Located on a quiet street in Toronto’s East End, this narrow semi-detached house was completely reconfigured to create a private refuge for a well-traveled couple who both work from home. The clients wanted to maximize the functionality of their small space, while also creating a uniquely beautiful and bespoke home.
Drawing from an eclectic mix of inspiration from the clients’ lives - including the high-contrast photography of Bill Brandt, nautical design, and the bold, curving forms of rocky Icelandic landscapes - the result is a living sculpture animated by light, shadow, art, and nature.
Being a semi located on a narrow slice of land oriented East-West, the existing interior felt dark and enclosed. In addition, the basement ceiling height was unusably low, and underpinning was impossible. The floorplates of the existing home were each raised several feet in order to gain basement ceiling height. Balancing this shift in heights with the constraints of having an attached neighbour created opportunities to play with the sectional and visual relationships between floors, and between the interior and exterior.
Using skylights, sun tunnels, and new window openings, along with an unconventional take on an open floor plan, we were able to create a bright, airy interior brought to life by the graphic play of light and shadow as the sun moves overhead throughout the day.
Builder: Kinswater Construction
Photos by Scott Norsworthy