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Superkül is an architectural firm founded in 2002 and located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Toronto-based firm that practices sustainable architecture and design is led by Meg Graham and Andre D’Elia. The firm is acknowledged for their approach to deep connection to context with purpose allowing for the emergence of site and building materials.

History
The firm was established in 2002 by Andre D’Elia and Meg Graham. Principal Andre D’Elia studied and received his architectural degree from Carleton University in 1993 and later worked at KPMB Architects. Meg Graham received her architectural degree from the University of Waterloo in 1997, and was awarded the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal during her thesis year. Andre and Meg met while working at KPMB Architects, later decided to start a business together and are now husband and wife.

The firm is now accompanied by 27 employees consisting of Architectural Designers, Interior Designers, Associates, Directors and Coordinators. The name Superkül was created in agreement to “not wanting a name with people’s names in it…and wanted something that was memorable.” Superkül Inc., is Swedish for “very fun.”

Sustainable Design
Sustainable active systems are one of the components to consider when achieving sustainable design. The overall design approach to sustainable active systems is to deliver energy efficiency, optimize climate control, and achieve low environmental importance. This approach to architecture responds to its local environment. Superkül acknowledges net-zero energy designs and aims to achieve a positive environmental impact.

Great Gulf Active House
The active house by Superkul architects was designed for Great Gulf, one of Canada’s largest home builders. Building Knowledge Canada Inc., Brockport Home Systems Ltd., Danish Technical Institute and VELUX A/S Building Industry also contributed to the project. The design uses the traditional gabled roof and adapts to the functions of an active house. The active house promotes energy efficiency, low environmental impact, and occupant comfort. At the most basic premise, it uses technology including windows, skylights, heating and air conditioning systems and materials. It is equipped with the Tesla Powerwall allowing for energy management and reduction of electricity during peak hours. Brockport Home Systems provided prefabricated exterior walls, roof and floor systems that reduced material waste, energy use, providing for a more efficient construction process. Great Gulf’s H+ME Technology was essential to the success of the project. Building orientation works efficiently with a heavily insulated building envelope with south facing glazing maximizing solar gains in the winter, with overhands and shades keeping the house cool in the summer.

Following the construction of the home in 2013, a family occupied the house to monitor the overall living conditions and energy efficiency for six months. The family included the mother, father, and three children.

Infill Development and Housing
The urban growth of Toronto that began in the 19th century has led to the uneven patterns resulting in the integration of laneway housing. Dwellings that are oriented into alleys or sited behind a main house can be classified as laneway houses, granny or garden suites, garage apartments and coach houses. In the current age, laneways have been used as experimental sites for architectural mediations. In Toronto, the laneway system have been used for the purpose of distribution of services and goods, worker’s housing and commercial functions. Laneway housing in Toronto is generally excluded from stipulations made in the official plan and its zoning bylaws. This is an alternative choice to the high real-estate of condominiums and single family homes in large Canadian cities.

40_R Laneway House
Project 40_R, an 850 square foot house located in Toronto, ON, once in operation as a blacksmith’s shop - that served the North Toronto Railway Station during the early 1880s, then turned into a horse shed, and is now in use as a single-family home. The current owners of the property intended to convert the shed into a single family home, providing outdoor space, daylighting, and a well configured living space while retaining the building’s original character. The building in its present state does not follow the current zoning for the particular site, but was permitted by the city as it was constructed before the enactment of the bylaw that is intact now. As a result of the strict building code and zoning laws, additions were extended vertically as it was the only solution that allowed for ample daylight, optimal air circulation and views of the surrounding neighbourhood. With the property owners intent of retaining the building’s original character, the architects were able to reuse the materials on the exterior façade through the use of rusted steel paneling as the primary building skin. This project uses methods of sustainability, adaptive reuse, and the city’s forgotten laneways, allowing for the restoration of life within the urban fabric.

