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Shift is a net-zero energy residential complex consisting of units for families of two, four and six individuals in the Parkdale area of Toronto. The notion of adaptability is central to the development of a sustainable construction in a city where temperature can range from -20∫C to 30∫C. Its design, both in terms of shape and materials, takes into account the drastic climatic variations that occur along the year. Double-glazed windows, insulated walls and roofs, along with the thermal mass beneath the floors are passive energy strategies that work in combination with the phovoltaic panels to enhance the efficiency of the complex.
Despite the private nature of residential projects, this proposal focuses on the fluidity of spaces in favor of social permeability. Given the location of the site in close vicinity to a relatively large park on the east side and a commercially active thoroughfare on the west side, the project proposes an internal courtyard as shared semi-public space and positions a green space on the east border of the property, so as to create a link to the existing park. The concept aims to strategically position the site in order to negotiate the tension between the urban congestion on the one hand and the picturesque framing of the land on the other.