"Naama Blonder, CityChanger, Promotes Intelligent Urban Development Across North America"
Toronto Architect Naama Blonder Advocates for Smart and Affordable Urban Densification
Naama Blonder, an architect and urban designer based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is making waves in the city's urban planning scene with her firm, Smart Density. Blonder and her team are known for advocating innovative urban design solutions that focus on smart and affordable density, aiming to address housing challenges in Toronto and beyond[1][2].
Smart Density's mission is to rethink housing development by promoting designs that increase density in a way that preserves neighborhood character and affordability. The approach likely involves urban design strategies that make efficient use of space without resorting to high-rise towers, supporting a diverse housing typology that includes mid-rise and smaller-scale developments[4][5].
Blonder's work often connects with community engagement, creating partnerships at the neighborhood level to develop contextually appropriate urban design solutions[4][5]. She frequently speaks on progressive housing strategies, emphasizing that growth should be measured by progress, not pressure, suggesting a thoughtful approach to density that balances urban expansion with livability[3].
One of Smart Density's notable contributions is a report developed as part of the Toronto Housing Now initiative, providing a vision of how to maximize affordable housing options at Kennedy Station in Toronto[6]. The firm is also committed to smart and affordable urban planning and re-educating the North American multi-family housing market[7].
Blonder lives in a tall building herself, realizing that family-friendly living is not best suited to the suburbs. Smart Density advocates for living in multi-family housing units close to amenities and public transit as a family-friendly way of living[8]. Blonder is holding webinars discussing affordable housing, Dutch Urban Design, and modular construction[9].
In addition to their urban planning work, Smart Density has also made strides in transportation innovation. Their cycling network, which won the Ontario Association of Architects' SHIFT Infrastructure 2019 Award, improves existing bike lanes and connects cyclists in the city's outskirts to the centre[10].
For more detailed descriptions of projects or specific innovative techniques used by Smart Density, additional specialized sources or direct publications by the firm may be necessary. However, it is clear that Blonder and her team are dedicated to making Toronto a more livable city through smart, affordable, and community-sensitive urban densification.
References: 1. Smart Density 2. Naama Blonder - TEDxToronto Talk 3. Naama Blonder - TEDxToronto Talk Transcript 4. Smart Density: Redefining Urbanism 5. Smart Density: A New Approach to Urbanism 6. Smart Density: Maximizing Affordable Housing Options at Kennedy Station 7. Smart Density: Changing the Multi-family Housing Market 8. Smart Density: Family-friendly Urban Living 9. Naama Blonder: Upcoming Webinars 10. Smart Density: Cycling Network Wins Award
- Naama Blonder and her team at Smart Density are not only focusing on innovative urban design solutions for Toronto, but they are also committed to re-educating the North American multi-family housing market to invest in smart and affordable real-estate developments.
- As part of their work, Smart Density has provided a vision for maximizing affordable housing options at Kennedy Station in Toronto, emphasizing the importance of investing in real-estate that fosters smart urban densification while maintaining a strong emphasis on community and affordability.
