Infill

Twosome House is a two-storey, 540-square-metre Etobicoke home designed for a family of five. Following in the tradition of Louis I. Kahn, floor plans are defined by precise regulating lines. Two axes divide the property into distinct zones, with rooms plotted according to their program. This organization of “public/private” & “servant/served” spaces establishes a clear sense of order throughout the home. Borzu Talaie The first of the project’s dividing lines runs north to south. Upon approach, the structure presents as two distinct volumes: a stuccoed rectangular western block, and a square-shaped eastern wing clad in stone veneer. This two-part configuration separates family-oriented areas (kept to... More

The Mask House is a two-storey dwelling that grounds its presence by embracing juxtapositional qualities in order to set an example for its neighbourhood which is undergoing a rapid gentrification. Located at the Roncesvalles Village, in the west end of Toronto, the project was designed and built respecting the narrow elongated trapezoidal site, the limited budget, the very restricted Zoning & By-laws, and of course a demanding brief from the client. Yet, the outcome brings vivid energy, inspires renewal, and suggests possibilities that design can offer.   The façade may challenge the viewer to speculate a direct relation between manners of the exterior and the interior, assuming alikeness of aesthetics with ethics in rega... More

The five-story building comprises of 14 modern residential lofts and commercial spaces, offering panoramic views of the city. The architect’s urban design maximized the potential of the limited area, amplifying the plot through an irregular polygon floorplan and a geometric sculptural staircase. A commissioned site-specific light installation by artist Petr Dub adorns the building’s exterior. With its location near the center, the building will provide benefits of urban living to its inhabitants, becoming a landmark of the area. The Urban Infill Lofts are located in a former industrial district, which is currently undergoing a large transformation.As CHYBIK + KRISTOF’s design is the first substantial project southeast of the city center,the... More

The house gazes at the street and the neighbourhood through the eyes of the two symmetrical windows, punctured on the mass cantilevered above the main floor, which resembles a face sneaking forward. Located at the Scarborough Junction, in the east end of Toronto, it was created respecting the narrow site, the restrictive budget, and all the speculations. Despite all these limitations, the house is like a curious creature; it contaminates its surrounding, made of typical Torontonian infill houses, with livelihood and inspires the possibility of design which belongs to everyone and everywhere.The Gazing House originates from the two squares divided by the central circulation axis. This abstract formal system establishes a sense of order which... More

These live-work townhouses are located on a quiet street in Toronto’s rapidly densifying Riverdale neighbourhood. The project was separated into two phases. Phase 1, towards the South end of the block, consists of five deep units each with a mezzanine studio and an interior garden. Phase 2, towards the North end, consists of five shallower units and is serviced by a laneway at the rear.The townhouse blocks are developed on two existing, vacant, industrial properties separated by a residential building inbetween. One unique condition of Phase 1 is its landlocked nature; the site is bound by residential and industrial buildings on three sides. Phase 2 has a significantly different site condition: to the north, is an empty lot that has a seaso... More

This project is a successful example of medium density housing on an inner city suburban block. The critical element informing the conceptual framework for the project was context, both the local context of the greater precinct and immediate context of the adjacent existing Queenslander onsite, which is reinterpreted not only in shape and proportion, but also in experience. The three rear dwellings repeat this concept to form a set of ‘glued together’ houses. Being in a neighbourhood dominated by houses, this approach manages to retain the comforting scale for the individual and provides identity to each dwelling while still achieving homogeneity. Being a developer driven project, the feasibility hinged on the addition of the fifth dwelling... More

The brand new Jacobs Hall at the University of California, Berkeley houses the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation in the College of Engineering. The three-story, 24,000 square foot building contains design studios, various laboratories, a student lounge, classrooms, and cutting edge technology to immerse students in hands-on, human centered design. Just as Jacobs Hall fulfills a variety of purposes, so too with the architectural wire chosen as strong infill material for the exterior railings: Banker Wire’s M13Z-145. Outside of Jacobs Hall, Banker Wire’s M13Z-145 architectural woven wire mesh was utilized in the exterior railing and bridge fabricated by Lee’s Imperial Welding of Fremont, California. M13Z-145 architect... More

The GG Brown Memorial Laboratories building at the University of Michigan, College of Engineering underwent a major renovation in the summer of 2014. The $46 million, 62,880-square-foot, three-story Center of Excellence in Nano Mechanical Science and Engineering building was more than four years in the making. The renovation provided state-of-the-art improvements to academic and laboratory facilities as well as more accessible and efficient administrative spaces. A new pedestrian bridge was also built to provide access to the new Center of Excellence addition of the GG Brown Memorial Laboratories on North Campus in Ann Arbor. Spanning more than 50 feet, the bridge utilizes Banker Wire’s LZ-55 woven wire mesh pattern for the railing i... More

Starbucks stores and facilities are widely known and highly regarded for their sustainable and sophisticated designs. The newest Starbucks flagship store at Oak and Rush in Chicago, IL, which features architectural wire mesh from Banker Wire, is no exception. The Oak and Rush Starbucks is one of six flagship stores in the world. Its first level looks like a typical Starbucks, with casual seating aimed toward to-go customers. Its upstairs, however, offers a more sophisticated experience with enhanced menu offerings that include appetizers, small plates and desserts, and, after 4 p.m., beer and wine. A staircase with Banker Wire railing infill marks the transition between the two levels. The architectural wire mesh pattern used, M22-22, mat... More

The backlit lobby wire mesh sign at Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) office in Columbia, MO, is defined by layers of Banker Wire F-2 flat-top stainless steel wire mesh on aluminum standoffs. Viewed head-on, the printed letters are aligned, and the sign looks 2D. But as the viewer moves, the sign takes on depth, coming alive from the moiré effect and the moving shadows of the stacked letters. Banker Wire precrimped woven wire mesh is manufactured with an emphasis on quality and consistency. The quality of the crimp during manufacturing creates perfect, dependable results, allowing designers to have confidence in using the architectural wire mesh material to achieve their most creative ideas. Architectural wire mesh is a wa... More