When I was 5 or 6, my family would park our station wagon at the end of Old Mill Road. It was winter and the sun had long set. We would ski through the woods, the moonlight reflecting off the snow, past the sugar shack to our family cottage. It is one of many favourite memories. I recall the complete silence of the forest except for the shushing of skis on snow. We would arrive at the cottage, turn on the baseboard heaters, throw a log in the cast iron stove, and fall asleep in our beds, still able to see our breath crystallizing in the air above us. In the morning we would shuck off our blankets and clothes down to our t-shirts, as the stove and heaters had done their overnight jobs a little too well. The warmed cottage always had a wonderful smell of wood, smoke and earth.

My grandfather bought our family cottage property in 1962, long before my night skiing adventures. Our cottage was originally an unassuming old wood frame hunting shack surrounded by juniper bushes. Over 60 years the cottage has been lovingly renovated by three generations of our family. Our sweat and fingerprints are literally all over the building. My grandfather began the perpetual renovations by adding two small bedrooms to the back of the cottage, barely large enough for double beds. 30 years later those bedrooms were partially torn down and rebuilt larger in size. The homeasote fiberboard interior finish was replaced by cedar cladding that has since patinaed to a beautiful honey colour. Doors and windows were added, moved, filled in, and moved back to their original locations. A loft, whose sole access for many years was a roofing ladder stolen from the boathouse, increased the sleeping capacity by two. The loft has since been removed after a third bedroom was added. I believe that my uncle has rewired the cottage five times over. During our last renovation, a rather large one by our measure encompassing 800 ft² of the cottage, the building department requested that we upgrade the existing foundations. The original boulders the building was sitting on apparently were not to code.

Up until the last renovation, there was never a grand plan or design that tied everything together. The cottage grew and evolved as our family did. It was these cottage construction projects that put me on the path towards a career in architecture. I learned so much from first watching, and then helping, my grandparents, parents, uncle and aunt, brother, cousins, partners, and neighbours come together to build something that was always so much greater than the sum of its parts. Some of the most important architectural design lessons I have learned, in or out of school, have come from renovating the cottage with my extended family.

Live on the property and observe daily rituals before making any major design decisions. Wait and see what your favourite path to the shoreline is before building a dock or a deck. Site your building or addition only after you know how you naturally move around and use the land.

Listen carefully to everyone who has a stake in the cottage, young to old. You never know where the next great idea might come from. Every family member at our cottage has a deep love and appreciation for the property and the work done by the generations before them. Each has their own insights and beliefs about what makes the cottage great, and in turn, different ideas for how it might be improved. Part of each family member’s dedication to the cottage comes from the lasting imprint each have made on the cottage design.

Plan for flexibility.  Cottages can be in families for generations, and use patterns change over time. It is hard to plan for all scenarios but creating flexible multi use spaces that can be used in different ways by season and over time ensure that a renovation will stand the test of time.

Know when to ask for help and bring in the professionals. There are times when calling the township planners, a building official, an architect or a builder might save you a lot of frustration and time that could be better spent with your family on the dock. Architects are trained to facilitate conversations and help people express their ideas. This can be extremely helpful for families undertaking design projects.

Renovations can be stressful – make sure to take the time to have fun as a family and continue to enjoy the cottage.  During our last renovation we had a hard 4 o’clock stop, which is when our family croquet tournaments commenced.

Our cottage is now a four season multi generational cottage. I can turn on the furnace with my phone before we leave the city for the cottage. I park 20 feet from the cottage door and carry my sleeping boys to their warmed beds. The temperature is the same in the morning when we wake up as it was when we got into our beds, and the smell of wood is still there.  Our family renovations made over many years have enhanced the use of our cottage, and made it possible for generations past, future, and present to enjoy the cottage together as a great big family, all while retaining the original charm of the old hunting cabin.

 

Paul Gorrie works with MOSS SUND Architects.  With over 15 years of architecture & design experience in residential, recreational, and institutional projects, his favourite project remains his family cottage on Gloucester Pool.

Blower door testing is back!  Now that the lockdown in Toronto has been lifted, we are proceeding this week with ‘pre-construction’ blower door tests for 4 of our current projects.

Blower door testing is used to measure the air tightness of a home.  Identifying and addressing leaks is a key factor in improving a home’s energy efficiency, comfort and durability.

