Projects
401 Richmond
A major downtown facility housing artists and related support facilities. Our work was part of the ongoing evolution of the building involving the revitalization of the lower northeast level, creating a new street entrance, office and retail space, and coffee bar. 7000 sf.
Yonge Street
Interior alteration for Offices. Designed to provide an office environment with widely varied space characteristics and working arrangements.
Weston Road
A pre-engineered steel building applied to a design to house a large and diverse collection of exclusive automobiles, including a “town” setting interior as a backdrop to display the collection.
Grenadier Ravine Dr
Balmoral Ave
Addition and interior alterations to reenergize a Georgian house, boldly connecting the kitchen to the garden and creating crisp and light interiors.
East Gwillimbury
New House
SITUATION A retired couple has purchased a 10-acre lot and wish to construct a country house. The lot has treed and open areas, and a seasonal water course. The water table is close to the ground surface and flooding is a long-term risk. The house site is in sunlight at all times of the day. The couple has not stated style preferences but is open to the idea of a passive solar house.
SOLUTION With the presence of wet ground and the intent to use hydronic heating it is decided to build a slab on grade. Ground source geothermal provides heat, and to take advantage of sun and view, the house is organized as a long low space facing south, with smaller service spaces along the north, east and west walls. High windows at key locations provide venting and light from above.
RESULT The initial inspiration from local farm buildings led to a house arranged to guard against winter wind and make the most of sunlight. The long central space with double height at each end operates as a solar volume between tall vents. Windows placed high to all compass points create continually changing light and mark the changing conditions of light and weather.
Bethune Blvd
New House
A contemporary design with large glass areas at the ground level and a double height entry and stair hall with double height glass. The design set up specific views to the lake from the 2nd floor and developed connections between the building levels and landscape at the rear garden. Approvals included RNFP and Building Permit. 3500sf of living space plus garage, and replacement of an existing pool.
Broadview Ave
SITUATION A downtown Toronto house with ground floor divided into entry hall, living, dining and kitchen. The existing kitchen is tiny and isolated from house and garden. The family is active, with working parents and three young boys. They desire a space where meals can be prepared and eaten comfortably, the family can gather, and homework can be done, a space with strong visual impact.
SOLUTION An addition to the rear is created to connect the house on two levels to a back garden and pool. Part of the existing kitchen space plus new addition produce a large volume for kitchen, island and eating counter, connecting stair to basement and yard, and connection to the house interior. A large glass patio door, glass entry and skylight introduce light and view into the house.
RESULT The new kitchen volume refocuses life at the rear of the house. The spaciousness, ease of use, ample light and multiple views make it a relaxing and interesting place to be. The materials are tough, modern, and elegant, durable enough for family use and refined enough for entertaining business colleagues. The space invites the robust life of an active family with an accomplished air.
De Grassi St
Addition of space to a compact house on a small urban lot while maintaining parking on the lot, parking being extremely limited in the neighborhood. A 2-story addition was added in available lot space to the front of the house, raised to allow access to the garage existing in the house and to the main entry door. The space below the addition provides a sheltered and enclosed area for the front door, bikes, and bins. The interior spaces are defined by floor level changes; 1st floor kitchen and dining at lower level and living at upper level; 2nd floor existing bedrooms at lower level and master suite at upper level.
Hill Cres
This Project occupies a site with a high, panoramic overlook of Lake Ontario. The building is designed to open to the view and terrain changes on the lake side. Approvals included RNFP and Building Permit. 5000sf of living space plus garage.
Lee Ave
Addition and Interior Alteration
A semi-detached house built in the early 1900’s that had been through a few basic renovations. The interior is not well connected to the garden, the rooms and spaces are cramped and disconnected.
An addition is added connecting the house to the garden, large enough to allow for a new kitchen and dining area working together, with a large patio door to a deck. A large living space is created at the front of the house, divided from the kitchen by service rooms. A compact core of service rooms separates two generous bedrooms on the second floor.
The beautiful walnut kitchen and dining area form a large room with large sliding doors that connect directly to the patio and garden, offering light and an expansive view. Light and views are maintained while creating two distinct major rooms. A careful arrangement of material and color gives beauty to a durable, modern space.
Track 3 Ski Facility
The Ontario Track 3 Ski Association provides access to skiing and snowboarding for Kids with physical and cognitive challenges. The Club plans to develop a new facility at their main location at the Craigleith Ski Club, replacing the existing portables with a new building. Accessibility being the primary design objective, and with a significant change in elevation from entrance level to snow deck, the ramp is a major building element, wrapping around the building to negotiate the vertical difference from arrival to hill access. The design program addresses the various functions of a typical ski lodge with particular attention to accessibility, a focus that ultimately enhances the use and experience of the facility for all visitors.
