Giannone Petricone Associates Put Their Unique Stamp on 90 Niagara
By Lucas on Mar 07, 2014
From Fieldgate Homes
Giannone Petricone Associates is the architectural firm behind 90 Niagara. Company co-founder Ralph Giannone sits on the City of Toronto's Design Review Panel and has won numerous industry awards for the company's outstanding architectural work on a wide range of upscale condos, hotels and restaurants, retail shops and offices. We sat down with Ralph recently to talk about the company's latest project for Fieldgate Homes.
You've done work on a lot of condominiums in Toronto, and you sit on the City's Design Review Panel so you've seen plans for countless more. What is it about 90 Niagara that excited you?
RG: It's a wonderful, "real", eclectic neighbourhood and 90 Niagara is a building that embraces that quality – creating homes for new neighbours. I like the eclectic quality both in use and in built form. It's a joyful mix of types of buildings and uses. The design for 90 Niagara holistically embraces that spirit.
What is the essential appeal of 90 Niagara for buyers, and how have you considered that in your architectural design?
RG: At five storeys, 45 units, 90 Niagara is an attractive, intimate midrise development that offers condo ownership in a well established, in-demand neighbourhood. The scale of the development allows residents to be connected to the street rather than being too far removed like many of the hi-rise buildings – the seven, two-storey lofts with red brick facades and wood front doors that exit onto Niagara further reinforce this connection to the street and will continue the residential rhythm of the street.
And what about the condominium units per se?
RG: The upper floors with the condo units are set back from the two-storey lofts, and have a more modern aesthetic, clad in a sharp looking prefinished siding will speak to the industrial historical makeup of the neighbourhood.
The design features a strong horizontal plane to reinforce this transition. The articulation of the upper floors as a bar stacked on top of the two-storey lofts mimics the uniform rhythm of the large window openings in the industrial lofts facing the south side of the street.
Unit sizes range from low 500 sq. ft. to over 1200 sq. ft. – the building has been customized to offer a great mix of unit types from one to three bedrooms, both single and two-storey homes, many with balconies and terraces. Large living areas and storage were key design elements that we took into consideration.
What amenities have been incorporated into your plans?
RG: For today's dweller, less is more when it comes to amenities. 90 Niagara will offer the elements that most urban dwellers desire – an indoor party room connected to a large outdoor terrace with BBQ, dining, and lounge areas with lots of greenery.
90 Niagara's true amenity is its connection to this vibrant neighbourhood it will become part of, the popular shops and restaurants, public parks, and the building's proximity to the waterfront and downtown core puts everything one needs at their doorstep.REGISTER for 90 Niagara to be the first to receive updates and special invites!
