The Northern Community Land Trust (NCLT) is a 32-home development in Whitehorse, YT which uses a Land Stewardship model focused on creating and preserving permanently affordable, community-driven housing. Combating the housing affordability crisis, this model allows community residents to purchase homes based on the net cost, rather than market value. The value of the home is thus tied to inflation and CPI as opposed to market speculation, allowing for the houses to remain affordable homes forever and not investments.

 

The project takes the form of two crescents, enclosing an open courtyard to create a sense of community and micro-climate. Its design highlights the importance of privacy within each unit, while maintaining a strong connection to community space achieved through the variety of exterior amenity spaces present throughout the site – key values which were revealed during engagement sessions. The central fire circle is the heart of the site inviting residents and guests to gather around a warm and inviting central space. Private yards and decks are flanked by fin walls and planters which provide some separation between the busier communal spaces. Nestled into the crook of each building is a quiet transitional area where a footpath leads to the back decks of each home.  

 

As the reduction of energy consumption is paramount to reducing the effects of climate change, NCLT is targeting 50% greater energy performance than required by the National Building Code of Canada. While new technologies are fundamental to reaching sustainability targets, our northern location makes it important to employ as many simple and passive tools such as siting, high performance envelope systems, and photovoltaics that are easy to implement, as well as operate and maintain.

 

The project leans into simplicity in form to maintain affordability, where houses range from 1-bedroom suites to 3-bedroom homes, each with access to private and public exterior amenity space. The project is designed to be universally accessible through a future-adaptability strategy. 6 units are initially constructed as barrier-free, the other 26 units include zero-threshold doorways, reinforced stair walls as a future provision for chair lifts, grab bars, roll under counter space, and removable base cabinetry. These features enable residents to adjust their homes to fit their unique needs, and supporting aging in place, and ensuring long lasting community-driven housing.