The New Plex
© Philippe Fournier 2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited unless advanced written permission is granted by the author. Final self-directed research project completed in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Architecture degree at McGill University. Summary: A multiplex is a low-rise multifamily residential building with two or more separately accessed dwelling units, built at a similar scale to a traditional house. To address severe housing shortages, many jurisdictions across North America and around the globe are reforming long-standing zoning laws to permit multiplex construction across vast areas of land which formerly only permitted building single-family houses. This opens up a new frontier of design possibilities for builders: how should these buildings be designed? Though well established across the province of Quebec and once historically common in many other places, multiplexes are rare in the rest of postwar North America, with the majority of private households now dwelling in single-family detached houses. The scale of the housing crisis demands a radical expansion of denser building stock, but the carbon intensity of large-scale new construction poses environmental problems. As an example of ‘missing middle’ housing, multiplexes have many advantages which make them opportune for addressing both the housing and climate crises simultaneously. While increasing density and housing options, plexes have the advantage of being small enough to construct in light wood frame, embodying low carbon and employing local materials and trades. Their human scale and adaptability can allow them to blend unobtrusively within the built character of many established suburban neighborhoods. Their low capital requirements would permit a competitive market to emerge among small builders, while their rapid constructability lends itself well to prefabrication and other efficient construction techniques. This project revisits historical North American multiplex designs, makes the argument for streamlining multiplex construction in contemporary infill suburban contexts, investigates their regulatory and practical constraints, and explores ways of designing the typology in order to improve its environmental performance, cost effectiveness, and above all the quality of life for residents.
© Philippe Fournier 2023. All rights reserved.
Reproduction prohibited unless advanced written permission is granted by the author.
Final self-directed research project completed in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Architecture degree at McGill University.
Summary:
A multiplex is a low-rise multifamily residential building with two or more separately accessed dwelling units, built at a similar scale to a traditional house. To address severe housing shortages, many jurisdictions across North America and around the globe are reforming long-standing zoning laws to permit multiplex construction across vast areas of land which formerly only permitted building single-family houses. This opens up a new frontier of design possibilities for builders: how should these buildings be designed? Though well established across the province of Quebec and once historically common in many other places, multiplexes are rare in the rest of postwar North America, with the majority of private households now dwelling in single-family detached houses. The scale of the housing crisis demands a radical expansion of denser building stock, but the carbon intensity of large-scale new construction poses environmental problems.
As an example of ‘missing middle’ housing, multiplexes have many advantages which make them opportune for addressing both the housing and climate crises simultaneously. While increasing density and housing options, plexes have the advantage of being small enough to construct in light wood frame, embodying low carbon and employing local materials and trades. Their human scale and adaptability can allow them to blend unobtrusively within the built character of many established suburban neighborhoods. Their low capital requirements would permit a competitive market to emerge among small builders, while their rapid constructability lends itself well to prefabrication and other efficient construction techniques. This project revisits historical North American multiplex designs, makes the argument for streamlining multiplex construction in contemporary infill suburban contexts, investigates their regulatory and practical constraints, and explores ways of designing the typology in order to improve its environmental performance, cost effectiveness, and above all the quality of life for residents.
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The New Plex
UNIT A
RESIDENCE
UNIT B
RESIDENCE
UNIT C
RESIDENCE
0.5d x 0.5w
1 storey
1 Bed (Studio)
41.6 m 2 (448 ft 2 )
Toronto average studio rent
= $3.82/ ft 2
RENT:
= $1,711.36
0.5d x 0.5w
2 storey
2 Bedroom
83.2 m 2 (896 ft 2 )
Toronto average 2-bedroom rent
= $2.78/ ft 2
RENT:
= $2,490.88
d x 0.5w
1 storey
2 Bedroom
83.2 m 2 (896 ft 2 )
Toronto average 2-bedroom rent
= $2.78/ ft 2
RENT:
= $2,490.88
Typical Unit Types
I provide 5 residential unit configurations, ranging
from studios to 3-bedrooms, each designed to fit
within the quadrant grid and load all mechanical
and plumbing fixtures along either the exterior
or loadbearing chase walls. These ‘modules’ are
demonstrative and each assume single-household
tenure, but have potential to be adapted over time
as household demand changes, such as by being
merged together, connected with doors, converted
to different uses, etc. Builders can also opt to provide
one-storey ‘flex’ units of up to two quadrants in
size. These empty spaces can accomodate shared
amenity or storage space for residents, or they can
be leased to non-residential uses such as commercial,
office or retail space. This provides an opportunity
to introduce mixed uses into otherwise Euclidian
single-use residential neighborhoods. Commercial
uses can also lease for significantly higher rents
than residences, improving the financial viability of
plex projects on more sites. The following catalogue
shows many possible configurations including
incorporating a single-quadrant flex unit.
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