Brahms Townhouses

Each of the 14 townhouses in this two-block, early-1970s Toronto Community Housing development is a four-bedroom, two-storey unit with a basement. PLANT leads renovations that aim to achieve a 25% reduction in energy consumption (thermal scanning was part of the project) and update the exterior with modifications that include a warmer, more residential-looking materials palette. The townhouses will remain occupied throughout construction.

In addition to the replacement of all windows and doors and some mechanical and electrical upgrades, the scope of work includes structural repairs and excavation around all foundations so that waterproofing can be installed. Key to making the front entrance more inviting and contemporary is the removal of the townhouses’ worn and dated mansard roofs. The renovated, better-insulated exterior will read as a cohesive block of paired units that alternately project slightly forward and jog back.

The project includes a new retaining wall and a proposal to paint a community mural on what is now a graffiti-strewn end wall.