It all started during the Northeast Blackout of 2003 (the 211 Bain project, not our young family). Thursday August 14th was the day we were supposed to get the keys to our little 1960′s masonry builders’ box. In the end, we didn’t manage to get access until several days later when power was finally restored to the eastern seaboard. This was the first in a series of delays in our continuing efforts to make our little patch of land at 211 Bain, the perfect home for our family.
Michele (my wife) and I have always loved modern architecture. Naturally, we wanted to transform our empty box into something that had a bit of contemporary character. Because we were just starting out, we had to do most of the initial work ourselves. Fortunately, my father is an architect and offered some timely help with the initial 6 goals:
I have always been intrigued by pre-fab build techniques. Michele thinks I just like big cranes. In the end, we were compelled to build this way for very practical reasons: our house is tightly shoehorned between two other houses, which made it next to impossible to finish the east and west exterior walls using traditional framing techniques.
Dad to the rescue once again: ATA Architects has designed a number of large buildings using prefabricated light gauge steel. After lots of back and forth, we agreed that it was the way to go and drawings were begun (about a year ago). First, the concept drawings had to be approved by Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment (we we’re just a bit too tall to meet the existing planning guidelines). After that hurdle, the final design scheme was nailed down. ATA brought in specialists in light gauge steel framing who were more than happy to break new ground, and help out with a small, modern addition. Fernando Martines from Margold Contractors, and Douglas Fox from iSpan, have been instrumental in moving the project forward.