CONDO PRO: European-inspired Courtyards a Popular Condominium Amenity

By Barbara Lawlor

I just love what developers are doing with condominiums today. The exteriors are incredibly beautiful, with eclectic architecture that evokes a multitude of emotions and appeals to a diverse market. Gorgeous landscaping goes a long way to enhancing these designs, and one of the current trends is to include a landscaped courtyard that helps to set a welcoming tone.

Inspired by the piazzas of Europe, courtyards are open, unroofed gathering places that typically feature benches, trees, shrubbery, and often ground-floor retail venues around the perimeter. In addition to lessening the impact of the condominium on the streetscape, these common areas offer a true residential feel to the community. They also provide a sense of arrival and create a fabulous first impression by introducing nature into the picture.

Far from cookie-cutter amenity spaces, courtyards are configured in a variety of ways. This inviting area may be located in front of the condominium to integrate it into the streetscape in an intimate way. Instead, it may central to the buildings in the community to create a private urban oasis. Usually, a courtyard features bench-style seating that complements the architecture and helps to create beautiful views from the suites that overlook it.

Courtyards play another role by contributing to the “greening” of Toronto. Developers enlist prominent landscape firms to make sure that the plantings installed in these areas in whatever sun/shade conditions they are in, and also to reflect the overall feel of the condominium’s style. In other words, courtyards are a key component of the community design.

Many beautiful condominiums in Toronto feature courtyards. Take Canary District Condos – the first residential condominium in the Pan American Athletes` Village in Toronto’s West Don Lands neighbourhood. A central courtyard anchors this community design. The private area will be graced with seasonal and perennial plantings, heritage-style lamps and open cabana-style seating. As the neighbourhood is inspired by athletics, the courtyard will also include an equipped fitness facility. In addition, the Canary District community will encompass other courtyards connected by pathways and public walkways.

King Blue Condos is situated at King Street West and Blue Jays Way, a corner that is incredibly busy with traffic. The innovative interior courtyard here is accessible from both Blue Jays Way and Mercer Street, serving a convenient, safe passenger drop-off or taxi pick-up. Adding interest, King Blue’s courtyard will also feature restaurants and shopping.

In Scarborough, an open landscaped courtyard anchors the two towers and townhome collection at LOVE Condominiums. From this courtyard, residents will be able to access the library, shopping centre and transit routes in the immediate surroundings, pedestrian friendly at its most convenient.

The magnificent master-planned Emerald City on Sheppard Avenue at Don Mills Road in North York features a glorious landscaped courtyard at the base of the first three condominium towers and townhome collection. This park-like space helps to create a community in the truest sense of the word.

Uniquely positioned to link together the four phases (2 Gladstone, 8 Gladstone, Carnaby Row and The Carnaby Condos) in the Queen West and Gladstone Avenue neighbourhood in Toronto’s Art and Design District, the landscaped courtyard will be integrated with pedestrian-friendly lanes that stretch from Gladstone to Peel Avenue.  In European style, they will form an enclave of cafés, studios and boutique shopping.

Those are just a few examples of the amazing courtyards that are adding charm to Toronto’s cityscape. Each new residential building is unique with architectural highlights that appeal to a variety of purchasers, and the European flair of the cosy courtyard is a pleasing concept for many. Viva the courtyard!

Barbara Lawlor is president of Baker Real Estate Incorporated and an in-demand columnist and speaker. A member of the Baker team since 1993, she oversees the marketing and sales of condominium developments in the GTA and overseas. Keep current with The Baker Blog at blog.bakerrealestate.com