Islington Ave
The project involved an Addition to the existing bungalow for new living and bedroom space, workshop space, and a new garage. The design extended the main living level and 2nd floor level toward a large rear garden, opening the interior space to the view on both levels and creating a fulsome and relaxed connection to the garden and pool behind.
The varying levels and separation of volumes of the house lend differing qualities and experiences as one moves through the house. Large glass areas on both floors allow light to enter deep into the house and permit views out in many directions.
Yonge
A country house on a treed site sloping west with a view to the west and entrance drive from the east. The house form and orientation were inspired by rural buildings arranged for wind protection and sun warmth, with tough walls at the ground and lighter walls above. The house form edits out views to surrounding development while preserving the view to the mature forest. Rooms and openings are arranged to take advantage of light and view while maintaining privacy. Large window areas and overhangs allow for passive solar gain in winter and shading in summer. The design sought to create a strong and protective house form, taking advantage of a rise in the site to carve into the hillside, keeping the house form low with a broad wall to the wind. The house form wraps around the east and south to form a courtyard, with the interior walls transparent and oriented to the space of the courtyard and sun. The experience of the house is one of moving from the public side and small glimpses of the interior to spaces the open fully to the private garden beyond.
Glenshaw Cres
The project involved a renovation to the existing bungalow and the addition of new garage with living space above. The garage was treated as a separate structure set apart from the house with a mediating space between. House and garage were distinct volumes standing apart and then connected by stairs, bridges, and passages. The space around the stairs, bridges and passages was formed from walls of glass.
The varying levels and separation of volumes of the house lend differing qualities and experiences as one moves through the house. Large glass areas in the connecting space allow light to enter deep into the house and permit views out in many directions. The visual physical connections across the space are very dynamic horizontally and vertically.
Fallingbrook Dr
New House
This house is a hybrid design responding to the owner’s desire for a Georgian house that fully engaged the ravine and view to the lake. A cantilevered glass frame and elevated decks are mediating elements between the reserved and private container facing the street and the dramatic beauty of ravine and lake.
This project is located on the shore of Lake Ontario on a site fully regulated by TRCA and RNFP. Approvals for the project included TRCA, RNFP, Natural Heritage, Minor Variance, Building Permit, Pool Permit, Urban Forestry Permit. The design approach created approximately 4500sf of living space and single car garage within a very restrictive building footprint, and replacement of an existing pool.
Argyle
This lane house on a micro lot in downtown Toronto exemplifies the impulse for dense, low-rise urban living. Situated at the corner of a street and lane the building responds to four unique conditions: laneway, street, yard with adjacent house, and zero setback from neighboring garage.
Conceived to acknowledge a Toronto history of house types with a base of masonry construction and inhabited roofs with eaves brought low, the design adapts the building form to modern living requirements. Reclaimed brick with subtle details at the lower levels and crisp metal roofing contribute to forming the street face with understated dignity and add an element of time, the building naturally taking its place by having the quality of already being there.
The Project succeeded through extensive City approvals engaging City Planning and the Committee of Adjustment. The requirement for a basement tight to lot lines on three sides was a technical demand solved by a deep pile foundation.
Dovercourt
This Lane House in downtown Toronto elevates all living space to the upper floor over four ground level parking spaces. The living “block” floats over the ground level with parking as an open space extending the space of the rear yard, and when laneway vehicles doors are open, extending the yard space into the public realm of the lane. Set back from a large tree and shaped to preserve the large rear yard, the building form is stretched along the lane.
Gerrard
4-unit apartment building
A Building Type addressing the “missing middle” in Toronto Low Rise Housing, the existing 2-story house was modified and added to, becoming a 4-story building with three units above ground and a fourth unit in the basement. Approvals included an application for Minor Variances to the Committee of Adjustment and design under Part 3 of the Building Code for buildings over 3 stories. A second phase is planned for the addition of Laneway Suites on 2374 and adjacent property.
Leonard Ave
Additions and full renovation to a Victorian Row-house in the Kensington Market area of Toronto. The project converted a single-family dwelling to a principal dwelling with two secondary suites. The project involved extensive structural design of party walls, fire separations and fire rated envelope. Approvals included Party Wall Agreements, Committee of Adjustment, Transportation Encroachment, Building Permits.