During a blower door test, all windows and doors are closed and a fan is placed in the frame of the main door.  The fan is run to depressurize the house, drawing air through all the small holes.  The operator determines the ACH (air changes per hour) based on the readings, dimensions and volume of the home.

Locations of leaks can be determined using a ‘smoke pencil’ (though the back of your hand can do just as well)

This project, an older semi in Leslieville that underwent a major renovation and addition, was tested last year.  In this case the tesing company also used a technique where the fan was reversed, the house was filled with theatrical fog then pressurized to see where the smoke would exit the house.  Good thing we had notified the neighbours as a large hole was found on the party wall!  Compartmentalizing attached homes (sealing them off from each other) can also help with sound and odour transfer.

Unfortunately we do not have a ‘before’ reading for this project, but, judging by what was found during the reno, we expect the reading would have been 15 ACH or higher.  The first construction test got a reading of approximately 8 ACH and in the end, the house was brought down to 3.4 ACH.  This is below the level required for new home construction (for attached homes).  As we move homes toward Net Zero, we aim to achieve 1.0 ACH or less.

Questions?  Looking to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home?  Get in touch!  As you can see, we love this stuff!

The pandemic has had a profound effect on our daily lives and the spaces we inhabit.  Our traditional ‘homes’ have become nursing homes, classrooms, offices, gyms, cafeterias and more.

We have had calls from clients who see the tragedy that is happening in our long term care homes and are wondering about alternatives – from purchasing rural properties to creating communal retirement living to re-imagining city homes to accomodate seniors and care givers in a more intimate and familiar setting.  We’ve also talked tiny homes, modular building, seasonal to full time cottage conversions and long term escape plans.

In the city, homeowners are looking to maximize the use of the space they have: lowering basements, additions with office and gym space and laneway suites for multi-generational living.

Our clients at 5E Long Branch were thinking ahead.  With a college nearby, they wanted a small affordable bachelor unit to provide accommodation for a student and some extra income for them.  On the ground floor, they requested a full bath and office that could be converted into a bedroom in case they, or their parents, needed an accessible space.  We created a great home office, just off the main living area, that has it’s own entrance and large windows overlooking the rain garden courtyard.

Thinking ahead and choosing an option that works, not only creates the safe haven we need now, but also prepares for the future and adds significant value and/or a rental revenue stream when things return to ‘normal’.

MOSS SUND has been creating low energy, sustainable homes for over 25 years.  Over that time the energy target has decreased to the point where Net Zero homes are now within reach.  A net zero home is so efficient it can produce, on site, as much energy as it consumes.  With some projects we can get there now, with others there may need to be a phased plan, but renovating without taking a serious look at energy efficiency is a thing of the past.

The City of Toronto has declared a Climate Emergency and is committed to increasing efforts to combat climate change.  As part of this mandate, they have set a target that all new homes are to be Net Zero by 2030 and all existing homes in the city must be upgraded to net zero by 2050.

To aid in this effort, the City has created the BetterHomesTO.com web site to provide information to homeowners about energy efficient renovations including net zero – what it means, the benefits and features.  They have also created a series of webinars on how to renovate your home to be more comfortable, healthy and climate-friendly.  The 10 webinar series covers the following topics:

Planning your renovation

Rebates and Financing

Energy Considerations

Your Building Envelope: Air Sealing, Insulation, Windows and Doors

High Efficiency Heating and Cooling

Heat Pumps

Solar PV and Batter Storage

Preparing your Home for an Electric Vehicle

Introduction to Passive House

Net Zero Homes: Toronto’s Future

There is a lot of great information in there, providing homeowners an understanding of the vocabulary and issues around net zero homes.  Be warned – it could get overwhelming!  Renovations of any kind are complicated and a lot for a homeowner to take on – even more so one that targets net zero.

Architects are a valuable resource when planning your project.  Service offerings vary from firm to firm, but many (like MOSS SUND) will work with you from the initial idea to the end of the construction warranty period.  They can assemble and co-ordinate the team necessary to achieve your objectives – energy advisors, structural, mechanical, solar, contractor, interior designer, landscape design etc. Familiar with the various types of housing built in the city over the years, we are experts at guiding homeowners through renovations, additions, and new home construction to create healthier, more comfortable and energy efficient homes that also look great and feel good to live in!

