Element Urban Village
An urban townhouse development organized around a shared courtyard.
Element Urban Village Phase II consists of 11 townhouse units on a tight urban site in one of Saskatoon’s central neighbourhoods. The units are collected around a central, semi-private courtyard that serves as a shared amenity for the residents. The back row of the ‘courtyard units’ are lifted to provide covered surface parking below. This move made very efficient use of the site, allowing 11 units on what was previously 4 residential lots with space left for common gathering areas. The shared courtyard is accessed directly from each unit and fosters a cohesive sense of community among residents. The shared space and communal nature of the development are balanced with visual and acoustic privacy within each unit. Efficiency was a primary goal of the project and guided the design approach. Both the space of the site and the space of each unit is designed to make the most of a small area. The 950 sf units are straightforward, each with two bedrooms and spacious main floor living areas. The development also prioritizes energy efficiency with an upgraded building envelope, high-efficiency appliances and equipment and a shared electric car charged by solar energy.
Location: Riversdale, Saskatoon, SK
Completed: 2018
Type: Multi-Unit Housing
Size: 11 Dwelling Units
Client: Shift Development & BLDG Studio
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