SHED: HOMES WITH HEART B UI LD I NG R EG ENER A TI VEL Y FOR OUR S HA R ED LIV IN G WORLD WORDS BY PERIN RUTTONSHA AND GAVIN BAXTER; PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN
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Our world has been changing rapidly in ways that cut to the core of how we live. There could not be a better time to come together, support one another, and put our creative energies to the test in cultivating local resilience. Since 2008, Guelph’s SHED (strategic, healthy, ecological design) has been working closely with families, communities, and institutions to envision how we can transform our places of living – one step at a time – to contribute to a regenerative future. Check out three of the team’s local projects, along with a few ideas on how you can update your own home to the benefit of people and planet.
FLEXIBL E SP ACE S for Wellbeing and Wealth
The conventional single-family home can be costly to maintain and has led to high levels of space and resource consumption in the development of both urban and rural areas. Modifying existing properties with live-work suites and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) not only creates new, affordable housing options within the urban core but also optimizes the footprint of the built environment. Homeowners can customize their additions for the purpose of hosting relatives, for example, or tenants, caregivers, refugees, new Canadians, employees, and clients. By diversifying the use of space within their homes, SHED’s clientele has enjoyed remaining close to loved ones while reducing overall costs of living across their extended families.
BRAJ AK RESI DENCE GUELPH, ONTARIO
In this project, Natalia wanted to build from her existing home a comfortable, independent living space for her father, Zlatko, as well as a private bedroom and ensuite washroom for her son, Shai. Their tailormade accessory dwelling unit – comprising a 680sqft, fully equipped, grade-level addition, along with a 400sqft upper loft – features carbon responsible building assemblies and could easily be converted into an income-generating rental unit at a later stage. It also applies universal design principles for dignified aging in place. Integrated design completed in collaboration with BM Architectural Design (bmarchitecturaldesign.com)