Together, we can prepare for the future and take steps to ensure we are tackling climate change one house at a time.

Renovation Webinar Series

As Toronto becomes more expensive, both for home ownership and renting, getting more out of the existing housing stock has become vital. Traditionally, a secondary suite has been a self-contained living space – a basement apartment, for example – within an existing house.  Local zoning by-laws and building codes dictate requirements for size of unit, windows, access, fire and noise separation, smoke alarms etc.

As architects, we are routinely tasked by our clients to design secondary suites as stand-alone projects or part of a larger renovation.  Projects have ranged from a small bachelor pad for student accommodation, to a large one bedroom for a young professional couple, to an owner’s local ‘pied a terre’ so they could rent out the main house to fund word travels!

Following the lead of municipalities across North America, the City of Toronto changed the municipal zoning bylaws in 2018, expanding secondary suites to include detached laneway houses.  A laneway house is a separate, self-contained residential unit on the same lot as a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse, and generally located in the rear yard next to a laneway.  They typically must be smaller than the main house and meet setback and height as well as building code requirements.

MOSS SUND now has several laneway house projects on the go, including designing the first laneway house in Toronto to obtain a variance to allow for 2 units.  As with basement units, the reasons for creating a laneway suite vary, from providing housing for grown children, to creating an additional rental unit on an income property, to a modern dream home for an empty nester.

Laneway suites are a great first step in increasing the quality and quantity of secondary unit stock in Toronto’s neighbourhoods, however most properties in Toronto are not on a lane. Enter: Garden Suites.

Akin to Laneway suites, Garden suites are a vital and necessary next step to increasing access to higher quality secondary units for homeowners and renters. Garden suites are rife with potential and will help us design the type of dwellings that people want to live in.  As with Laneway suites, Garden suites are not new.  Ottawa has allowed Garden suites since 2017.  Guelph approved them in December 2020.

As architects, we have vast experience with the incredible diversity of houses in Toronto and we talk to homeowners every day about their needs and requirements. Garden suites provide the opportunity for even more diversity in quality housing types, and we believe that by increasing the number of homeowners who can stay in the communities they love, and by providing higher quality spaces for people looking to rent in these communities, we make neighbourhoods and the city a better place to live.

MOSS SUND’s Paul Gorrie recently spoke in support of Garden suites at a City of Toronto Planning and Housing Committee meeting.  We were happy to see that the motion for staff to proceed with consultations and draft policies passed easily. The committee members who spoke to the motion were very enthusiastic about the initiative, and the committee chair was downright effusive in her remarks and indicated that she hoped we would be seeing Garden suites being constructed by summer 2021.

As the professionals tasked with designing this new typology and guiding homeowners through the application, permit, and construction process, we look forward to playing a vital role in the successful implementation of the Garden suites initiative.

And, as always, if this is something that you are considering please do not hesitate to reach out to us – we are happy to help.

January 2021.  Who knew a year ago how different our lives would be. 

2020 taught us that massive change can happen, on a global scale, in a very short time.  We have seen that, where the alternative is devastating both for lives lost and economics, the change can happen. 

We need to see the same scale of disruption to combat climate change. A green recovery is vital.

The work was already underway.  Governments have been implementing greenhouse gas reduction measures for decades.  The Canadian Government, for example, has committed to transition to a Net Zero economy by 2050.  The Ontario Building Code will require new houses to be Net Zero by 2030.  The City of Toronto has targeted making all existing houses Net Zero by 2050.  The goals are ambitious, but the timelines are not. 

 We are ready to do our part.  New Net Zero houses are starting to roll out.  The challenge will be to retrofit the over 10 million existing single family homes in Canada in a simple, cost effective way while transitioning away from fossil fuels.

 Like the vaccine, the longer it takes to roll out, the more devastating and difficult it becomes to contain the results.  We are ready to make existing houses Net Zero ready now. 

 Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or to discuss your home. 

 

Photo credit: Diego via unsplash

 

 

A little over one week into the new year, during our morning zoom meet-up, we reflected on the year behind us and the one ahead.

Looking back at the crazy ride that was 2020, above all else, we are grateful.

Grateful to our clients who were patient and understanding as the pandemic caused delays and uncertainty.

Grateful to the contractors we work with who maintained safe work sites and kept working in a difficult time.

