835 ROYAL YORK ROAD FOR SALE
835 ROYAL YORK ROAD “The original house is circa late fifties, designed by Basel Capes, a local Toronto architect, originally from England. It was a modest 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom side split overlooking a ravine and Mimico Creek. Purchased in 2007, it was in pretty rough shape with numerous non-period ‘features’ such as colonial spindle railings, cheap patio doors etc. The bones were good though - a slanted
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cedar ceiling, original brick fireplace, curtain window wall to the creek... Given the generous lot on a lush ravine, close proximity to a subway stop, easy access to shopping on Bloor and a quick commute downtown, it was likely a tear down. We didn’t see it that way. We knew that restoring it to its original condition wasn’t viable as it would be expensive and yield something not terribly remarkable. Our approach was to maintain and celebrate the spirit of the original home, but bring it up to contemporary standards.
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“To achieve greater flow in the main space, the two tiny bedrooms behind the big brick fireplace became a large kitchen, and the old galley kitchen became a small reading nook. The original front door was removed and the side door became the formal entryway. New energy-efficient living room windows and radiant floors keep all 2,600 square feet warm and cozy, as does the couple’s amazing collection of mid-century modern furniture – some of it designed by Ms. Kubis’s furniture-designer father in the 1950s and 60s – and period-appropriate custom millwork by David O’Sullivan.” - Dave Leblanc, Globe and Mail, May 31, 2011
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We hired Levitt Goodman Architects to redesign the existing footprint and incorporate a garage into the addition, which was previously added in the 1970s and didn’t suite the home. During the renovations, the house was gutted right back to the exterior walls. We retained and restored most of the the
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original exterior detailing and profile, and concentrated heavily on the interior. A few years after the first renovation, needing more room to accommodate a growing family and to respond to our need for an artist’s studio, we hired architect Brian Kikstra, who was originally from Levitt Goodman and part of the original design team. This is when we expanded the main floor as well, with the introduction of our corner family / media room.
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“LGA partner Janna Levitt sees the house as a Toronto version of California’s Case Study houses – an example of modernist domestic design for real people. “That way of living, when it was well executed, is still relevant,” she says. “Natural light, open space, an open plan, natural materials – it works.” And it works even better now.” - Alex Bozikovic, Designlines Magazine, Winter 2011
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“The constant throughout the project was a strong appreciation for the period architecture and the natural qualities of the site. The goal of the first 2 phases was to bring out the best qualities of the existing, carving out more generous spaces and taking advantage of natural light, views, and outdoor spaces, and making it all function well.�
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FORM AND MATERIALS The original mid-century design is a straightforward composition of simple materials and clear structure; load-bearing red brick, expanses of glazing articulated by load-bearing vertical wood mullions, vaulted ceilings and exposed Douglas fir beams extending out to form deep overhangs. The work done up to this point conformed to this basic language. For this final stage we we were freed from the(se) constraints. We wanted to introduce forms and materials that resonated with the original mid-century structure but that would also clearly differentiate the old from the new. Instead of load bearing brick walls we introduced a box-like form clad in a light textural wood screen, instead of heavy vertically dominant mullions we used mullionless glazing, and instead of straightforward load-bearing and post and beam structure we used cantilevers and a light steel structure that almost disappears, giving both the box and the roof a sense of levity.
LIGHT In spite of its large expanses of window the original house had the feeling of being cast in shadow. With its southeast exposure the final phase provided the opportunity to bathe the space in filtered natural light. But it had to do this while minimizing glare, limiting solar heat
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gain in summer, and allowing maximum sun penetration in winter. The solution was to employ clerestory windows below deep eaves that are shaded in high summer sun but exposed to low winter sun. Window boxes frame views while deep recesses take maximum advantage of reflected light.
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“GREEN” (ECOLOGICAL OR SUSTAINABLE) MATERIALS OR METHODS Radiant heat floors throughout. High insulation value Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF’s) were used for the foundations, and spray foam insulation in the walls. Clerestory window placement takes advantage of passive solar gain in the winter and shade in summer, further benefiting from natural falling of leaves in winter. Mullionless aluminum window systems keep thermal bridging to a minimum and reduce the amount of embodied energy by eliminating the mullions themselves. The roof is built with a ventilation layer that reduces solar heat gain in summer. Ipe cladding modules are removeable for easy maintenance. Small site area and cantilevers minimize footprint and foundation work. Much of the original structure was retained. The amount of exterior walls remained unchanged resulting in no net increase in wall area from which to lose heat. The addition functions a bit like an oriel window decorating an otherwise plain arts and crafts facade; it maximizes the effect and benefit of a relatively small amount of material through its positioning.
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835 ROYAL YORKstandard ROAD usage - two weights FOR SALE
PAUL JOHNSTON & MATT MANUEL, SALES REPRESENTATIVES RIGHT AT HOME REALTY INC BROKERAGE 416.897.5480 DIRECT colour reverse pauljohnston.com
black and white - two weights
Paul Johnston, sales representative, Right at Home Realty Inc Brokerage. 416.391.3232. All information contained herein is from sources deemed to be reliable, but buyers should satisfy themselves as to the accuracy and completeness of same. No implied or intended representation is being made, and the document is subject to errors, omissions and exclusions.