baukultur/ca reinvents a 1905 Beach house as a sustainable light-filled modern home complementing the neighbourhood. Toronto-based development company baukultur/ca just recently completed the transformation of a 110-year-old house into a contemporary, highly sustainable home and, even though strictly modern, its exterior complements the traditional Beaches neighbourhood. Photography by Alex Lukey.

The four level residence is one of the few houses in Toronto designed to minimize the carbon footprint, and its specific use of materials and finishes reduces future maintenance as well as supports the sustainable approach even further. Even though it is built to sell in a market just about to become aware of sustainability and its benefits for both the city as well as the homeowner, baukultur/ca took the opportunity and, at the same time, the risk to construct a home that not only enhance the immediate environment but also would establish new standards in design and energy efficient green building.

“We see our project also as an opportunity to showcase the possibilities of sustainable modern residential design to the neighbourhood and the city,” states Felix Leicher, German Architect and owner of baukultur/ca.

Located on a leafy street near shops, restaurants, schools and parks, this open concept home uses passive sustainable design including passive cooling, compact building volume, natural light, high performance building envelope with white reflective siding and roofing, in combination with smart technologies to not only minimize energy consumption and maintenance over the building’s lifespan, but also to optimize indoor air quality and the future owners’ wellbeing.

Project Name: 46H
Location: Toronto, Ontario Canada
Design & Development: baukultur/ca
Designer: Felix Leicher
Contractor: Tipeq Inc.
Client: For Sale
Construction period: May – November 2016
Use: Detached House; Residential Single Dwelling
Size: 3 storeys + finished basement; 2,880 sqft