When this family started the process of building their dream home, they set out to marry accessibility and beauty in unique and subtle ways. The W couple's child was born with a rare genetic disorder and relies on a wheelchair. Knowing that he will always require a caregiver, his parents started planning for the house they needed. They knew that their stacked townhouse would not do; the child's mother, who is the primary caregiver, was carrying her son up and down multiple flights of stairs. As he grew, it was clear they were going to need to move.
"Knowing what we were facing going into the future was discouraging, Jennifer* says.
At the same time, her elderly parents were finding their four-bedroom house more than they could manage. And so both families sold their homes, bought a neglected bungalow west of downtown, and promptly tore it down to build fresh. They hired Amsted Design and Build to design a Craftsman-style house that backs onto a ravine and blends in nicely with its neighbours. Working with the existing foundation, two separate units were erected - one for the young family of three, the other as an in-law suite.
"It has allowed us to have a safe, stable, bright, calm place all those things that are not always in our life," she says. "The house is more than just a home because it brings you all of that."
Denne historien er fra Spring - Summer 2023-utgaven av Ottawa Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra Spring - Summer 2023-utgaven av Ottawa Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Voice - Hope on the horizon
\"I JUST CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY.\" Jackie, a 60-year-old mother of two, is describing her experience at a new community mental health clinic opened by the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group.
Drink - The low and no trend
Experts agree: a world of benefits and flavours come with reduced alcohol consumption. Yvonne Langen surveys the scene - and offers a refreshing recipe
Food for Thought - Exhibits with taste
While Ottawa may not be a sophisticated metropolis that compares with London, Paris, or Rome, it is still the national capital, and as such is blessed with excellent museums and galleries, as well as some really good food. But as Hattie Klotz learns, it can be difficult to find the two under the same roof
Working with the grain
As demand for artisanal bread and craft beer continues to grow, Hattie Klotz meets the people building Ontario's small-scale grain sector from the ground up
Found - Working with the grain
As demand for artisanal bread and craft beer continues to grow, Hattie Klotz meets the people building Ontario's small-scale grain sector from the ground up
Design Insider
Upcoming projects, recent awards, and new openings in the city's dynamic design and build sector
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
Storms that knock down trees and cut power are becoming increasingly common. A snapshot of the May 2022 derecho offers a glimpse of what city hall and small businesses are doing to prepare for the next big one
THE HOTEL FACTOR
As tourism returns, new hotels are opening - and many have their sights set on locals
THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN
The way people move and work in the core is changing. We explore the possibilities by talking to industry leaders and engaged residents about how to build a great downtown
Opinion - Counselling change
It's been 20 years, but the effects of amalgamation are still being felt. Drew-Anne Glennie argues community councils could reconnect us with city hall and our neighbours
