How We Build Communities

Garages and parking spaces should be predominantly out of sight and moved to rear laneways behind homes where possible.

Moving the fronts of homes closer to the street and presenting an articulated facade provides visual interest and a greater sense of security.

Including these design elements allows for a social connection between homes and the community. Neighbours are able to chat in passing and have comfortable sitelines on the street.

Short garden fences at the fronts of all homes create layers of personal space, defining the private and public spheres.

Unlike most of the new builds found in modern North American subdivisions, all sides of the home are treated with equal architectural intent and use authentic, high-quality materials. Back doors are treated with the same attention to detail as front doors. The same, high-quality exterior siding wraps around all four sides of the building - it doesn’t transition to cheaper material on sides and back.

Increasing sidewalk widths to 1.8m or more on main thoroughfares makes the walkway more comfortable for pedestrians, increasing how well they perceive their needs as being met and thus encouraging walking as a viable mode of transportation within the neighbourhood.

Sidewalks are placed closer to the fronts of houses, which psychologically narrows the street for drivers, slowing them down and creating a sense of safety for pedestrians. Bringing houses closer to the sidewalks also enhances social interaction between neighbours.

The inclusion of wide curb extensions with on-street parking physically narrows the street and the perception of the size of the traffic lanes, calming driving speeds. Including large trees in curb extensions is an additional measure to ensure sidewalks are pleasant to use and feel distinct from the road, while also naturalizing a man-made space.

Streets that follow the natural curves of the land and include staggered intersections create memorable visual events and terminating vistas. These terminating vistas ensure no part of the neighbourhood feels too far to walk, and they anchor a pedestrian’s sense of place in the community. Streets designed in this way also make our communities more interesting—if the walk is boring, walkability will suffer. Walkable streets require visual interest.

These pockets of homes forge distinct senses of place within the broader community, creating a greater sense of social connection between smaller groups of people. Their design results in residents feeling more connected to their direct neighbours, while simultaneously allowing visitors to orient themselves within the greater neighbourhood. The more intimate design of pocket neighbourhoods also enhances the feeling of security among those residing in them.

Introducing a brand new type of architecture without apparent “reason” can make a neighbourhood feel disjointed. At the same time, having a single architectural style across acres can feel forced and cookie-cutter. Pocket neighbourhoods allow for the anchoring of a particular architectural style. Focusing a new type of architecture around a green space or courtyard anchors that style, leading to the feeling of entering a brand new neighbourhood with a distinct identity all its own.

Pocket neighbourhoods contribute to the character and life of the greater neighbourhood. These shared spaces enhance the sense of belonging, security, and identity - they are spaces where people from the whole neighbourhood can gather, mingle, and relax with neighbours, friends, and family.

Parks and central commons provide natural community gathering spaces both for daily use and special occasions. They also provide spaces within walking distance of home for neighbourhood children to play, engage with nature, and partake in physical activities.

The addition of trees and green spaces to the built environment helps cool urban spaces, remove toxins from the air, and mitigate the harmful effects of pollution.

Vibrant parks and green spaces lead to more resilient communities. Global issues like COVID-19 have shown us that the kinds of outdoor amenities people have access to in their neighbourhood matter more than ever. The presence of urban parks has been shown to increase mental wellbeing and physical health of those who have access to them - they’re good for people!

Comprehensive pedestrian networks should be designed and considered in conjunction with house and lot placement. They are critical to good community design and should not be an afterthought.

Large sidewalks should be included on both sides of all main streets. They should be a minimum of 1.8m wide, allowing parents with kids and strollers to comfortably use the space.

Alleys should be for active transportation only, and should be no larger than 2m. They should bisect and connect various sectors of the neighbourhood.

Parks and green spaces should include trails and paths to encourage their use as part of everyday pedestrian commuting.

Pre-existing natural amenities add the necessity for a more organic design and break up what may otherwise be a blank slate.

Preserving these natural features adds depth and character to the neighbourhood. They add urban planning and architectural interest, and can create visual focus and public enjoyment.

Regulating human interaction with a natural amenity allows for both appreciation of that feature and protection of it. Generally this is achieved through controlled and managed trail access, landscaped paths, mulch trails, and/or boardwalks that don’t negatively impact the natural environment but open up pedestrian access to previously inaccessible green spaces.