Residential — DAO | Algorithmic & Timber Architecture

Crafting Singular Spaces.

RESIDENTIAL

Nepahwin Residence
Sudbury, Ontario

A renovation project for an existing home, the clients were looking to replace their failing balcony, convert the existing garage into a workshop, and add a solarium to the main floor in preparation for their retirement. Uniquely, the solarium would double as a tea house for formal ceremonies, creating a dedicated space to celebrate customs maintained from their time in Japan.

The clients were interested in participating in the construction process, so details were arranged to accommodate their involvement, from an extended, low-pressure construction timeline to materials that could be easily and incrementally manoeuvred on site. The existing deck wood was also repurposed into a fence for the backyard, with special care taken to incorporate details that could accommodate the weaknesses in the older wood.

The new balcony was built using NLT (Nail-Laminated Timber) construction to create a solid finished mass and avoid the typical open-joist finish at the underside. The NLT structural posts extend upward to frame the solarium, which also supports a roof deck at the second storey for the clients’ private use. The garage conversion into a workshop included the replacement of the existing garage door with a custom aerogel-insulated translucent panel door to permit natural light into the space at any time of the year. The natural wood finish of both balcony and solarium merges seamlessly with the existing trees and view of the lake on site, making the backyard a well-integrated and unassuming space for reflection and connection.

PERIOD 2014 - 2021
STRUCTURE Wood (Old+New)
SCALE 3 stories

CLIENT Private Residence
TEAM Roch Belair Architect
STRUCTURAL Tall Pines Engineering
GEOTECHNICAL Exp
CONSTRUCTION Owners
Hodgins Construction
Nordeck

SERVICES 3D Scans
Landscape Design
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit
Phased Work
Enhanced CA

Garson Residence
Garson, Ontario

A myriad of outdoor spaces were designed as part of an expansion to an existing residential property. Centered around an in-ground pool, the area is bookended by a fire-pit with seating and an interior lounge area connected to the existing house via an enclosed hallway, while various overlapping canopies offer shade over both the patio and outdoor kitchen. The use of concrete to form the seating around the fire-pit was intended to take advantage of the thermal conduction of a sun-soaked mass, and deliberate landscaping around its exterior softened the transition from unyielding form to nature in flux. An unassuming mechanical room addition was also incorporated against the house, to store all the equipment required for the pool and related utilities. The integrated approach of both built interior space and defined outdoor space resulted in a backyard area suitable for any occasion and any number of guests.

PERIOD 2016 - 2020
STRUCTURE Glulam + Concrete
SCALE 1.5 story
FLOOR AREA 5700 ft2

CLIENT Private Residence
STRUCTURAL A2S
GEOTECHNICAL Exp
CONSTRUCTION Cast Construction
Northern Fertilizing

SERVICES Record Drawings
AHJ Compliance
Landscape Design
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit
Phased Work
Enhanced CA

Kingsmount Residence
Sudbury, Ontario

This residence was designed for a family that had outgrown their current home and were looking to build a house that could accommodate the changing needs of their children and nearby family throughout their lifetime. For added complexity, the narrow lot chosen was split off from the neighbour’s property, the exterior walls extended out to the minimum property setbacks, and the inclusion of an elevator required a minor variance to City zoning as the overrun breached the height limits for the area.

The main feature of the design is a wall that extends the full height of the house and longitudinally divides the exterior mass into two separate halves while connecting the interior spaces via a central core hallway that repeats at all levels. This approach also simplified the structural system and economically focused the complex construction efforts at the core. Featuring an indoor pool, sauna, upper-level studio space, and integrated garage, along with various bedrooms, bathrooms, and living spaces throughout, the seemingly unassuming and private exterior houses four stories of thoughtfully curated spatial relationships, designed for generations to come.

PERIOD 2017 - 2020
STRUCTURE Wood + Concrete
SCALE 4 stories

CLIENT Private Residence
STRUCTURAL Tall Pines Engineering
MECHANICAL Hamalainen Engineering
CIVIL Bortolussi Surveying Ltd.