Grateful to our staff who rose to the occasion, adapted and did great work

Grateful for the advisors who helped us fine tune this business we have built over 15 years and get it ready for the next 15.

Grateful for the new clients who are planning ahead to start construction projects in 2021 and beyond.

Grateful to the federal government for creating programs to help small businesses during the pandemic.

Grateful for the slower pace, learning opportunities, nature trails, bike lanes, time with family and the virtual connection we are still able to have with the world around us.

Grateful for the front line workers, teachers, those who move goods around, who make the take out meals or check out at the grocery store (thank you).

Grateful to the scientists and policy makers who made it possible to create a vaccine in record time (a collective standing ovation.)

2020 taught us that massive change can happen, on a global scale, in a very short time.  This is where we have our sights set.  Let’s use the lessons of 2020 for good.

2021 – respectfully onward!

 

At one time cottages were places owned by the affluent or by those who benefitted from a choice made generations ago.
For many cottages have been an unaffordable dream…until now.
The tides have turned, and many are choosing to buy a cottage as their family “homestead” and rent or own a smaller place in the city.
Heading north where homes are typically more affordable means that you can actually have your dream house, and for those who have taken the plunge the commute is worth it, and the living is easy.
As “virtual” work becomes more commonplace cottages can now be as functional and perhaps even more so, than our city homes.
They are often more environmentally friendly given the consciousness when they are being built, fueled by local government requirements and the sheer respect for the nature that surrounds them. Most cottages are no longer “seasonal” and boast plumbing, heating and amenities like dishwasher, washers and dryers offering everything you need.
The high price of housing in urban centres, the increasing likelihood of remote/virtual work and the desire to enhance quality of life are making cottage homes a reality for many people. We have lots of projects underway to help add some creature comforts to cottages to allow for these lifestyle changes so if you need any thoughts, help or someone to talk to – give us a call.
We’ll respond when we get back from our paddle around the lake

MOSS SUND initiated a Gingerbread competition in 2017 as a way to promote comradery amongst local architecture firms, increase the profile of architects to the public and raise funds for a great local cause.
In the inaugural year we invited our friends at Barry Goldman Architect to participate. Though we had fun coming up with crazy designs with the store bought kit, there were some structural failures that caused challenges.  With great design and execution – BGA was the clear winner!  Most importantly – we all had fun and agreed it would be a great tradition to continue.

In 2018 we invited more East End architecture firms to join in the fun and raise funds for a good cause.  This time 5 teams participated and once again, a standard grocery store kit was provided.  As was to be expected, participating firms got very creative and the submissions were all unique.  It was wonderful to meet our architect neighbours; people who had been strangers at the beginning of the event, left as new friends.  A great evening was had and $250.00 was raised for the Red Door Family Shelter.

In 2018 we invited more East End architecture firms to join in the fun and raise funds for a good cause.  This time 5 teams participated and once again, a standard grocery store kit was provided.  As was to be expected, participating firms got very creative and the submissions were all unique.  It was wonderful to meet our architect neighbours; people who had been strangers at the beginning of the event, left as new friends.  A great evening was had and $250.00 was raised for the Red Door Family Shelter.

In 2019, MOSS SUND once again invited Toronto’s East end architects to flex their creative muscles in a friendly gingerbread design competition in support of the Red Door Shelter.

The year’s theme – 2020: The Future is Now challenged each of the 11 participating firms to envision what the future of gingerbread design could be.  Teams were provided with a standard grocery store gingerbread kit – this time a Star Wars version.  Using it, and any other materials they wished, the teams once again rose to the challenge with amazing entries.

Our great sponsors – Ridley Windows, Engineering Link, Hind Engineering and Bell-Camp Modular and photography by Irfan Naqi, helped make the event held at the Avling Brewery a great success.  $1500.00 was raised for the charity and we had even bigger plans for 2020!

With the 2019 event barely over, we had already started working on plans to expand the event for 2020.  We had begun talks with the Toronto Society of Architects to see how they could help when, well …  we all know what happened in March 2020.  It quickly became clear that things were not going to go as planned.

Our wish to expand, combined with the TSA looking for a fun virtual event to replace their usual festive Bash – had the makings of a great collaboration!

You can connect to the TSA site/IG for all the details here. For a look at previous entries scroll back in the MOSS SUND Instagram feed

Good luck!  Gotta go now – we have a very important Gingerbread design meeting