Home/Office
The Home / Office is a 2,235 square foot space located in Toronto, ON constructed for the purpose of a residence and workspace in junction between two neighborhoods. It is a two-story home and working environment for the principal architects, that was bought and rebuilt as a manifesto on “how to live and work within a tight urban environment.” During the renovations, an additional floor was placed that allowed for dedicated office spaces on the ground and basement floors, and a living quarter on the second and third. The building is situated along the busy Dundas Street West, with views to the south allowing for natural light and views to the street life. The design allows for future expansions, and partition walls if need to divide the space.

Stealth Cabin
The Stealth cabin is a 1,500 square foot cabin located in Bracebridge, Ontario, that “nestles into the topography and doesn’t dominate anyone’s view.” Upon client request, the goal was to fulfill the desires of a traditional log cabin and a modern weekend home. The cabin is designed to minimize visual and physical impact, preserving the maximum number of living trees and taking advantage of the natural qualities of the site. The cabin design allows for alterations in the winter for the northern half of the house to close off with a pocket door designed to reduce energy consumption. The name Stealth Cabin originates from the untreated cedar wood cladding to gradually weather to grey and blend into the forest. This project was awarded the Ontario Association of Architects Award of Design Excellence in 2014.

Selected Projects
Since the practice was founded in 2002, the firm has completed a wide of variety of projects that include:


 * Crescent Road House – Toronto, Ontario
 * Newmarket Community Centre – Newmarket, Ontario
 * +HOUSE – Mulmur, Ontario
 * Pointe Cabin – Georgina, Ontario
 * Steelcase Worklife Toronto – Toronto, Ontario
 * Royal Ontario Museum Washroom Renewal – Toronto, Ontario
 * Oben Flats Harbord Towns – Toronto, Ontario
 * Compass House – Mulmur, Ontario
 * Aesop Queen Street West – Toronto, Ontario
 * A room with a view – Toronto, Ontario
 * Memory Labs – Toronto, Ontario
 * What Remains to be seen – Toronto, Ontario
 * Woodhouse – Singhampton, Ontario

Awards
Since the practice was founded in 2002, the firm has received numerous regional, and national awards and recognition for excellence in design.

2020 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2009 2008
 * Designlines – Designer of the year
 * OAA Award of Design Excellence (Woodhouse)
 * Architecture MasterPrize (What Remains to be Seen)
 * Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Award (Memory Labs & Woodhouse)
 * Remodeling Design Awards Grand Winner (A Room with a View)
 * Architectural Record Kitchen & Bath Award (A Room with a View)
 * Architizer A+Award Jury Prize (A Room with a View)
 * Architecture MasterPrize (A Room with a View, Aesop Queen Street West, Compass House)
 * Wood WORKS! Environmental Building Award (Active Houses)
 * Architizer A+Award Jury Prize (Compass House)
 * Builder’s Choice & Custom Home Design, Merit Award (Compass House, Valley House)
 * Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Award, Project of the Year (Aesop Queen Street West)
 * Applied Arts Designs Awards, Complete Book Design (Rain, Gravity, Heat, Cold)
 * 50 Books | 50 Covers competition winner (Rain, Gravity, Heat, Cold)
 * Ontario Association of Architects Awards of Design Excellence (Oben Flats Harbord Towns)
 * Interior Design Best of Year “Best in 10” Winner (Royal Ontario Museum Washroom Renewal)
 * AZ Award of Merit (Steelcase WorkLife Toronto)
 * AZ People’s Choice Award (Steelcase WorkLife Toronto)
 * Building Industry and Land Development Award
 * Wood WORKS! Design Award (Pointe Cabin)
 * Interior Design Best of Year Award (Royal Ontario Museum Washroom Renewal)
 * Shape the Future Competition winner (Royal Ontario Museum Washroom Renewal)
 * Ontario Association of Architects Award of Design Excellence (Stealth Cabin)
 * Interior Design Best of Year Award
 * Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Award (+HOUSE)
 * Ontario Association of Architects Award of Design Excellence (+HOUSE)
 * Wood WORKS! Design Award (+HOUSE)
 * Canadian Green Building Award (40R Laneway House)
 * International Making Cities Livable Design Awards: Urban Plaza Commendation (Newmarket Community Centre)
 * Toronto Urban Design Award: Award of Excellence (40R Laneway House)
 * Ontario Association of Architects Award of Design Excellence (Crescent Road House)