Balliol Street Infill Housing 

Overview

A semi-detached infill project designed to introduce gentle density within a traditional midtown Toronto neighborhood.

Located on a 25 × 100 ft lot, the project replaces a single-family condition with two contemporary dwellings—balancing increased livable area with sensitivity to the existing streetscape.

The Challenge

• Narrow urban lot within an established residential fabric

• Zoning constraints limiting massing, height, and setbacks

• Need to maximize Gross Floor Area without triggering variances

• Integrating contemporary design into a context of historic brick homes

Beyond compliance, the project required a strategy that could unlock additional value while remaining fully buildable.

The Approach

The design is driven by a zoning-first methodology, using massing and envelope manipulation to work precisely within allowable limits.

Key moves include:

• Efficient Massing: Optimizing building depth and vertical stacking to maximize usable area

• Articulated Envelope: A layered façade system that responds to light, privacy, and seasonal variation

• Contextual Alignment: Maintaining datum lines and proportions aligned with adjacent homes

• Dual Identity: Creating two distinct yet cohesive units within a unified architectural language

The façade acts as a responsive “skin,” allowing variation in perception throughout the day while maintaining a consistent material palette.

Design Strategy

Rather than treating the project as a standard semi-detached subdivision, the proposal rethinks the typology as a compact urban housing system.

• Each unit is organized to maximize natural light penetration despite tight side setbacks

• Interior layouts prioritize flexibility for modern family living

• Openings are strategically positioned to balance privacy and transparency

The result is a project that feels both efficient and spatially generous.

Outcome

• Increased density without rezoning or minor variances

• Fully compliant, permit-ready design

• Enhanced streetscape through refined material expression

• A replicable model for small-lot urban intensification in Toronto

Project Type

Residential Infill
Semi-Detached Housing
Zoning-Constrained Development

Key Takeaway

This project demonstrates how zoning constraints can become a design driver, enabling architecture that is both economically viable and contextually responsive.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client: Private

Stage: Schematic Design

Architect: Iman Raeisi

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Area: 348 sqm