Earlier this month we sat down to talk living spaces with Raymond Chow, award-winning architect and partner at gh3*. Today we dive into the design details that help make Collecdev homes some of the most sought-after on the market.

Your designs for Collecdev communities, particularly TRETTI and Nørdic, have been extremely well received. Why do you think buyers are responding with such enthusiasm?
I think our philosophy resonates with purchasers, and it’s a philosophy shared by Collecdev. Together, we’re creating residences that offer thoughtful consideration of key architectural elements such as proportion, material selection, and natural light. None of these need to cost more money, and buyers appreciate that.

They also seem to appreciate your approach to multifunctional design. City living usually requires a tradeoff between physical space and urban convenience, but the communities you’ve designed with Collecdev don’t appear to sacrifice function at all. How do you ensure that spaces remain functional at any size?
Size isn’t actually the most important metric here. The issue is usually the layout itself – the amount of built-in storage provided, the carefully considered placement of fixtures and appliances, careful planning so that every bedroom is on a windowed wall… By taking a more thoughtful approach to these elements, we’re able to create functional spaces that work well at any size. It’s about smarter design, where size is not a limiting factor to how well you live.

Would you say that multifunctionality is a conscious strategy at gh3*?
Yes – it’s fundamental. People need flexible spaces to meet the demands of our busier lifestyles. If the last few months have taught us anything, it’s that home is a place where we spend a lot of our time. Even before COVID, more people were working from home. Now, our homes need to be a place where we can work, relax, retreat, entertain, all in the same space. That space needs to adapt to our needs, not the other way around.

How can good design be made more accessible for everyone?
Don’t over design. Don’t try to be too trendy or ‘of the time’. It’s important that architects, designers, and developers prioritize functionality and quality wherever possible. Design with purpose and simplicity in mind and you’ll often arrive at the most elegant solution.

 Register here to stay up to date on design-forward living in our newest Collecdev communities.

Raymond Chow finds beauty in the simple things. “Good design is a combination of simple elements, consideration given to proportion, light, and material selection to create an inspiring space.” We sat down with the award-winning co-founder and partner of gh3* Architects to discover his secrets

gh3* frequently collaborates with Collecdev.
That’s right. We’ve worked on a number of Collecdev projects, most recently, Nørdic. We love working with the Collecdev team because they share our commitment to strive for something better than the norm.

Abundant natural light seems to be a core focus of their communities – how do you ensure that through suite design?
We push for suite layouts that are shallower than the industry standard. The benefits are undeniable – shallow units mean more of your square footage is directly adjacent to the outdoors, whether that’s via windows, or with access to an outdoor space like a balcony or terrace. The positive impact this has on the experience of the space is immense. Personally, I wish the industry as a whole would say goodbye to deep suite plans – people were not made to live in the dark.

Let’s talk a little bit about the main living space in a condo, presumably it’s the spot where people spend most of their time.
The open concept kitchen / living area is definitely the most important room in a home. It’s the space where we like to relax at the end of a hard day and where we host friends at the end of the week. It has to fulfill many functions – cooking, eating, relaxing, celebrating, hosting. It can also be the part of our homes where we get to express our design sensibilities and personality most through furniture, art, furnishings etc.

 So aside from how to incorporate a designer sofa / vintage Eames chair / favourite piece of art – what’s the first thing someone should consider when designing their main living space?
Consider how you will use the space at different times of the day, and various times of the year. A main living space needs to meet a lot of needs, especially when we consider that they’re almost always directly adjacent to the kitchen / dining area. Your design needs to account for a range of activities – considering them from the start will mean a more enjoyable experience of your home.

What’s the one thing that can transform a space from ordinary to inspiring?
Simplicity in design and the use of quality materials.

That seems evident in your design at Nørdic – the white façade is such a clean and simple addition to the streetscape, an aesthetic that appears to continue into the suites.
We were inspired by Scandinavian cities and used that Northern European style to help us achieve the objective we set for all of our residential designs – to help people feel comfortable, safe, and at ease in the space. To create a space that feels like home.

Register here to stay up to date on design-forward living in our newest Collecdev communities.

Creating amenity programs within our communities that not only provide inspiration and encourage connection, but truly reflect the needs and desires of our residents, is a guiding principle at Collecdev. It’s a forward-thinking approach that eschews the status quo in favour of questions like how do people really want to spend their time? What amenities can help improve quality of life? How is the market evolving and what can we do to provide environments that will remain relevant for years to come? The recent global pandemic has validated that we’re on the right course.

Six months ago the hashtag #WFH (Work From Home) was barely a blip on the radar and most people weren’t thinking about whether their kitchen table could double as an impromptu office space. Today #WFH has over 1.8 million posts on Instagram and counting, and, after months of isolating in our homes, we’ve all become aware of the impact our surroundings can have on our mood, our wellbeing, and our ability to work.

At Collecdev we’ve always known that good design and carefully considered amenities can create a sense of belonging and improve quality of life. Thoughtful, forward-thinking amenity programming is at the core of every community we build, and it evolves in response to changes in the way people live.

For instance, several years ago when we saw that freelancing, remote working, and flex hours were becoming more and more commonplace, we began to include flexible coworking spaces in communities like Nørdic and TRETTI, spaces equipped with meeting rooms, private alcoves, community tables, and lightning fast wifi (for worry-free Zoom calls all day long). We introduced pet-friendly amenities like outdoor pet relief areas and indoor pet washing stations to accommodate the growing number of four-legged community members. And we incorporated outdoor courtyards, terraces, rooftops, and landscaped parks, letting residents stop and smell the roses (or the paper birches and pines) whenever they see fit.

Of course, we didn’t foresee a global pandemic, but the same principles that we use to guide our community design – engaging amenities, abundant natural light, convenient access to the outdoors – also enhance the everyday living experience whether or not we’re sheltering in place.

No doubt the last few months will lead to a new future “normal”, but if we’ve learned anything from COVID-19 it’s that, as we spend less physical time at the office, and more time closer to home, the quality of our immediate surroundings and of our shared spaces play a direct role in keeping us happy, healthy, and connected. As we move forward, we will continue to deliver communities that anticipate, adapt, and evolve to enhance the way we live.

To learn more about the future of innovative amenities coming soon to our newest Collecdev communities, register here.