and program between the two towers and away from the property line. The design strategically stacks and rotates the smaller blocks so that their stepped balconies face each other, enhancing resident interaction. However, to comply with mandatory setbacks and to optimize views, sunlight, and ventilation, each block is positioned to diverge from its counterpart. At the 10th and 30th levels, the aligned blocks form outdoor roof spaces programmed as communal amenities, fostering community between the towers. These spaces are connected and shared by the two towers via a bridge. These stacked blocks are placed on a structural core; thus, no columns that block the view of the stepped balconies will be required. The geometry of the podium is hollowed in stepped pathways that open up circulation. The podium holds commercial programs and offices that look into the stepped openings. The roof of the podium is used as a public platform that the city can interact with and hold different activities.