Best House Design

The 1950’s residential project by Taylor Smyth Canada based Architects that is located along the Bridle Path in North Toronto, backs onto a 2.7 acre site, with a wide lawn that flows into a wooded ravine. The interior of the original house consisted of a series of long low-ceilinged rooms. The client requested a complete renovation of the interior that would create an open plan, capitalizing on the natural views and providing abundant natural light.

Project Description

A striking intervention to the low rectangular form of the original house was created through the insertion of a massive new bay window, 24 feet wide by 15 feet high, along the full length of the living room. Fully glazed on three sides, this addition projects out over the patio below and provides dramatic views out to the ravine. The existing roof of the house was removed over this new glass box, and a cantilevered structure of heavy timber beams and wood decking was inserted, all supported on a single steel beam.

 

Gutting the interior allowed for the substantial reorganization of the main living spaces. Within the new open plan, the dining, kitchen, family and living rooms are defined by the insertion of a series of custom millwork elements that also serve as storage and display units. In the kitchen, a built-in tabletop of cherry butcher-block cantilevers off the central island on a single steel beam. The living room fireplace’s stone mantle rests on a similar beam.

The millwork insertions are all fabricated of a mixture of cherry and off-white lacquer, with accents of limestone and acid-etched glass. A deeply coloured wood floor of Ipe ties all of the rooms together and extends outside to become the surface of a new large deck off of the kitchen. Light and dark limestone accents mark the entry floor area and the new fireplace hearth.

Project Detail :

Cost: Withheld at client request
Architects: Taylor Smyth Architects
Partner-in-Charge: Michael Taylor
Design Team: Walter Gaudet, Robert Smyth
Photo Credit by : Kerup Ip