Toronto architect Paul Raff's contemporary sun-lit home
As cities’ housing stocks age, what type of architecture will replace homes that just don’t merit a major renovation to make them efficient and comfortable by today’s standards? With its flat-pack geometry and sleek finishes, this midtown Toronto house offers one unconventional answer. A coherent, cost-effective example of contemporary urban housing, it demonstrates the latest building technologies and modern lines, while expressing enough familiar qualities to fit its traditional community.
Built on a 25-foot-wide lot in a gable-roofed, red-brick neighbourhood, the house replaces a century-old home that was dark and leaky beyond what the new owners considered reasonable repair. Incorporating standardized construction methods and materials, it offers some fresh interpretations on everyday elements like windows, roofs and porches, which is how it got its name, Counterpoint House. Its architect, Paul Raff, likes to name his projects. “Counterpoint” is a musical term, but it also refers to interesting contrasts and offbeat, but effective, combinations.
Double-click to edit...
Related
More from The Magazine
5 Homes with Colourful Front Doors
In desirable locales from East Coast to West, these inviting homes greet visitors with front doors that provide welcoming doses of cheerful eye-catching colour.
Read
Standout Structures from Coast to Coast
These days, road-tripping offers a way to enjoy sightseeing again. Thanks to Canada’s wealth of architectural talent, there are standout structures from coast to coast to left the spirit and bring beauty back into the everyday. During the global pandemic, countless industries have been impacted by the restrictions and protocols aimed at keeping the world’s citizens safe. Perhaps, no other sector has been hit as hard as travel. From business trips to family visits and luxury vacations, travel has been restricted more than ever with closed borders and flight cancellations —keeping us all closer to home. As the cold temperatures begin to break, now is the moment to step outside, hit the road and marvel at the wonders of design —in our own Canadian backyard.
Read
Egypt's Newest Gem
Egypt is a nation celebrated for its preservation of artifacts and antiquities; however, no one museum has ever highlighted such a comprehensive collection as the Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM, which broke ground in 2012. After numerous delays due to construction, finance, logistics, and the global pandemic, the long-awaited opening will occur this year.
Read