Our 40th year in full swing, #METAMORP40SIS continues to be filled with new projects, celebrations, and exciting announcements. To add to this year’s list of accomplishments, Hobin Architecture has been shortlisted for nine projects, in 7 different categories, at the 36th Annual Housing Design Awards presented by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association.

The awards take place on Saturday, October 19th at the Shaw Centre.

In the running are:

353 Winston Avenue
Custom Urban Home (3,000 sq. ft. or less) – Contemporary
Custom Kitchen (251 sq. ft. or more) – Contemporary $75,001 and over
Custom Bathroom (100 sq. ft. or less) – Contemporary
(with Astro Design Centre)

This distinctive Westboro home is a bold take on a traditional urban house. With a strong connection between house and yard, simple open planning with bold materiality and modern massing, this vibrant home makes a big statement.

10 Rosemount Avenue
Mid-Rise Apartment (Condo or Rental, 5-9 storeys)
(with Tamarack Developments)

The first of a multi-phased redevelopment of an underutilized site in Ottawa’s Wellington Village, 10 Rosemount is a 52-unit, six-storey mixed-use building, and is the cornerstone in the reinvented property. The building’s exterior is characterized by a bold pattern of window mullions which mimic an industrial feel, creating a sense of history and permanence. Its neighbour at 1140 Wellington Street West is a finalist in the High Rise category.

1140 Wellington Street
High-Rise Apartment (Condo or Rental, 10 storeys or more)
(with Tamarack Developments)

1140 Wellington is a defining thirteen-storey, 184-unit apartment building constructed behind the former Bethany Hope Centre in Hintonburg. This building completes the redevelopment of the 1.2 acre site, which includes 10 Rosemount as well as the renovated heritage building and landscaped forecourt.

A Human-Scaled Tower in Little Italy
High-Rise Apartment (Condo or Rental, 10 storeys or more)

This project, marketed as “Nuovo,” is a 20-storey tower on Rochester Street in Little Italy, just steps from vibrant Preston Street and serene Dow’s Lake. The building boasts impressive views in all directions and is made up of a wide range of unit sizes and layouts. The building’s facades are designed to reduce its perceived height and complement the neighbourhood.

eQuinelle
New Community (with eQ Homes)

eQuinelle, a community developed with eQ Homes and The Regional Group, is nominated for “New Community” of the Year. eQuinelle is very special in that it embodies a four-season experience for its residents, including an award-winning golf course, hiking and skiing trails, and an onsite Clubhouse with classes and adventures for both young and mature. Completely surrounded by nature, it’s a community lifestyle like no other.

536 Cole Avenue
Custom Urban Home (3,000 sq. ft. or less) – Traditional

Created as one half of a pair of customs, 536 Cole Ave is a unique and whimsical interpretation of an arts and crafts home, combining bold detailing with a simple, timeless 1.5 storey form. The home makes a strong urban statement by removing the car and garage from the front façade.

River Terraces II at Greystone Village
Mid-Rise Apartment (Condo or Rental, 5-9 storeys)
(with eQ Homes)

River Terraces II is the second phase of a mid-rise condo development at Greystone Village, located between Main Street and the Rideau River in the heart of Old Ottawa East. Purchasers will enjoy the many amenities that Greystone Village has brought to the neighbourhood, as well as those that already exist, such as walking paths along the river and the shops and restaurants of Main Street. Greystone Village was named Best Planned New Community last year at the awards, recognized both for its innovative land planning approach and its sustainable and contextual design.

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A professional, mentor and colleague – Barry has been a leader in the field of architecture throughout the Ottawa area for almost four decades. A Fellow and past President of the Board of the RAIC – IRAC, Barry has also generously donated his time to a number of not-for-profit organizations and volunteered on local boards including Ottawa Hospital, Carleton University (Official) and the Union Mission. Barry’s commitment to our firm, our growing staff, and to our city makes us proud to celebrate his success and continue to work together to support and build a strong community.

Read more about the award and the selection process in the April 2018 edition of Construction Comment.

Photo credit: Ottawa Construction Association

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Greystone Village is a unique urban development on a site that is steeped in history and community significance.

For more than 150 years the 26 acre site has been the home of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. From here the Oblate Fathers had a powerful influence on the development of the community of Old Ottawa East in the founding of churches, schools, and St. Paul University. With its central location, vast open space, and long shoreline along the Rideau River, the site also became a prime unofficial recreation area. Informal linkages between neighbourhoods were created through the site as well.

When the Oblate Fathers began to consider the sale of this asset, they had the foresight to engage in a visioning exercise with the community and the City. Out of this process emerged both a community design plan and a spirit of collaboration.

The Regional Group acquired the site and commissioned Hobin Architecture to develop a Master Plan, ensuring that this collaborative approach was integrated into the design process. The planning process, led by Gord Lorimer and Barry Hobin, was based on the firm’s experience and commitment to city building over the last 30 years. Both principals, who live nearby, were conscious of successfully integrating the new project. The guiding principle in the planning process was the implementation of a sustainable design template while recognizing history, sense of place, housing diversity and neighborhood connections.

The preservation and repurposing of the heritage monastery and its formal allée and forecourt, the restoration of the historic Oblates Avenue as an access loop, and the naturalization of a 30 metre wide band of the Rideau River shoreline are the primary organizing elements of the Master Plan. These elements provide a strong sense of identity for both the community and the development while also preserving and enhancing public access through the site.

The Master Plan embraces its context by extending the historic narrow street pattern into the site employing new urbanist and sustainable design principles. When the project is complete, Greystone Village will have almost doubled the community population. Approximately 1000 dwelling units will be constructed across the site employing a wide range of building typologies and households including condos, three-storey towns, and single homes up to and including larger homes on 35 foot lots – to suit buyers of all ages eager to embrace a new, green, water-front community.

Private parking will be accessed from rear lanes freeing the streetscape from driveways.  This public realm will feature intense landscaping and ample on-street visitor parking. An innovative “window street” will provide a context geared to pedestrians and cyclists while permitting modest vehicular movement.

The Greystone project is now becoming a reality thanks to the collaborative planning, design and production efforts put forth by Barry Hobin, Gord Lorimer, Kent Bugatsch, Bill Ritcey, Marc Thivierge, Steve Clifford, Doug Van Den Ham, Todd Duckworth, Hugo Latreille, Jeff Chaput, Alison Michelin, Jennifer Guidry, Ammar Jaratly, Patrick Bisson and Benoit Maranda.

While steadily underway, Greystone has already recieved recognition for its concept and marketing. Recent awards include a City of Ottawa Urban Design Award of Merit and two GOHBA Sales and Marketing (SAM) awards (see full article HERE). Visit www.greystonevillage.ca for more information or to register for updates.

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The cottage is clad in a palette of prefinished wood siding, Corten steel and natural Douglas Fir. Inside, glassy walls and a high vaulted ceiling blur the threshold between indoors and out. Like the river below, the stairs twist and turn around a rustic shelving unit and eventually lead to a bridge that crosses the space to the treehouse bedroom.

The electrical needs of the 1,360 sq.ft cottage are served by photovoltaic solar collectors on the steep south roof. A propane generator provides a backup for extended periods of cloudy weather. The deer take care of the lawn maintenance.

Principal Architect Gord Lorimer’s design for the cottage was inspired by the playful relationship between wilderness, place and form. The team also included Patrick Bisson, Project Architect, and Wayne Fralic, Senior Architectural Technologist.

The cottage was completed in 2014 and received a Housing Design Award in 2016 from the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA).

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