Ahmad Assi

Academic  /  2024

Unit Design

The unit types that Renewal Square is built out of, drawn and dimensioned before the masterplan existed, from a 38 square metre bachelor to a 119 square metre four-bedroom across two floors.

Project type
Residential unit types and massing study
Location
2100 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario
Status
Academic
Area
38 to 119 sq.m per unit
Role
Sole author, ARCS 4105 Exercise 2

Exercise 2 of the same comprehensive studio that produced Renewal Square, and the reason that project has real unit areas rather than approximate ones. The types were drawn and dimensioned first, then the building was designed around them.

Five types: a 38 square metre bachelor, a 52 square metre one-bedroom, and two-storey units spanning floors six and seven at 103.79 and 119.48 square metres. Each is drawn furnished, which is the only way to find out whether a room takes the bed and still opens the door.

The massing study colours each level separately so the stacking reads at a glance. It is a crude drawing and it did its job: it settled how the two-storey units interlock before anyone drew an elevation.

Dimensioned plan of the upper level of the two-storey units, the three-bedroom to the left and the four-bedroom to the right, with areas tabulated alongside
Bachelor unit plan at 6 by 7.35 metres, the bed, bathroom and kitchen set out within 35.1 square metres
The small units. A bachelor at 35.1 square metres plus a 3 square metre terrace, and a one-bedroom at 51.8 plus 3.
One-bedroom unit plan fully furnished and dimensioned, with the terrace at one end
The small units. A bachelor at 35.1 square metres plus a 3 square metre terrace, and a one-bedroom at 51.8 plus 3.
Lower level plan of the two-storey units, the sleeping accommodation set out with dimensions and areas noted
The two-storey units, drawn on both levels. A three-bedroom at 103.79 square metres and a four-bedroom at 119.48, stacked across floors six and seven.
The same lower level drawn as an unfurnished outline, showing the party wall and the stair positions across a 9.65 metre frontage
The two-storey units, drawn on both levels. A three-bedroom at 103.79 square metres and a four-bedroom at 119.48, stacked across floors six and seven.
Upper level outline plan of the pair of two-storey units, 18 metres deep on a 9.65 metre frontage
The upper level in outline. Drawing both levels is what catches a stair that works in plan and not in section.