1185 BEAVERWOOD

// This project has carefully considered the design of the public realm of the building, especially considering the village character of Manotick and the proximity of this site to it’s commercial centre. We have designed a building that is intended to feel like a series of smaller buildings that are more at the scale of the surrounding developments.

We understand the village character of Manotick and made a conscious effort to incorporate elements that speak to the architectural evolution of the village, and we make reference to its past in the way that we’ve detailed elements of the project. While considering heritage elements in the design of a project, it is understood that buildings need to be of their time.  Integration of ‘heritage elements’ then becomes about ensuring that references are made to the existing context, both in terms of use and architectural expression, so that it is clear that the legacy of the past is a part of how we move into the future.

We have identified a number of elements in our exploration of the architectural vernacular of Manotick that we have incorporated into the design. The building is comprised almost entirely of natural and durable building materials. There is strong evidence of the use of stone cladding, as seen in the mill, so we have made use of stone cladding in a number of the volumes of the building. We also see a number of older buildings with red and brown brick, which we’ve also incorporated into the design. Finally, there are a number of buildings with no masonry at all, and they predominantly use wood lapped siding, so we have made use of this cladding type on the upper levels of the building.

Manotick does not have many larger buildings, and the character of a village is not about large monolithic structures. With this in mind, we’ve consciously broken down the elevation of the building both vertically and horizontally to give volumes and forms that are more in keeping with the currently scale and urban cadence found in the neighborhood.

The care and dedication to craft if unmistakable in a number of the older buildings in town. we are able to take care in the details that we propose to make reference to the craft of masonry. With this in mind, we are showing a number of masonry details in the design of the building which include raked treatment in the brick portions, and alternating stone module orientation in the stone areas. The intent here is to emphasize that buildings are things that are crafted by hand with care. Just as it was 100 years ago.