Client: The Brar Family
Architect: Omar Gandhi Architects
Designer: Stephanie Hosein
Project Completion: 2024
Target audience: Multigenerational families
Info@omargandhi.com, omargandhi.com, Instagram: og_architect
Omar Gandhi Architects is a Canadian architecture studio known for its thoughtful, context-driven designs that blend modern forms with regional materials and narratives. With offices in Halifax and Toronto and Berlin, the firm creates residential, hospitality and cultural projects that prioritize craftsmanship, landscape, and emotional connection.
3 key points
Spatial Inclusivity
By integrating inclusive features like a private suite with elevator access, accessible washroom, and accessible outdoor deck, the design fosters cross-generational connection and supports independent yet engaged living for aging family members.
Cultural Expression Through Patterned Light
Custom window screens inspired by traditional Phulkari embroidery translate the family’s Punjabi heritage into a contemporary architectural element, casting geometric light patterns that celebrate identity, memory, and craft.
Empowered Living Through Accessible Design
The Brar Residence enhances family living by providing accessible, dignified, and connected spaces that empower the aging mother’s independence while strengthening family bonds.
Ema Peter Photography, 2024
The DIAC Design Impact Framework centers around five key themes:
1. VISION: Design embodies the vision
What core values-cultural, familial, and multigenerational-shaped the early vision of the Brar Residence and informed its spatial and architectural design?
The Brar Residence was shaped by the family’s cultural roots and commitment to caring for their aging mother, blending heritage elements like Phulkari-inspired screens and custom millwork with a fully accessible layout. Key spatial decisions—including an elevator, private suite, and circulation—enabled independent living within a preserved Edwardian home, supporting both traditional and multigenerational connection.
2. FUNCTIONALITY: Design enhances functionality
How did the architectural design meet the practical needs of a three-generation household while balancing privacy, connection, and long-term adaptability for evolving family dynamics?
The design places the client's mother’s suite on the second floor with elevator access, an accessible washroom, and a private accessible deck—supporting independence and connection. Zoned floors and future expansion options including the potential for a future laneway house, ensure flexibility for the family’s changing needs.
3. BRAND: Design creates brand
How did the design process establish a unique visual and cultural identity for the Brar family’s home within the architectural context of Toronto, while reflecting the values of their Punjabi-Canadian heritage?
The design preserves the original Edwardian façade to respect the historic character of Toronto’s Annex neighborhood, blending seamlessly into the urban fabric. Inside, cultural identity is expressed through custom window screens inspired by traditional Punjabi textiles, with additional layers of meaning introduced through the family’s own materials and decor.
4. ENVIRONMENT: Design embeds environmental benefits
How did the home’s design respond to the natural site in Toronto, and what environmental strategies were employed to harmonize the landscape?
The design responds to its urban Toronto site by maximizing natural light through relocated windows, new skylight, and a new dormer, while minimal backyard landscaping and improved interior flow enhance connection to the backyard.
5. HEALTH & WELLBEING: Design promotes health and wellbeing
How does the design support the physical and emotional well-being of all generations by balancing spaces for shared family rituals and individual retreat, while addressing accessibility needs such as washroom and kitchen use?
The Brar Residence demonstrates the value of good design by thoughtfully balancing connection and privacy to enhance everyday living for all generations. Prioritizing shared spaces for cooking and gathering, while providing quiet areas for rest, the home was shaped through iterative, user-focused design that responds directly to the family’s needs. Accessible circulation, a customized washroom, and carefully placed rooms reflect how design can add lasting value—supporting physical comfort, emotional well-being, and a deeper sense of belonging within the home.
Ema Peter Photography, 2024
6. Key Success Performance Indicators
Key performance indicators for the Brar Residence include compliance with accessibility standards, effective zoning for privacy and connection, and adaptability for future needs. Cultural identity is preserved through material and spatial choices, while user satisfaction is reflected in daily comfort, independence, and family interaction.
