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Riverdale Triplex

Ottawa, Canada

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located in Ottawa, Canada
completed in 2020
photo by Simone Dicosta

This project consists of a three-unit dwelling situated within a heterogeneous urban context: a semi-detached house to the north, a service garage to the south, and a restaurant parking lot to the west. This unusual setting presents both challenges and opportunities to create a distinctive architectural solution. Positioned at the southern end of Riverdale Ave, on the boundary between residential and commercial zones, the building plays a crucial role in mediating this transition and establishing itself as a local landmark.
Since the building is visible from multiple vantage points, all its façades have been carefully designed to create a dynamic and engaging presence. The interplay of the building’s elevations shifts as one moves around it, with the warm orange-brown Corten steel cladding giving it a cheerful and unique character. Vertical joints in the cladding echo the mass’s shifts and recesses, while the horizontal joints gently wrap the building, providing visual stability and a sense of scale. Both the east and west façades are generously glazed, allowing abundant natural light into the units and ensuring good visibility onto Riverdale Ave and Bank St.
The three dwellings are stacked vertically: the lower unit occupies the basement and first floor, the middle unit the second floor, and the upper unit spans the third floor. Each residence offers comfortable living spaces ranging from 120 to 155 square meters.
Except for the driveway, the surrounding exterior space is landscaped. Both the front and rear yards feature extensive soft landscaping, creating inviting outdoor environments for residents and visitors alike.