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Pixel Studio Plug-In Project



The Pixel Pod Studio was improved by maximizing the efficiency of the space by creating three distinct scenarios for the OCAD student; 1) Studio Work Space, 2) Living/Dining Space, 3) Sleeping Space.


Kangmin Lee




The furniture is customizable to any one of these scenarios or can be configured into a combination through foldable and collapsible furniture that maximizes every square footage. A priority of this iteration was to ensure that accessibility was taken into consideration of the design by implementing a clear path of travel to the ground floor units, ensuring that the width of entrance was appropriate width, there is a 1500mm turning radius
inside the space as well as sufficient transfer space in the washroom as well as the seating and bed, and that amenities could be accessed with low physical effort. Our site of Bulwer St presents three contexts in which our pod configurations will take shape.

1) The parking lot: The façade of the parking lot units is a community gallery where OCAD students can feature their work and draw the community in. The neighbourhood and passersby can come to openings, attend workshops, and visit the gift shop connected to the gallery’s rooftop. The gallery also features a rooftop patio space where activities can take place weather permitting. The geometry of the building has been determined by making all lower level units accessible. Each unit has a door entrance facing out and windows face in towards the courtyard. This allows students to “have eyes” on each other’s units for safety purposes as Jane Jacobs had phrased. Most of the units face south to maximize the light coming through the large rooftop windows.

2) The rooftop: The Pixel Studios Greenhouse is located on the rooftop housing The Rivoli below. Year-round students can grow food and contribute some of their harvest to the host of their residences or contribute it to homeless meal programs at the neighbouring community centre. The greenhouse has been positioned in a way to get the best use of the sun’s light throughout the day. A third of the Pixel units have access the greenhouse via their rooftop since these greenspaces have been in corporated into the greenhouse. Besides these residences in which the occupants have a primary role in caring for the gardens, all other residency access the greenhouse through the main doors of the building. This is an integral part to community wellness.

3) The alley infill: The alley context is the site of a community kitchen where students can come together to make community meals with food harvested from the neighbouring greenhouse, or in bulk items which cuts the costs of purchasing for one. Food security is a major issue for OCAD students with by-donation meal services take place twice a week on campus and the student pantry is depleted and restocked two times a week. It is important for OCAD student to have access to healthy affordable meals and share skills. Our proposal uses the void typologies of Bulwer St and its close proximity to OCADU to address the serious needs affordable student housing. We set out with the intentions to create units that provided a flexible, environmentally conscious, accessible, culturally-vibrant community hub for artists and we hope that this project could lend to the vision of a healthier student body and community.




@StudentDwellTO 2019  |  A collaboration between University of Toronto, Ryerson University, York University, and OCAD University.