This midtown, infill house is organized around a central atrium that connects domestic program across three levels. Day-lit from skylights above, the atrium passes through more private, domestic spaces on the upper floors before culminating in a cut out ceiling that frames the feature entertaining kitchen. Open living spaces at the front and rear of the elevated ground floor connect to the exterior through a cascading series of smooth poured concrete terraces.
Architects: STUDIO JCI
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Principle in Charge: Jaegap Chung
Project Team: Jaegap Chung, Derek McCallum
Size: 3600 sf.
Completed: 2018
Photography: Scott Norsworthy
The exterior material palette contrasts concrete, masonry and glass with warm wood accents lining carved out, protected areas. A variety of outdoor spaces are provided across multiple levels with a projecting front porch, intimate inset balconies and expansive terraces at the rear. A setback third floor, barely visible from the street, allows for front and rear facing roof terraces.
Matthew McKenna Scott Norsworthy: Our studio is founded on the desire to produce good work, test creative ideas and build buildings we are proud of. We believe that we can instigate positive change and transformation by bringing design to areas where it is often ignored, and we look for opportunities in every project to re-examine conventional solutions.
Each project, regardless of programme, budget, or scope, is approached as an opportunity to achieve these goals while delivering outstanding results to our clients.
Our work is a culmination of intensive study, from concept and aesthetics through to functionality and building performance. We use location as a catalyst to explore regional identity and vernacular technique to create projects that embrace their context.
Within our collaborative and open studio, we strive to rigorously examine the physical, urban and sociocultural context of every project. The culture and relationships we cultivate within the studio, with our consultants, and with clients, are as critical to the success of our projects as the strategies we use to design and execute them.