This project is located in a quiet residential neighbourhood beside Lake Ontario. When the home was built in the 1920s, the neighbourhood was composed of small homes on large lots. In recent years, however, many of the homes have been demolished and replaced by extremely large homes resulting in a drastic change in the scale and character of the neighbourhood.

Not wanting to perpetuate this trend but requiring a substantially larger home, our clients sought a sensitive solution on a limited budget.

Our aim for this project was to minimize the impact of the renovation and addition on the street, to provide a dramatic increase of space and to create a fluid connection between the inside and outside.

To achieve these goals we placed the addition to the rear and the side of the existing house, scooped out the interior of the existing house, and removed the rear wall to connect the new addition. To this basic plan we designed a stepped profile that provided greater openness and views through and over the house and a fluid connection between the interior of the house and the garden. We also eliminated unnecessary partitioning. The master bedroom opens directly onto the bathing area which enlarges and sensualizes the space.

The limited budget called for inventive and simple solutions. Structure is left exposed, the architect built the stair and guard rail from standard aluminum sections and the windows were site built and the baseboards were made from the off cuts of the window frames. The exterior is clad in Pyroc – a wood/cement compound that is fireproof and easily cut with wood tools making it a cost effective material to work with.

This home is characterized by light, view, simplicity and ease.