Sculpting the streetscapes

By Pepper Rodriguez
June 28, 2022

There are streets of fire and streets with no names. There are streets of darkness and streets of light. But what goes into creating a compelling, connected streetscape of your community?

Along with all-important amenities and a trusted builder group, the way each street is composed can go a long way in creating the kind of community one wants to live in and call home. Developers know that coming up with a pleasing, connective streetscape is an essential ingredient in the creation of a lasting community.

The streetscape is key in determining how the community appears and this is where the architectural controls that developers use come in. Architectural controls to determine the lasting look of the community by creating individual homes that bring a cohesive look throughout. No one house feels out of place, but each home can still be unique and personalized for the homeowner.

Experts say having these architectural controls also help protect and enhance property values of the community. Having these guidelines in a community ensures that there is a cohesive look throughout the neighbourhood, without being repetitive or looking cookie cutter.

We spoke to a couple of award-winning Edmonton community developers - Cantiro and Rohit Land Development - who have some experience in bringing about notable streetscapes worth checking out.

Creating connected environments

Cantiro is one of the most prolific land developers and homebuilders in the Edmonton area with award-winning communities and multi-family developments that have withstood the test of time. Key to their success is the ability to create environments that reflect the lifestyles not only of their buyers but of their surroundings.

“We thoughtfully select housing products that will align with the existing surrounding communities while enhancing our neighbourhood,” says Cantiro Senior Development Manager, Nick Young. “We strive to create environments for amazing lives to happen, a community that is architecturally pleasing and viewed as a desirable place to live for residents and those looking to buy a home in a Cantiro community.”

Young knows what he speaks of. Cantiro has had more than its fair share of industry acclaim, including winning the Canadian Home Builders Association’s 2022 Awards of Excellence in Housing for Best Community in The Hills at Charlesworth, a premium family-friendly community located in southeast Edmonton.

“Architectural guidelines within each community ensure a common thread in the colours, materials, landscaping and overall designs of the homes especially in areas where there are several builders,” he says. Cantiro puts in a little more zest through entry features, boulevard landscaping and amenities that create a distinct sense of arrival and add to the overall curb appeal within each community, he adds.

Evolving with the times

Young says that Cantiro also strives to create communities that reflect changing times. “As density in communities has increased and smaller product forms have become more prevalent, we began introducing minor adjustments in how the lots are angled along the street to break up the static linear sightlines that squared off lotting can create,” he says.

But in other instances, Cantiro is mindful of how they impact the surrounding communities. Their new infill community development of Castlebrook in north Edmonton is an example.

“Cantiro consulted with the area counselor and neighbours within this existing community. We took into consideration the existing architecture to ensure the streetscape within the new development will complement and enhance the community.”

 

 

While in the award-winning The Hills at Charlesworth, a variety of low impact development and green building practices were conceptualized to create a sense of place that sets the bar high for sustainable development in the city.

“The architectural theme captured in the homes in this community feature Prairie, Craftsman Alpine, and Brownstone styles. Homes require modern twists on these classic designs, finished in dark colors with contrasting trim. This allows individuals to build a home that reflects their unique style, while ensuring a cohesive streetscape.”

This community features a variety of product types from three builders (Bedrock Homes, Cantiro Homes & Jayman BUILT) including townhomes, duplexes, rear lane and front drive single family homes, as well as brand-new three-storey single family homes.

Find out more about Cantiro’s communities at cantiro.ca.

The un-cookie-cutter developer

Rohit Land Development prides itself in creating unique and interesting streetscapes. “We do our best to stay away from the ‘cookie cutter’ label that has become synonymous with new development,” says Kelsey Siemens, Sales Manager at Rohit Land Development.

“Our team develops architectural guidelines for the community featuring different home styles and colours for each community. The streetscape is varied and interesting due to repetition rules that dictate which rooflines and roof pitches can be next to each other, house and trim colours, and which styles can be built next to each other.”

Siemens says they encourage their builders to put different models next to each other to ensure differences in elevations and varied wall planes along the street.

But she says that what sets their communities apart is the careful not only to what each individual home looks like, but also the lot and surrounding areas.

“The landscaping requirements for each lot are higher than the minimum standards set out by the City of Edmonton to ensure that the community looks amazing from the day our first residents move in. As the developer, we also take care in ensuring that common areas and boulevards are landscaped before the first showhomes open,” she says.

Facing the front garage problem

Over the years. Rohit says they have found new approaches to creating a streetscape that surpass the challenge that front-attached garage homes bring. These types of homes, although very popular for the spaciousness and practicality they bring, can often work against the look of the street that all too often become dominated by garage doors and driveways.

“In Glenridding Heights, we achieved this by curving the road, thus allowing for larger front yards with extra landscaping. This also changes the lot depths and the home setbacks<’ Siemens says. “In Arbours of Keswick, we introduced the Streetscape product to our communities, which is a single-family home that features the garage recessed into the house, so the front porch is viewable from the street. This creates an inviting streetscape, hence the name ‘Streetscape’.”

The addition of the “Big Home Concept” front-back duplex models across many of Rohit’s communities, including Kinglet Gardens, also help add variety and vitality to the curb.

“One duplex has a front attached garage, and the other half has a rear detached garage. From the front, this gives the illusion of a street of grand estate homes. Again, these yards are all enhanced with additional landscaping requirements," she says.

But Rohit is always working on ways to improve the look of their communities, and new ways to express creativity.

“We are very excited about two new home styles that we have coming up in our new St. Albert community, Cherot. The community is inspired by the French countryside, so we will be introducing the French Farmhouse and French Country Modern styles. These styles are defined by steeply sloped roofs, high contrasting trim and house colours, vertical siding, stone details and louver accents,” Siemens says.

For more about Rohit Land Development’s communities, go to rohitgroup.com.

About Pepper Rodriguez

Pepper Rodriguez is a writer, editor of New Home + Condo Guide's Calgary and Edmonton editions.

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