Bloom: A Sustainable Solution to Housing Affordability in Seaton Village

Family-Friendly Design and Affordability

Bloom contains a mix of two and three-bedroom multi-floor dwelling units, each with a private outdoor amenity balcony or roof terrace space, with the majority having private garage and driveway parking. Residents don’t walk apartment corridors or ride elevators, instead each home has its own front door entry with a grade related address, providing a sense of independence that many homeowners desire but might otherwise struggle to attain. These dwellings are well-suited for families, providing often under-represented square footages in an in-demand category below that of traditional townhouses but above compact high rise apartment suites. Affordability is further enhanced through the deployment of inventive stacked typologies that reduce land consumption through higher densities without compromising privacy.

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Sustainable Features and Construction Practices

Bloom contains numerous sustainable features that promote eco-conscious living, drawing upon economies of scale to reduce energy consumption. These measures include the use of Geo Exchange heating and cooling, dedicated solar electric vehicle charging and grey water recovery systems. Ecological considerations include onsite bee enclosures, pollinator gardens and permeable pavement in line with greater Seaton Village’s initiatives to protect its natural heritage system and bring residents closer to nature.

Despite the need for increased fire safety and sound attenuation in stacked townhouse construction, rated floor and wall assemblies are achieved using cost effective and carbon reducing wood framing. The use of prefabricated technologies further contributed to accelerated project timelines and efficiencies leveraged. These construction practices have been identified as potential key contributors to increasing housing supply in the coming years.  

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Harmonious Integration with the Community

Bloom’s exterior building massing fits harmoniously with the general scale of the existing Seaton Village community at Taunton Road, only with a modern update. The geometric colourful exterior vocabulary contributes to individual but also repeatable building forms that adapt well to numerous urban and higher density sub-urban environments.

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While housing remains an expensive and challenging issue, creative grade-related options like Bloom offer promising possibilities. By leveraging innovative design and sustainable practices, architects can lead the way in providing affordable, family-friendly, and eco-conscious living spaces. Bloom stands as a testament to how thoughtful architectural solutions can address the housing crisis while enhancing community and environmental well-being.

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