Expanding Vertical Spaces in Toronto: Discover Four Innovative Ideas for High-Rise Living Incorporating Indoor Gardens
Toronto's not just another city. It's a bustling metropolis that's been growing at a rapid pace, with towering buildings popping up all over to accommodate our ever-expanding population. But despite the constant changes, experts say that Toronto is managing its housing density fairly well compared to other cities like Montreal or New York.
One reason for this successful balance is that Toronto's a mostly postwar city, meaning it has to find clever ways to cram a lot of people into a design centered around single-family homes and suburbanization. Paul Hess, a professor at the University of Toronto's department of geography and planning, explains that transforming these areas into densely populated spots with a small-community feel isn't easy and not many places have figured out how to do it right.
Toronto ranks second in the world when it comes to managing density and livability, only behind Hong Kong, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Their "vertical urbanism index" takes into account social, economic, and environmental factors when evaluating a city's livability. Not too shabby, Toronto!
However, Toronto hasn't been without its challenges. Rapid changes from new developments have caused small businesses and residents to be priced out of certain communities, robbing them of their unique charm. But what can be done to make our increasingly vertical lives more livable and enjoyable?
Singapore: Shared Public Spaces
The key to making high-rise living work is creating community spaces where people can mix and mingle. Singapore has been a pioneer in this area, mandating developers to provide public spaces in residential towers. One development that broke the mold in 2021 was CapitaSpring, a 51-storey tower that combines residential and office spaces, as well as four storeys of open-air garden and a cycling path.
Another example is London's Sky Garden, a public garden at the top of a tower that's narrow at the base. This public space, which also includes restaurants and other attractions, has been called revolutionary.
The downside? Mandating public space in towers could lead to smaller, less affordable residential units.
Vancouver: Open-Air Courtyards
Research shows that outdoor amenity spaces can significantly improve residents' quality of life, especially courtyards that provide seating and invite people to linger. One example of this is Vienna House, a social housing, near-zero-emissions project in the works in Vancouver. It will feature an open-air courtyard and 123 rental units upon completion. The courtyard creates a sense of intimacy and encourages social interaction among residents.
San Francisco: Legacy Business Program
To support small businesses struggling in the face of new developments, a potential solution is a program like San Francisco's Legacy Business Program. Launched in 2015, the program supports small businesses with historical and cultural significance to the city. Eligible businesses receive marketing, assistance and specialized grants. Toronto has had one-off instances of helping businesses negotiate with landlords, but a more standardized approach could bring additional support.
Montreal: Pedestrianized Public Spaces
Montreal has focused on improving public spaces by pedestrianizing streets during the summer. This not only enhances pedestrian safety and comfort but also boosts local retailers. Currently, Toronto is examining ways to expand pedestrian space along Yonge Street and preparing to start construction in Kensington Market to prioritize pedestrians while accommodating slow speed vehicle access for local residents.
Cities like Singapore, London, Vancouver, and Montreal have shown us that it's possible to live in high-density areas without sacrificing a sense of community. By learning from these cities, Toronto can continue to grow and improve, creating a livable, vibrant city for all its residents.
- Toronto's vibrant community, despite the rapid suburbanization and developments, ranks second globally in managing density and livability, beating out cities like Montreal and New York.
- The key to making high-rise living work is creating shared public spaces, as demonstrated by Singapore's mandate for developers to provide public spaces in residential towers.
- In 2021, CapitaSpring, a 51-storey tower in Singapore, broke the mold by combining residential and office spaces, open-air gardens, and a cycling path.
- London's Sky Garden, a public garden at the top of a tower, serves as an example of revolutionary public space, offering restaurants, attractions, and a green space.
- Singapore and London's approaches to high-density living might lead to smaller, less affordable residential units due to the requirement for public space in towers.
- Vancouver's Vienna House, a near-zero-emissions social housing project, features an open-air courtyard and 123 rental units, promoting social interaction among residents.
- San Francisco's Legacy Business Program, launched in 2015, supports small businesses with historical and cultural significance to the city by providing marketing, assistance, and grants.
- To combat small businesses being priced out of certain communities due to new developments in Toronto, a more standardized approach based on San Francisco's Legacy Business Program could be beneficial.
- Montreal has focused on improving public spaces by pedestrianizing streets during the summer, enhancing safety, comfort, and local retail businesses.
- Toronto is examining ways to expand pedestrian space along Yonge Street and preparing to start construction in Kensington Market to prioritize pedestrians while accommodating slow-speed vehicle access for local residents, following Montreal's lead in improving public spaces.
