Bellair Gardens - Condos Working to Ensure a Green Future
As residents begin to move into the award-winning Bellair Gardens condo project this summer, a whole range of pleasant surprises awaits them. Chief among them is the attention to energy-saving details shown by the developer Castle Group Ventures.
“It is not enough to create a wonderfully designed building,” says Mona Bhamani, Castle Group President. “What we always strive for is a building and individual suites, which make life worth living. Our goal is to create an environment, which takes the stress out of daily life.” And chief among those stresses today is the leap-frogging increases in energy prices, she says.
“We feel a strong obligation not only to take all steps possible to contain the impact of rising energy rates but also to create condos and structures that reduce the demand for energy derived from non-renewable sources,” continues Bhamani.
That attention to both the physical and philosophical implications of residential design has made Bellair Gardens, situated just southeast of York Mills Road and the Don Valley Parkway, both a critical and commercial success. While the condos are nearly sold out, a few select suites still remain, says Bhamani.
“I would advise anyone thinking about purchasing a suite in the project to act quickly though,” she says. “With move-in date a few weeks away, those remaining condos are very likely to go quickly as people can see what a wonderful project this in is fact and form.”
Creating an energy efficient, environmentally conscious structure is a matter of paying attention to a myriad of small details, says Bhamani. For example, Bellair Gardens has a trio of garbage chutes on each floor instead of a single depository. One is for glass; one is for paper and one is for household garbage.
The windows are certified as low-E, which means the damaging rays of the sun are screened out. Heat is reflected and interior objects resist fading. Windows are awning designed for the utmost security. All light fixtures and their bulbs are rated as energy saving. All appliances are ENERGY STAR rated.
Castle Group has used specially formulated paints that extend their useful life to between 10 and 15 years, ending the need for repainting every four to five years. Chandeliers in the lobby and foyer have been custom made to ensure their efficiency and to extend their life. The same applies to wall sconces in public areas throughout the building.
The care even extends to the detailing around front entrance doors. Castle Group has used granite tiles to create a permanent and majestic entry.
“We even make personal inspections of each condo suite before releasing them to residents,” says Bhamani. “If we notice anything wrong, right down to nail holes in baseboards that have not been filled, we correct the problem.”
Designed by architect Harry Christakis, Bellair Gardens last year won a trio of awards from Greater Toronto Home Builders’ Association. Its overall design tells the tale. Shaped like a lazy C, there are no sharp corners to intrude on the natural harmony or beauty of the 1.5-acre site. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow uninterrupted views. Large balconies create that important connection between interiors and the natural splendour of the setting.
Snuggled into a gently rolling hill, the setting has allowed Christakis to create a design which provides rear-facing suites with large outdoor terraces, which both soften the profile of the building and expand living space.
Above all, Bellair Gardens offers easy access to almost everything Toronto offers. Seconds from the Don Valley Parkway and York Mills Road and minutes from Hwy. 401, residents can be downtown or in the cities at Toronto’s northern borders like Markham, Concord and Richmond Hill in a quarter of an hour.
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