This
residence, sited on the edge of a wooded ravine in Toronto, employs
off-the-shelf industrial materials in an elegant way. Although the
area of the house is a modest 3,000 square feet the effect is one
of unusual spaciousness. An exterior courtyard separates flexible
living spaces front to back: entry, carport, three bedrooms, bath,
and playroom face the street, while living, dining, kitchen, and
master bedroom open to the park.
Sited
to avoid damage to the park, the two-story house floats above the
ground on steel columns. The standard components of the steel structure
and mechanical/electrical systems are exposed to view and finely
finished, setting off the conventional household furnishings. Sliding
walls hung on tracks, adjustable canvas awnings under the skylights,
and roller blinds at the glass walls give the owners a high degree
of flexibility and personal control.
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