Impossible Toronto: On the Courtyard

Why can’t we have this in Toronto? That’s the question underpinning ‘On the Courtyard’, a year-long architectural research and design project exploring a built form with a long history of success in Europe: the courtyard block. Studio VAARO and Gabriel Fain Architects investigate how this four- to six-storey “missing middle” typology could provide a solution to the housing crisis, offering homes at a higher density than houses but at a friendlier scale than towers, and resonating with residents, policymakers, and developers. The project is the first in The Neptis Foundation’s ongoing research program, Impossible Toronto, which examines how a diverse range of typologies can inform contemporary urban design.

The window installation at TYPE Books offers a visual and spatial interpretation of the typology, inviting viewers to imagine how these designs could fit within Toronto’s urban fabric. Complementing the installation, a series of public talks brings together the architects and contributing experts to discuss design strategies, policy ideas, and broader questions about the culture of housing that could make this—and other new forms of housing—feasible in the city. By combining research, design, and public engagement, ‘On the Courtyard’ opens a conversation about the future of urban housing and the possibilities for adapting historical typologies to contemporary challenges.