Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/354800
Mod'rn by Irwin Rapoport IMAGES BY DAYLUXE GALLERY T he trend of building condominiums based on a boutique urban lifestyle continues with the ongoing con- struction of the Mod'rn condominium in Burlington, Ontario. Designed by Icon Architects, the brick-clad condominium has a variety of glazing elements to give it a distinct look based on two sections with an interior courtyard. Enclosed are 78 units rang- ing between 445 and 906 square feet, along with two floors of underground parking (111 spots) served by a single access. Adi Development Group is behind the project that is ide- ally located minutes away from downtown Burlington, the waterfront, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, golf and shopping. "Mod'rn is a stunning blend of glass, stone, natural wood and onyx brick," says Tariq Adi, CEO of Adi Development Group. "A lot of effort went into the design and layout of our suites. We used contemporary finishes with clean lines to reflect the overall feel for the project. Some of our suites have 10-foot ceilings – a luxury statement on their own." The idea for Mod'rn was conceived three years ago. "We noticed a lack of a design-forward movement in Burlington," says Adi. "Typically buildings have been more old fashioned and mundane, but that doesn't reflect on the people who live in the city. We're passionate about great esthetic and quality design, so we wanted to do something different." Style and design is also incredibly important to Adi Devel- opment Group. "We build from the outside in, prioritizing high-quality construction and the esthetic of the exterior design," explains Saud Adi, COO of Adi Development Group. "We look at design articulations, the choice of materials, even the number of different types of materials that we want to use. With Mod'rn we wanted to use bigger windows and we've oriented the building to allow a lot of sunlight in." Asked which architectural aspect he liked best, Tariq Adi replies: "I like the interplay of materials we've used: the con- trast with the masonry, natural woods and glass. We've jux- taposed this with the darker brick and espresso banding. One feature in particular that stands out is the angled cube on the east side of the building. It's framed by a wooden banding and it serves as a really striking focal point. It's that combination that creates the wow factor." Reza Eslami, the lead architect and principal with Icon, met with Tariq Adi in late 2011 and the project was soon in the hands of his team. "Designing a mid-rise building has to be done very carefully because what is very important to achieve is the density of a multi-family residential building without losing the human scale that it needs to provide," says Eslami. This balance has been carefully achieved in 'Mod'rn. "It proves that regardless of tagging an architectural style to a building or not, it is possible to create a contemporary build- ing which has its roots in the past," adds Eslami. Of the 78 units in this building, the second, third and fourth floors house 21 units and each floor corridor benefits from a large glazed wall beside the elevator lobby. The main floor LOCATION 1284 Guelph Line, Burlington, Ontario OWNER/DEVELOPER Adi Development Group ARCHITECT Icon Architects Inc. GENERAL CONTRACTOR LCL Builds Corporation STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT K.O. & Partners Ltd. MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT BK Consulting Inc. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Adesso Design Inc. INTERIOR DESIGN Gordana Car Interior Design Studio TOTAL AREA 63,000 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed contains 15 residential units, the grand lobby area and the party room. The building's facade is a combination of Rockland black/ Melville brick, Lamina Stone Margaux Beige Artis and clear glazing. "The materials and the different colours and textures contribute to the building's overall form," says Eslami. The interior finishes complement the exterior facade and the homeowners had a choice to select the finishes from the standard or upgraded colour and finish samples. "The Adis' wanted to make a statement by offering the best possible finishes to homebuyers to select from," says Esl- ami. "The units were designed to have a perfect f low and proper placement of each space and its function. There is plenty of light entering these units via large-sized windows, without introduc- ing an all-glass building. The majority of the units are facing south to get opti- mum sunlight." LEED certification was not pursued for Mod'rn, but Eslami who has designed LEED buildings, applied many LEED concepts to the design. "We combined a mechanical penthouse with the roof- top amenity lobby to minimize its impact on the roof line of the building," he says, "and there are some mechanical and electrical rooms in the underground garage." Mod'rn's landscape, designed by Adesso Design Inc., is based on the planting of a variety of trees, shrubs and peren- nials to complement the building. "There is not a single spot left out," says Eslami. "This includes the roof amenity space, which can accommodate up to 60 people, which includes a lot of planter boxes to provide a green environment." As with any major construction projects, there are always challenges, says James Lee, senior project manager, Adi Devel- opment Group. "Maintaining an open dialogue through every step of the process is the key to success. Planning, design and construction go hand-in-hand. This means having open and clear objectives that are communicated and understood between all consultants, the developer and contractors," says Lee. "Historically, four-storey residential buildings are com- monly constructed using a wood-frame structure," Lee adds, "however, we have chosen to construct our building with cast- in-place concrete structure, which cre- ates a building that is built to last. Also, it allows for optimized energy efficiency, larger f loor-to-ceiling windows and an accelerated schedule. This also pro- motes more esthetically pleasing design and timely delivery." n AUGUST 2014 /97 Mod'rn 10:11 AM