The Montrose Sixplex near Bickford Park demonstrates how Toronto’s evolving zoning by-laws can support added density while maintaining neighbourhood character.

The project, designed by Gabriel Fain Architects, is located in a low-rise residential neighbourhood. The six-unit rental housing project spans two lots and explores the architectural potential of incremental density. The development consists of two semi-detached multiplexes facing the street and two laneway houses at the rear of the site, oriented toward Bickford Park, according to a media release.

The street-facing buildings are conceived as a single gabled form, in keeping with the surrounding residential context. The laneway houses, though smaller in scale, align closely with the street-facing buildings in massing and proportions.

The interior spaces, designed in collaboration with Unison Group, are defined by a warm material palette. Large floor-to-ceiling sliding doors bring natural light deep into the open-plan interiors.

The project design uses the flexibility of contemporary planning and zoning regulations to explore a more nuanced architectural response, according to v2com. By integrating added density while retaining neighbourhood character, the project broadens the range of housing types in Toronto.