FAQs

1. What is the aim of the competition?

Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), in partnership with the Design Exchange (DX), are hosting this competition with the knowledge that in the 21st century sustainable design is no longer a luxury; it has become a necessity. The innovation of Canadian designers and their ability to adapt to the changing needs of contemporary society is now being called on to explore the application of sustainable design technology for the residential housing market in Southern Ontario.

As a part of The Living City initiative, we are issuing the Archetype for The Living City:Sustainable House Competition. This presents a challenge for design teams to create a demonstration centre, in the form of a detached single family home that creates awareness and builds understanding of sustainable technologies and building processes.

Using a holistic and interactive approach to design, and measuring progress with the LEED for Homes™ green building rating system, the demonstration centre will stimulate community transformation towards sustainable living. The winning home design will be built at the new Living City Campus North of Toronto and used as an archetype – or leading example – for building professionals and the general public. The winning design will address The Living City’s objective to engage and educate through the following mechanisms:

• Serve as a model home for sustainable development
.. planned for municipalities in Southern Ontario
• A training centre for contractors building new homes
• An information centre for consumers looking to incorporate
.. sustainable design into their own homes

The winning design team will also be engaged to help lead the construction of the Archetype sustainable house.

2.What is the goal of the Archetype house?

Once it is built on the Living City Campus at Kortright, this home will be used as a training and engagement tool. The design team is expected to provide design solutions that will allow workshop participants (builders developers, trades and homeowners) to see and interact with the house systems (structural and mechanical). This will be reviewed in greater detail at the mandatory on-site workshop at The Living City Campus at Kortright, Vaughan, Ontario, on October 18, 2005.

3.Who is eligible to participate in the competition?

A design team must have a majority of its members practicing in Canada. The design team (indicated by a contact list of names and professional status) must be identified in the submission of letter of intent to participate (due October 7,2005). The design team must include at minimum one of each of the following disciplines:
•Registered Architect
•Registered Mechanical Engineer
•Landscape Architect
•Interior Designer
•Post Secondary Senior Level Student
•Optional team members may include industrial designers, builders, developers, etc.

The primary role of the student is to:

3a. Document the design process of the sustainable house and assist with the design submission. The report will also act as a directory of information that is difficult to present on the poster boards but is crucial to defining the process for building and design, ie: material suppliers and local manufacturers; material content and process to manufacture reflecting environmental considerations; systems & installation specifications; case studies of proven applications; other (also see question 4 below). A total of 7 copies of the compiled project report must be provided to the judging team with the Änal design submission. It is expected that the student report include colour photographs and illustrations where applicable and adhere to the following guidelines: •8.5 x 11 size •Bound in a professional manor (example:saddle stitch,cerlox,coil,other) •A CD must be submitted to TRCA with the report in PDF format 3b. Demonstrate a mechanism to introduce the design process and project intent back to the classroom. This must be authorized and signed by the course professor.

4.What is the entry process?

• Submit letter of intent by October 7, 2005
The letter of intent should indicate the participating individuals on the design team. Names and contact information should be indicated along with a brief background description of related work (no more than 200 words per team member). The team should also indicate who will attend the mandatory on-site visit on October 18, 2005. The letter of intent may be submitted electronically. A downloadable cover form is available at www.dx.org/sustainable

• Attend mandatory on-site workshop at The Living City Campus at Kortright,Woodbridge, Ontario,on October 18,2005
The primary architect and at least one member of each participating team is expected to attend the full day (9am – 4pm) on-site workshop that will detail the project scope and objectives. This will also be an opportunity to meet the coordinating team for The Living City Project, learn about some recent case study examples, to ask more detailed questions, and assess design team applicability. Accommodations can be provided and travel expenses will be reviewed for reimbursement for participants from outside the GTA.

• Submit final design proposal by March 15,2006
The final proposal will consist of a design plan (including a 3d model, a design poster board, and a systems poster board) and a student report (as per question 2).

• Exhibition of entries from April 27 through to June 25,2006
An exhibition showcasing all submitted design proposals will be open to the public at the Design Exchange. People will be encouraged to view 3d models and posters detailing each team’s approach and vote on their favorite design. 3 submissions will be chosen as winners of the People’s Choice Awards to be announced as part of the Festival of Architecture and Design.

• Announcement of winning design on June 21,2006
The juried winning designs will be announced at a reception and press conference at Toronto’s Design Exchange.

