How to Densify Your Backyard

how to densify your backyard

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introduction / how to use this catalogue In this catalogue we will be using the 2 study blocks south-west of Oakwood Ave and Vaugn Rd. It is at this major intersection that you will find a small network of laneways that weave behind the commercial storefronts along Oakwood, and flow into the residential blocks between Bansley Ave, Eleanor Ave, Amherst Ave and Ashbury Ave. The purpose of the catalogue is to help existing and new home-owners or tenants to approach laneway activation through backyard construction. Laneway housing has become increasingly popular as a way of addressing affordable housing and densification within the ‘Yellow Belt’ of the city of Toronto.

For this block the laneway acts as an interstitial space between residential and business as well and on these residential streets the single family home with it’s backyard act as the intermediate space between street and laneway.

massings over time : 1 year / 3 years / 5 years / 10 years

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table of contents introduction......................................................................... 3 laying out the dimensions.................................................... 5 block study......................................................................... 6 massing within the context.................................................. 7 sections................................................................................. existing section............................................................. 9 envisioned section.......................................................10 plans.....................................................................................

Option 1 [traditional / detached ]................................. 11 Option 2 [ semi-attached]............................................ 15 Option 3 [full lot]......................................................... 16 laneway palette................................................................ 19 facade studies.................................................................. 20 backyard visualizations..................................................... 21 to conclude....................................................................... 24

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laying out the dimensions

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existing built form

roads & sidewalks

pedestrian networks

widening of the pedestrian networks through the widening of the laneways

circulation from streetscape to lanescape 6

7.8 x 4.8 x 6

16 x 5 x 9

32 x 5 x 9

intergration with surroundings and new massing 7

block study OPTION 1.

TRADITIONAL / DETACHED

OPTION 2.

SEMI-ATTACHED

OPTION 3.

FULL LOT

IN CONTEXT

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street and laneway section : existing

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street and laneway section : with introduction of laneway housing 10

plans [1] : traditional laneway house / “detached”

lot size: 5.5 m X 30.5 m 167 sqm

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plans [1] : traditional laneway house / “detached”

lot size: 10.4m X 26.3 m 148 sqm

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plans [1] : traditional laneway house / “detached”

lot size: 6.1 m X 37.5 m 229 sqm

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plans [1] : traditional laneway house / “detached”

lot size: 7.3 m X 33.5 m 246 sqm

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plans [2] : semi-detached

lot size: 7.3 m X 33.5 m 246 sqm

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plans [3] : full lot

lot size: 7.7 m X 40 m 305 sqm

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plans [3] : full lot

lot size: 7.3 m X 33.5 m 246 sqm

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plans [3] : full lot lot size: 4.7 m x 37.2 m 177 sqm 4.7 m x 37.2 m 172 sqm 349 sqm

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laneway material palette

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facades study

GALVANIZED STEEL

STANDING SEAM

CORTEN / WEATHERED STEEL OVER TIME

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scenes from your new backyard

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to conclude.

Hopefully this catalogue has been able to guide you through the ways in which you can densify your backyard through laneway housing, as well as the possibilities of using single lot properties as shared living spaces as the city you live in continues to grow.

While this catalogue proposes a specific site, designs, and materials; the main objective is that you may use this as a guide to be applied to your own block, and your own backyard.

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