Tower Communities

Acknowledging the importance of open and green space around “towers-in-the-park” also enables extending the concept of ‘ecosystem’ to clusters of vertical communities.

Six tower typologies were identified commonly found in the Black Creek subwatershed. After understanding the contextual conditions of tower communities, design strategies can be proposed that not only identify opportunities in the public realm for improved resiliency, but can also respond to local ecosystems.

Towers + Ravine: Finch and Sentinel

Tower + Park: Finch and Weston

Tower + Strip Mall + Hydro Corridor: Jane and Finch

Tower + Highway: Jane and HWY 401

Tower + School: Jane and Driftwood

Tower + Railway: Weston and Wright

Oaks on the Green: A Case Study

The ‘tower-in-the-park’ housing model is typical of apartment tower clusters in the Black Creek Subwatershed. Built during the post-war era, these high-rise apartment buildings are surrounded by significant open space and often adjacent to large ravine parks.

Yet despite this proximity to green space, a lack of programming and connection to the green space for tower residents results in underutilized open areas that do not adequately serve surrounding communities or perform ecological functions. Combined with the aging infrastructure of the buildings themselves and the high social need of many of their residents, these towers contain key resilience risks.

The following section investigates The Oaks on the Green apartment towers, located next to Chalkfarm Park in the Downsview-Roding-CFB neighbourhood.

Through diagrams, plan, and section, the towers’ relationship to surrounding streets and open space, circulation, and building use and program is investigated.