Talking Low-Rise Design with Stephen Hunt

The news is always flooded with stories about high-rise designs, and we rarely hear about the hard working individuals responsible for some of the Greater Toronto Area’s best low-rises. Recently, we sat down with award-winning home designer Stephen Hunt of Hunt Design Associates to learn all about low-rise design, community building, and what the future holds for the low-rise design industry.

Newinhomes (NIH): What’s your background? How did you get to where you are today?

Stephen Hunt (SH): We just celebrated our 15th anniversary. I have been in the low-rise architectural design business for almost 30 years. I started with one of the big firms right after graduation, and then in 1998 we started our own company. We added new employees, got some constant ongoing work and saw some good initial success. Our approach at the beginning was that 'we are the new kids on the block.’ We brought a lot of fresh new ideas and lots of energy. We wanted to be innovators, looking at how market housing was approached. We put a lot of research into other housing markets and learned about the evolving lifestyle needs and changes that we see. We brought a lot of those concepts and ideas to the Toronto marketplace.

NIH: What kinds of projects do you work on at Hunt Design?

SH: When you go back 25 years, there was a lot of 'one and done' guys.  We wanted to make an impression and make a statement in terms of the way a firm should be run. We have a team of over 30 employees. We have two partners, John Cao and Tony DiCarlo, who were made partners five years ago to create stability within the firm. It’s allowed us to create a culture that brings a lot of energy to the office. We have a very comfortable environment, we are not a bust or boom office - we have created a client base that has allowed us to be very steady in regards to projects. We have a great personal relationship with our clients. Our advantages are our ability to listen, our ability to communicate, and our ability to use those things to build strong relationships. Because of that, we don't market ourselves, we rely on repeat business and referrals.

NIH: What are your favourite types of projects?

SH: There are some legacy projects that I'm proud of. The core of our business is large communities and development work, and we start right from the conceptual planning phase. What comes out of that is other project types, such as commercial projects from that same project base. What happens is that our clients develop that level of confidence with us - they know that we can manage projects, they know that we have the ability.

High-end custom homes is our niche, we are very well known for them. It started with the owners of the development companies that we work with - that set the seeds. The general public saw the results of those seeds, and started to call. A few high-end homes that I am proud of include National Estates, and one one on Country Lane - that’s my favourite, it's a more contemporary design.

We have so many communities - master-planned communities that have a strong architectural statement, there are projects like Lakeshore Woods that we did for Rosehaven Homes that stand out, we have done some work for Arista Homes at Vaughan Valley Estates - these projects allow us to be at the leading edge of tastes and lifestyle choices. They allow us to push the envelope with new architectural styles, using new materials and designing homes that are a lot more open and flexible.

NIH: What is your approach when it comes to low-rise design?

SH: The general answer to any project is that you have to look at the context. In terms of custom homes, you have to look at the lot, the street it’s on, the homes around it, and look at how that home integrates and contrasts with its environment. The philosophy of whether it harmonizes or contrasts is a conceptual question. It depends on what sort of strengths or weaknesses are around the site. It’s an interesting discussion because there really are no true answers. It’s about understanding the context. So if we are doing cottages in Muskoka or something in the city, we need to understand the building's relationship to its surroundings.

You start talking about lifestyles of those specific clients. There are some firms out there that are known for a certain look - we are known for responding to context. Whether a home is contemporary or classical style, it depends on the tastes and needs of our clients, and the context of the site. We will look for clues to come up with the best recommendation when approaching things.

On larger communities, the context is location. Is it in Brooklin, Ontario?  Is it in Brampton?  Is it in Oakville? We are working on a project in Downtown Oakville - the architecture is much different than what we would do in Brampton. Understanding the marketplace, knowing the wants and tastes - it’s very important. We have to understand what the specific likes and dislikes of the area are. The real answer to that question is, ‘We are looking at making that project successful.’ No matter how pretty a home is, it needs to be affordable and it needs to sell.

NIH: Where do you see the evolution of design going? Where will the architecture and design industry be in 10 to 15 years?

SH: There is a transition through the provincial growth plan to intensity; we are currently involved in a significant amount of studies, we are developing prototypes on medium density projects that are more economical perhaps. We are looking at systems and prototypes that will help the way that our developers build, using the same expertise that they have and the same relationships that they have, and finding better ways to build.

I think there is more sensitivity to buying a home that directly concerns needs. People are not too concerned about stereotypes, they don't need a living room or dining room for resale value. Lifestyles have evolved to the point that the old standards of how people live don't apply anymore. From a $6 million home to a $600,000 home, people generally live the same. In an informal situation, the kitchen is central, family room off of it, they congregate in those areas and don't want to be shut off from the action, and there are formal spaces, but they are rarely used. It’s all about understanding that and moving forward with designs that respond to that. Homes are becoming more open, more flexible.

We are seeing through the building industry, a lot of contemporary architecture is still ‘winning the day’ so to speak. People used to be traditionally minded - builders and developers didn't believe that they could sell it [contemporary designs] to the marketplace because of it. That’s a big transition. People are looking at high-end contemporary projects in high-rise - it makes sense that they would look to the low-rise market as well. With every generation, views seem to get more liberal. The form and density certainly are changing, the 50 foot lots are harder to find. It’s just a different ball game.

Building materials are evolving, more and more products are coming to market that are giving us more choice. Sustainability is a huge issue, many municipalities are mandating certain levels of efficiency. Over the last five or six years, many of the 'Class A' developers have done projects in that regard. The theory is that if we can find a way to design and build homes more efficiently with less waste, we can afford to put that saving back into conservation, allowing the homes to have better systems, that way, you’re reinvesting in the home. The building code is an ongoing matter - you can never use the old adage 'they don't build them like they used to,' because they build them a lot better.

NIH: So what's next for Stephen Hunt and Hunt Design? What are you excited about? What's the future hold?

SH: The thing about the architecture and design profession, is that every project that comes in the door is another opportunity. We just grab every opportunity that we can and try to get the most out of it in order to make our clients as successful as we can. There are evolving external factors, such as 'where is the market going' and 'density,' but we are at the forefront of these issues. These prototypes are not built in a box, so how do you rationalize getting certain densities that work for the province but also allow the developers to build at a price that is affordable? To build a condo in Bowmanville, Ontario is no cheaper than building one in the downtown core - you can't see it at the same price, the costing doesn't work, you need solutions, and that’s what we are focusing on right now. How do we continue to build and add more density while ensuring that the local community is happy with the results. The challenges are there, they come in many forms.

The team at the Toronto Star’s Newinhomes.com would like to thank Stephen Hunt for his time and look forward to seeing his latest designs hit the market.  

All photos from Hunt Design Associates' website.