According to Bloomberg (using data from CMHC), 2017 was a surprising record year for housing starts in Canada: 219,675 units. This is the most since 2007 and is up from 197,916 units in 2016.
The explanation: job growth (nearly 400,000 new jobs) and population growth were both more robust than expected.
Multiple unit project starts are also up significantly with 142,840 units starting in 2017. This is a 15% increase from the prior year. Of these units, 102,516 of them were “apartment-like homes.”
But all of this is nationwide data. Look at what happened in Toronto and Vancouver:
The increased activity mostly sidestepped land-constrained Toronto and Vancouver, the country’s two most expensive markets, but was robust in the suburbs and less pricey surrounding cities. Starts in Toronto fell 1 percent to 38,738 in 2017, while declining 6 percent in Vancouver to 26,204 units.
This is not because of a lack of demand. It’s becoming systematically more difficult and more costly to build new housing in these two markets.
According to Bloomberg (using data from CMHC), 2017 was a surprising record year for housing starts in Canada: 219,675 units. This is the most since 2007 and is up from 197,916 units in 2016.
The explanation: job growth (nearly 400,000 new jobs) and population growth were both more robust than expected.
Multiple unit project starts are also up significantly with 142,840 units starting in 2017. This is a 15% increase from the prior year. Of these units, 102,516 of them were “apartment-like homes.”
But all of this is nationwide data. Look at what happened in Toronto and Vancouver:
The increased activity mostly sidestepped land-constrained Toronto and Vancouver, the country’s two most expensive markets, but was robust in the suburbs and less pricey surrounding cities. Starts in Toronto fell 1 percent to 38,738 in 2017, while declining 6 percent in Vancouver to 26,204 units.
This is not because of a lack of demand. It’s becoming systematically more difficult and more costly to build new housing in these two markets.
Take a look at this photo from Central in Hong Kong and note the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) systems running up the cutout in the middle of the tower. Also note the bamboo scaffolding next door and the epic terrace on top of the ground floor bank. The building on the opposite side put parking on top of its podium.
Take a look at this photo from Central in Hong Kong and note the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) systems running up the cutout in the middle of the tower. Also note the bamboo scaffolding next door and the epic terrace on top of the ground floor bank. The building on the opposite side put parking on top of its podium.
are two posts that I previously wrote about the Bentway project. (I still really like the original “Under Gardiner” moniker, but maybe the Bentway will grow on me.)
The skate trail (220m track) is only the first section of the larger 1.76 km Bentway project, but I am excited to check it out. I plan to do that next weekend.
As I mentioned before, the Bentway project is a great example of rethinking neglected urban spaces. This area under the Gardiner Expressway was/is a wasted opportunity. I’m glad we’re doing something about that.
I was told that systems are commonly run on the outside of buildings here to maximize interior square footage. Again, space is a precious commodity in this city. But it also speaks to not having to worry about freeze-thaw cycles. Winter in Hong Kong has so far equaled me walking around in a t-shirt.
These exposed systems look ugly as all hell, but I suppose they also mean not having to break open drywall when you have a problem.
I am fascinated by the relationship that buildings have between interior and exterior space. In cold cities like Toronto we are forced to hermetically seal off our buildings from the elements. We have to worry about thermal bridging and about heat tracing cold spots.
But in a city like Hong Kong I would imagine that the greater concern is stifling heat and humidity. All of this comes through in the built form.
are two posts that I previously wrote about the Bentway project. (I still really like the original “Under Gardiner” moniker, but maybe the Bentway will grow on me.)
The skate trail (220m track) is only the first section of the larger 1.76 km Bentway project, but I am excited to check it out. I plan to do that next weekend.
As I mentioned before, the Bentway project is a great example of rethinking neglected urban spaces. This area under the Gardiner Expressway was/is a wasted opportunity. I’m glad we’re doing something about that.
I was told that systems are commonly run on the outside of buildings here to maximize interior square footage. Again, space is a precious commodity in this city. But it also speaks to not having to worry about freeze-thaw cycles. Winter in Hong Kong has so far equaled me walking around in a t-shirt.
These exposed systems look ugly as all hell, but I suppose they also mean not having to break open drywall when you have a problem.
I am fascinated by the relationship that buildings have between interior and exterior space. In cold cities like Toronto we are forced to hermetically seal off our buildings from the elements. We have to worry about thermal bridging and about heat tracing cold spots.
But in a city like Hong Kong I would imagine that the greater concern is stifling heat and humidity. All of this comes through in the built form.
