Yongehurst Road 02 Multi-Unit Development

Overview

A multi-family residential development designed to introduce compact density within a suburban context.

Located on a 50 × 177 ft lot, the project consists of four triplex units—organized as two pairs on the north and south sides—each carefully planned to maximize livable area, daylight, and spatial efficiency.

The Challenge

• Intensifying a suburban lot within a predominantly low-density fabric

• Organizing multiple large units while maintaining clarity of circulation and access

• Introducing a contemporary architectural identity within a repetitive streetscape

• Bringing natural light deep into vertically stacked living spaces

The project required a strategy that could increase density while establishing a distinct and cohesive architectural language.

The Approach

The development is conceived as a paired triplex system, balancing repetition and variation across the site.

Key moves include:

• Dual Organization: Two mirrored building groups creating a clear site structure

• Triplex Typology: Each unit spans three levels, maximizing vertical efficiency

• Sunken Entry Courts: Front and rear garden pits provide access while introducing light to lower levels

• Façade Articulation: A layered envelope combining solid and perforated elements

This approach enables a project that is both efficiently organized and architecturally expressive.

Design Strategy

The project rethinks suburban multi-unit housing as a high-density, design-forward typology.

• Units are vertically organized to maximize usable floor area

• Circulation is integrated to maintain clarity and independence for each residence

• Skylights introduce daylight into deeper interior zones, including closets and washrooms

• Openings are shaped to balance privacy, light, and visual identity

The result is a system that balances density, livability, and spatial quality.

Unit Distribution

The four triplex units are configured to support family-oriented living at higher densities:

• Unit 1: ~155 sqm (North)

• Unit 2: ~175 sqm (North)

• Unit 3: ~155 sqm (South)

• Unit 4: ~175 sqm (South)

Each unit provides generous living space across three levels within a compact footprint.

Envelope & Material Expression

The architectural language combines minimalism with controlled expression:

• White concrete surfaces define a clean, monolithic base

• Warm wood louvers introduce texture, privacy, and environmental control

• A sculptural side elevation based on a Voronoi pattern generates unique window geometries

• Free-form skylights bring variation and daylight into upper levels

The façade balances clarity and experimentation, giving the project a distinctive identity.

Outcome

• Four triplex units within a suburban lot, increasing overall density

• Efficient vertical organization supporting large, family-oriented layouts

• A strong architectural presence within a repetitive residential context

• A prototype for contemporary suburban intensification

Project Type

Multi-Unit Residential
Triplex Development
Suburban Infill

Key Takeaway

This project demonstrates how suburban intensification can move beyond repetition—introducing spatial diversity, daylight optimization, and a distinct architectural identity within a compact multi-unit framework.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client: Private

Stage: Schematic Design

Architect: Iman Raeisi

Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Area: 660 sqm