• Publication of entries in June 2006
A final report/publication showcasing work and the competition process will accompany the exhibition.

• Construction of the winning sustainable house design
The winning team will work with the TRCA to finalize the design and initiate construction of the Archetype home. Construction is expected to begin late 2006/ early 2007.

5. What are the minimum home requirements?

• Must be designed to meet a minimum of LEED-H 1.71 gold rating and achieve an Energy Star for New Homes designation
• 4 bedrooms and a garage adaptable to change and use over time
• Must be designed for mass production: the design is applicable to east – west orientation, the rear of the house will be facing south, the lot size is 50’ wide x 120’ deep (depth of the lot will be a north-south orientation)
• House must reflect design standards accepted by consumers and home builders in Southern Ontario, Canada
• Must provide a design for innovative waste water treatment
• Must be designed to meet engagement and educational intent

6.What is the balance between affordable, green and Universal or “good” design practices, and overall community strategies?

The statement referencing “good design” (see Competition Criteria) is in place for the team to explore and interpret. We do not want this to be a “cookie cutter” approach to the design. We are hoping to encourage architectural design and sustainable strategies that will result in unique and engaging submissions.

7.What should be the average retail cost of the finished home?

Teams should recommend appropriate retail costing for their proposed submission, allowing for the increased cost implications of the house design also serving as a demonstration facility. This will be a demonstration home that will incorporate all the technologies we can accommodate. Homeowners and developers will review what technologies out of the ones presented they want in their home. The Archetype home will then provide a report for upfront costs to meet individual needs and budgets. The report will be comprehensive, estimating annual cost savings, time for return on investment, and options for future sustainable actions.

8.What do I need to include in my letter of intent?

Due date: October 7, 2005

• Downloadable cover form (www.dx.org/sustainable)
• Team lead (will be primary contact for competition correspondence)
• Team members (including student and course instructor signature)
• Background summary
• Confirmation of availability for on-site workshop

9.What do I need to include with my design proposal?

Due date: March 15, 2006

• Downloadable cover form –same as letter of intent (www.dx.org/sustainable)

Note: Teams will be assigned a registration number for their final submissions. Participant names are not to appear anywhere on the final submission, with the exception of the downloadable cover form. Submissions will remain confidential for jury review.

• Student Report – 7 bound copies (as detailed in question 2a)
• 3d design model no larger than 36” x 36” x 36”: scale of 1 ⁄4”: 1’0”
• 2 project posters 36” wide x 48” high mounted on gator board with matte laminate

Note: These boards will be used in an exhibit and should be readable from a standing distance. The poster should best present the design team’s project intent to a broad audience.

• 250 word abstract summary of the design to be used for exhibition label
• Short list of the primary unique sustainable features
• Project budget overview

10.What are the entry expectations?

• Team must have a majority of its members practicing in Canada
• Team must participate in the on-site workshop at their own travel expense
• Team must submit a design proposal and report at their own expense
• Team must agree to include work in the exhibition and final report
• Submissions will be used for traveling displays and not be returned

11.Will there be fees paid?

• Archetype Award: The winning team will receive a guaranteed fee of $20,000 CDN toward completion of the final design, with additional fees to be negotiated.
• Green Innovation Award: The selected team will recieve a $1,000 CDN prize and results will be considered for integration into the Archetype demonstration centre.
• Design Presentation Award: The selected team will recieve a $500 CDN prize for best overall visual display of submission.
• People’s Choice Awards: Given in recognition of outstanding concepts selected by the general public visiting the Archetype exhibition at Design Exchange.

12.Who is on the Jury?

A panel of experts with a wide range of knowledge have been selected from organizations such as: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian Green Building Council, Sustainable Buildings Canada, Toronto & Region Conservation and the Design Exchange.

Click here to find out more about the Jury

13.Where do I submit my letter of intent and my proposal?

Design Exchange
Att: Archetype
234 Bay Street,P.O.Box 18
Toronto-Dominion Centre
Toronto,Ontario M5K 1B2
E-mail:sustainable@dx.org
Fax.416-368-068

14.What if I have more questions?

Contacts:

Paola Poletto Director,Research Design Exchange Tel.416-216-2155 E-mail:paola@dx.org

All submission materials and project updates are available at:
www.dx.org/sustainable