Enclaves and Infills Designed For Happiness

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Sometimes these few builders realise how a stretch of water - a river or lake-front - could enhance the perceived tranquility of an exclusive enclave in an out-of-the-way cul-de-sac.

It requires not just a parcel of undeveloped land, but also the inspired imagination to conceive what it could look like when completed. Historically, for example, Bob Campeau managed to achieve something quite unique with his delightful little townhouses with mullioned bow windows and Regency or Queen Anne architraves. Bill Teron similarly conceived and built "Old Kanata" with a special eye on what to do with all the rocky outcroppings. And Richard Levitan of Larco Homes originated the first adult community of hassle-free bungalows in Stitsville's Amberwood Village - the forerunner of numerous later imitations.

And now, there are several contemporary home builders with similar imagination and skills, such as Domicile Homes, Uniform Developments, Charlesfort Developments, and Larco Homes.

Coincidentally, Proprietor Doug Casey of Charlesfort Developments lives in The Glebe and enjoys enhancing the neighbourhood with his own low-rise condominium apartment buildings or townhouses - like Hudson Park; where prices range from $165,500 for a 1-Bedroom to $591,500 for a 3-Bedroom apartment.

Domicile is currently planning a new low-rise apartment block on Bank Street, between Strathcona and Patterson in The Glebe. They have named it "g" - perhaps to inspire curiosity; assuming that the "g" stands for The Glebe. Prices for apartments in "g" range from $377,900. Their large penthouses on two levels rise to $980,500, with huge private gardens on the roof

Domicile Homes have also acquired a tiny parcel of land on Montreal Road, close to the Aviation Parkway, on which they intend to build a limited number of two-level Terrace Homes named L'Enclave Montfort. They are more modestly priced from $186,395 - to $244,900 for the last phase.

Both infills are situated in interesting areas. The downtown charm of The Glebe has a tendency to capture people's imagination because of its antiquity, its variety of colourful shops, restaurants and cafe's spread along a distinct section of Bank Street to create an exclusive neighbourhood stamped with its own quaint character.

The part of Montreal Road, immediately east of the old City of Vanier - where Domicile plan to build - is actually quite close to New Edinburgh, and the parklands of Rockliffe.

Uniform have pegged out for themselves a limited number of serviced lots in Stonebridge, Barrhaven, where they have already built and sold distinctively modern detached houses in eleven unique designs by architect Barry Hobin. (See our New Homes Review about them). They are now commencing a new phase priced from $386,000 to $445,000. "Modern", here, in a sense reminiscent of the Frank Lloyd Wright style of architecture that blossomed in the 1920s.

Larco have planned - no doubt with their usual care and attention to detail - a new enclave immediately east of Bank Street South, off of Hunt Club Road. It will contain two types of homes - single family homes on two levels, and Adult Lifestyle Semis or bungalows. Since they are clearly architect-designed for baby-boomers with families and also baby-boomers about to retire, Larco and architect David Mailing have evidently thought through the whole concept of Solera - as they call it.

Such well-designed enclaves contribute an aesthetic environment that is pleasing to live in, satisfying merely to glance out at through the window, and a delight to return home to in the evening.

This phenomenon is emphasized and elaborated on by authour de Botton in his recent book. A point he makes repeatedly is that, just as we influence our home, so it influences us. A home is not merely a utilitarian "machine for living," as Le Corbusier described his houses in 1923.

Rather, in societies where life has become routine, predictable and overly secure, an opposing hunger to escape the suffocating grasp of this mundane predictability emerges. This manifests in a pursuit of the type of architecture that embodies qualities we identify as something beautiful, and which we find generally lacking in our contemporary society and communities.

That is why aesthetics - as well as utility - play an important role whenever we award our 5 Stars for excellence in housing design. We have already done so for Barry Hobin's designs in Stonebridge for Uniform Developments. And we will review Larco's new Solara enclave in due course. Domicile have obtained awards for previous developments which possess a panache typical of most of their recent enclaves. There is no doubt that the special skills required to conceive, plan, and implement these types of exclusive enclaves can inspire happiness in the people who live in them.

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