SERVICES Minor Variance
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit

Wahnapitae Residence
Skead, Ontario

Starting from a supplier’s prefabricated cottage design, the initial scope of work involved the integration of a walkout basement and the construction of foundation walls to support the wooden modules for the main building and attached garage. Built using ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) blocks, the cottage’s position on site was restricted by Conservation Authority and shoreline buffer requirements. Due to the naturally sloping topography, an exterior balcony off the main living area was also added, providing a second level of outdoor space above the basement walkout facing the lake.

Following these initial interventions, additional scope has since been added in the form of expanded garage space and a reconfigured balcony that follows the footprint of a raised pool area at the basement level patio. Other revisions include changes to the original balcony roof and the incorporation of an outdoor kitchen area. Overall, the project was phased to better integrate and replicate the original prefab module elements as client needs evolved to expand the footprint for a more customized final design.

PERIOD 2022 - 2025
STRUCTURE Prefabricated Wood Modules
SCALE 2 stories
FLOOR AREA 4,100 ft2

CLIENT Private Residence
PREFABRICATION Maisons Bonneville
STRUCTURAL Komri Engineering
MECHANICAL Synergy HVAC Design Inc.
CIVIL C2S Engineering
GEOTECHNICAL Terraprobe

SERVICES AHJ Compliance
Site Plan Approval
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit
Phased Work
Enhanced CA

Nepahwin 2.0
Sudbury, Ontario

Building off the previous interventions at the Nepahwin Residence, the design objective of this addition was to vertically expand the home with minimal impact to the existing structure or residence functionality. An additional two stories were proposed above the upper storey of the home, to be constructed with mass timber elements supported by the reinforced existing structure below. The new floor area would function as expanded living area, an art gallery space, and new office headquarters for DAO, with separate exterior access and open rooftop area. Still currently in the conceptual stage, the advancement of this addition intends to act as a precedent for expanding existing building footprints and providing an opportunity to positively impact the current housing crisis.

PERIOD 2023
STRUCTURE Wood (Old+New)
SCALE 5 stories (3 Old + 5 New)

CLIENT Private Residence
STRUCTURAL Anthony Spick Engineer
GEOTECHNICAL TBD
CONSTRUCTION Owners
CIVIL Avant Garde Geomatics

SERVICES Algorithmic Design
3D Scans
Minor Variance
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package
Building Permit
Phased Work
Enhanced CA

Huron Residence
Blue Water, Ontario

Exterior views to the scenic property of an existing home were the driving factor behind the renovation approach for this residential design concept. Primarily intended to expand the living area of the existing dwelling on site, stringent conservation requirements and the integration of on-site services added additional intricacies to the overall design. The main feature of the addition was the wrap-around slat wall and canopy, which filtered daylight to the living spaces and framed views to the exterior. The valuable insights gained into sun shading opportunities and artificial lighting integration have provided the groundwork for exploration in future project work.

PERIOD 2020
STRUCTURE Wood
SCALE 2 stories + Existing

CLIENT Private Residence

SERVICES 3D Scans
AHJ Compliance
Conceptual Design
Rendering Package

PAST EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHT

Cedar Wall
Vancouver, British Columbia

A study in material longevity and mindful construction, this old-growth western cedar wood perimeter wall around a private residence was designed and built to last a century. Due to the material’s high value, special care was taken to ensure the final assembly would require minimal maintenance over the course of its life. Each piece of wood was deliberately chosen and finish details, such as water-repellant joints and surface treatments, were carefully considered to prolong the wood’s inherent lifespan. Additional consideration for potential repair work was incorporated into the design by ensuring a minimal number of connection points while maintaining the integrity of the wall as a whole.

PERIOD 2012 (DAO)
STRUCTURE Wood, Reinforced Concrete
SCALE 1 story

CLIENT Private Residence

Patrick was directly involved in the detail work and construction of the wall through Dennis Williams Construction.