OA A AWA R D S 2024
94
FINALIST
This single-family dwelling for a family of four was built on a vacant lot on which the original house created was lost to fire. Expressed as a modern building, the house visually recedes into the surrounding verdant landscape and restores the streetscape of which it is a part. The surrounding neighbourhood, tight-knit and modest, was developed in the early 20th century. The new work fits the scale and character, while remaining faithful to our time of its own construction. Since the property does not have frontage on the public street, all access is from the rear service lane. This distinguishing characteristic allowed a surprising range of opportunities and establishes its experiential sequence. The landscapes with which it is intimately connected include the entry courtyard, the restored natural ravine sloping, and the oasis of repose on the uppermost floor, which is embedded in the canopies of the mature ravine oaks. The house is a flush, monochromatic dark-stained kebony, allowing it to recede into the shadows, ultimately overtaken by the landscape of the neighbourhood. The abstract form, recessive colour, and careful alignment with adjacent houses further integrate the house into its surroundings. The naturalization of the south-facing ravine slope is now an amenity for passersby who view it from the street, as well as for the occupants of the house. Wood is the primary construction material, including the structural framework and the exposed rough-sawn douglas fir joists. Wood was also specified for substantial areas of the finishing, such as the domestic white oak flooring and cabinets. The building is clad in Kebony, a durable but soft wood harvested from sustainably managed forests. To enhance building envelope performance, the house features triple-glazed windows, deep overhangs for preventing solar gain, and green roofs to offer passive cooling. These elements will extend the life cycle of materials that would otherwise be exposed to the sun. Steps away from High Park, this Toronto house offers an experience that is thoroughly engaged with the surrounding landscape. Once inside, one can forget the dense urban fabric and enjoy its broad connections to nature.
HOUSE IN HIGH PARK IAN MACDONALD ARCHITECT INC. Toronto, Ontario
DESIGN JURY COMMENTS
“A superb example of Canadian urban residential architecture. The craft and quality of the spaces feels timeless and continuously connected to the surrounding nature. It blends into the context like a magic trick—invisible in plain sight thanks to green roofs, mature trees, and the subtle and private passage entry from the lane.”