Zero79

Two homes, one infill lot, years ahead of the bylaw.

A Question of Housing Choice

Zero79 began with a simple question: could a conventional 25-foot lot provide two family homes without changing the character of the street? Located on Eaton Avenue in Toronto’s Danforth neighbourhood, the project set out to increase housing choice while giving each home the qualities people value most: its own entrance, private outdoor space, and a strong sense of individuality.

Zoning Built for One

At the time, Toronto’s zoning framework anticipated a single detached house on the site. Placing two homes one behind the other, rather than side by side, had little precedent and required close collaboration with City Planning throughout the approvals process. The project also sought to demonstrate that higher-density housing could achieve excellent environmental performance without increasing building scale or compromising everyday comfort.

A Shared Wall, Independent Homes

The two three-storey homes are organized around a carefully shaped party wall that allows each residence to read and function as an independent home. The arrangement creates privacy while making efficient use of a narrow urban site. From the outset, building performance was developed alongside spatial quality. Prefabricated wall and roof panels shortened on-site construction, while a highly insulated envelope, triple-pane windows, exceptional airtightness, and heat recovery ventilation reduce energy demand and provide comfortable living conditions throughout the year.

A New Model for Gentle Density

Completed in 2020, Zero79 demonstrated that gentle urban intensification can support established neighbourhoods while creating sustainable housing for the future. The homes consume approximately 60 percent less energy and produce 80 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than comparable homes built to Ontario Building Code minimum requirements. They became the first residential project in Toronto, and only the third in Ontario, to receive Built Green Canada Platinum certification. Registered as a condominium following completion, each home is now individually owned, demonstrating another model for delivering family housing within Toronto’s existing neighbourhoods.

The project has been featured in Tree Hugger, Design Lines Magazine, Building, eArchitect, BlogTO, and Design Raid, coverage that has continued well after construction ended in January 2020.