With only 28 units in the building, each abode boasts a larger-than-typical floor plan, the average being just under 900 sq. “Where I think there’s a nuanced difference is that the missing middle is really about intensifying density within our protected neighbourhood designation, while gentle density is about improving the realm on our main streets.”īeyond sustainability and a crisp, chic aesthetic, Grain Loft suites serve majorly in the realm of “space”. “I think are both terms that address the same needs, meaning this magnificent space between single-family homes and high-rise condos,” Johnston explains. Similar to the much-discussed “missing middle,” gentle density helps meet housing needs while respecting and honouring a given area’s established integrity. Indeed, beyond sustainability in its form, Grain Lofts embodies another type of intentional and conscious growth: gentle density.
“These aren’t buildings that redefine streets - like the transformation at Yonge and Eglinton for example - but rather help to articulate the future,” says Johnston. “The people who live in these buildings do so because they value the neighbourhood they are located in, and don’t want to be involved in overwhelming it.” Grain Lofts (rendering) “The promise of mass timber buildings,” says Unique Urban Homes’ Paul Johnston, “is that they can insert themselves into the dialogue of a neighbourhood with minimum disruption, a fairly quick construction schedule, and without stomping on the neighbourhood.”Ĭoncrete makes up approximately 8% of the world’s carbon emissions, but timber removes carbon from the atmosphere - this means CLT buildings boast a negative carbon footprint. (In fact, an 18-storey CLT build matches the eco impact of pulling 2,350 cars off the road each year.) What’s more, CLT is lighter than concrete, which eases shipping costs and cuts construction time by up to 25%. Now, Grain Lofts, rising in the neighbourhood’s north end, is poised to check all those boxes.Ĭrafted with cross-laminated timber (CLT) - an energy-efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional concrete - the intimate, 28-suite building is coming to 1650 Dupont Street via Gairloch Developments, in collaboration with Gabriel Fain Architects and Unique Urban Homes. When an urban pocket is as diverse and coveted as this one, housing solutions - particularly those that are sustainable, chic, and supportive of increased density - are a necessity. This neighbourhood caters to many a lifestyle, from the food driven to the ultra active to the artistically inspired. Near the path’s south end is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), a leading international art gallery. Heading south towards Bloor West, the neighbourhood serves even more to explore: several parks, vintage shops, cafes and pizzerias, and of course, the West Toronto Railpath - a biking and foot trail that runs along the Junction Triangle’s west border. Morning (or afternoon) pick-me-ups from Wallace Espresso or Cafe Con Leche, meanwhile, promise to become routine.
READ: Chic Junction Triangle Build to Set Soaring Sustainability Standardįor those who prefer to chef it up at home, Mattachioni is sure to become a bodega of choice, while Osler’s fish selection is swoon-worthy, and Boires has the specialty wine offerings covered.
#VINTAGE ST DUPONT LIGHTERS PLUS#
Surrounded on all sides by fresh-roasted coffee and small-owned shops, the Junction Triangle is home to a handful of the city’s best restaurants, plus specialty grocers and a notable art scene - not to mention many quiet residential streets and family homes.Īlong the Triangle’s north edge are an impressive count of must-visit eateries, including Farmhouse Tavern (seasonal farm-to-table fare), Gus Tacos (exactly as it sounds, and doing it right), and Defina’s Wood Fired (some of the best pizza and flame-grilled octopus this side of the CN Tower).
Striking the perfect balance between homey and eccentric, the scalene-shaped district is tucked between Wallace Emerson, Brockton Village, and Roncesvalles.
Toronto is home to countless neighbourhoods, each boasting their own charms - and the Junction Triangle is among the city’s most unique and inviting pockets.