Toronto’s Beaches district (aka”The Beach”) is a region east of downtown characterized by a stretch of sandy beach along Lake Ontario to the south. Within the residential fabric of primarily north-south roads, neighborhood business nKArchitects has added a contemporary home on a double lot among predominantly single-lot bungalows. Correspondingly bigger than its neighbours, the home nevertheless picks up upon the varying rooflines via a gable form that’s playful on the road, hinting at the way the architects formed the rest of the home. Let’s take a look in its architecture, from front to back to inside.
in a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with 2 kids
Location: Beaches district, Toronto
Size: 3,000 square feet
That’s interesting: This Canadian home shapes itself onto the site to soak up the sun and remain warm yearlong.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
From a distance — in this case an approach from the south — that the home stands out among its neighbors. Nevertheless, it is not at odds with all the other houses; instead it’s a contemporary reinterpretation of the smaller neighbors in a time when bigger houses are the norm.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
This closer view looking west and a little south reveals how nKArchitects formed the front elevation. We can observe a few things: The gable roof jobs on the south side beneath the line of the windows, as well as also the driveway/entry is cut into the exterior brick wall.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
According to the architects,”The carving of the front facade, debut of timber and in depth approach to the entry steps, guardrail and handrail present an individual scale and warmth to the home as you approach from the road.”
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
The partial-height concrete wall is an important element, since it defines the edge of the entry route up the stairs and clearly divides the path from the car and driveway below. An open guardrail would have resulted in a muddled approach.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
Following is a quick glance at the plan inside before we venture out backagain. A couple more steps in the front door (throughout the white portal at the middle of the previous photograph ) bring people around the level of this first floor and the kitchen space, which aligns with all the windows and exterior steps we saw from outside.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
However, on the opposite side of the entry and the open walkway along the glass wall is an outside terrace that’s oriented to the south east . (In this view we’re looking east, toward the street). The”lift+slide walls,” since the architects refer to them, allow the living and kitchen room to open entirely to the terrace, a bonus during Toronto’s few hot months.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
The terrace is for entertaining — among the customers’ wishes — and the backyard is play. A pool and spa are beside just a tiny patch of grass. This view clearly shows the L-shaped plan, which allows the inside spaces to soak up some of the south-facing rays. These outside spaces actually capture the customers’ need to get a home that’s”a refuge, vacation and house all in one,” since the architects put it.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
Another view of the back shows the stair to the upper floor expressed via a tall window, an asymmetrical gable vertical to the one on the road, and a carved opening onto the leftside, which serves the dining room.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
Like the living room and kitchen, the dining room opens to an outdoor area. However, this area is much more romantic and private, recessed rather than exposed. It also faces west, which means it appreciates some sunshine during dinnertime.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
Here’s a view looking from the dining room, which includes a design that runs counter to a lot of open-plan houses now.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
Back on the opposite side of the kitchen, this space is the heart of the home, at least once the weather cooperates. Eating and interacting happen outside but are united together with all the spaces inside.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
A glance within the dining room wall reveals the shades that cover the south-facing”lift+slip” glass walls. These sunglasses cut down direct sun while at the same time keeping privacy.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
Let’s go upstairs for one last look in the home’s architecture. From this vantage atop the stairs we can see through the perpendicular window toward the backyard in right, and into a recessed balcony that overlooks the terrace at left.