Since 2008, we have travelled extensively, lived in many cities and explored a wide range of urban environments. We are excited to bring this rich experience into our everyday work.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Naama Blonder | Architect, Urban Designer | B.Arch, OAA, MCIP

Naama has a bold vision: to change what good development can and should look like; with that in mind, she co-founded Smart Density.

Naama’s professional work spans across planning and architecture, and by marrying the two disciplines, she brings a deeper and more realistic understanding of how municipal policies take physical shape.

Before starting Smart Density, Naama gained technical and management experience in planning at Urban Strategies and in architecture at Hariri-Pontarini Architects, where she learned firsthand how these disciplines operate and where the gaps between them lie.

Naama is a board member of Kehilla, an Affordable Housing provider, co-authored the Housing Affordability Report of the Ontario Association of Architect, and served at the Design Review Panel of the City of Burlington, where she provided Urban Design advice for development applications.

Naama practices what she preaches, and lives with her husband and child in a multi-family building in a transit-accessible area of Toronto, where the park is their back yard.
 
 

Misha Bereznyak | Architect | B.Arch, MUDS, OAA, LEED ND

As those familiar with him would affirm, Misha is the most thorough and diligent professional you will encounter. His ability to consider multiple scenarios at once without letting any factor slip through the cracks sets him apart from others.

Misha is passionate to understand what makes a place attractive in order to bring their DNA to his projects.

Misha graduated from the Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology (cum laude), and the Planning Department of the University of Toronto. He is a licenced architect and a LEED Neighbourhood ND professional – one of a handful accredited professionals in the GTA.

Before joining Smart Density, Misha was part of the City of Vaughan Development Planning team where he reviewed the city’s most interesting development applications – a valuable perspective that he brings to the practice.

At B+H Architects, Misha’s work included transforming large underutilized sites in the GTA, Ottawa and Greater Vancouver into vibrant, mixed-use communities.

In the summer, fueled by fresh apples, Misha explores hidden gems around the city while riding his bike.

Amit Ashton | B.Arch

Amit is an Architectural Designer specializing in modular architecture and efficient design layout for co-live/work housing and micro-home buildings.

Amit Co-founded CercaHomes, a design and manufacturing studio. The studio developed affordable and scalable modular housing units to introduce gentle density to existing neighbourhoods and operates in Toronto, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Amit has designed co-live/workspaces for grad students and young professionals while considering complex historic preservation and structural reinforcement requirements as well as sensitively managing tenant, supplier, and contractor relationships.