The Walmer Loft by Dubbeldam Design Architects
Dubbeldam Design Architects have converted a space inside a historic home in Toronto, Canada, into a contemporary residential loft.
Full description after the photos….
Photography: Tom Arban
The Walmer Loft by Dubbeldam Design Architects
Overlooking Toronto’s historic Casa Loma Stables, this 1920s duplex was converted from a group of small, dark rooms into a graphic designer’s residential loft. The renovation was designed to retain the charm of the building’s historic exterior, while transforming its interior for contemporary living with clean lines, open space, increased natural light and specifically framed interior and exterior views.
Most of the interior walls were removed and the living room ceiling was opened up to the roof rafters, creating a double-height loft space that feels much larger than its modest floor area. A mezzanine was inserted to create a private zone that can be accessed by a floating mahogany stair with a light steel railing. Small windows were enlarged to infuse the space with natural light, and a large two-storey window was added to frame a view of the stables and to give the feeling of floating in the tree-tops. Built-in elements such as the fireplace and custom-designed display areas create a sense of division in the otherwise open plan, and frame curated views that allude to the owner’s artistic outlook.
A balance between warm and cool is achieved through the material palette and finishes. A merbau engineered wood floor and custom mahogany cabinetry, contrasts with crisp aluminium windows and limestone sills, back-painted glass walls in the bathroom, and smooth honed slate counters and stainless steel in the kitchen. The stair is designed with a solid wood base landing that gives the feeling of stability, while a light steel structure and railings hold thin treads with open risers that allow interrupted views through to the rest of the space.
The owner’s Asian heritage is reflected in the interior’s warm red woods, white walls and crisp geometric lines, providing a clear backdrop for the owner to showcase his collection of Asian art and artefacts and classic modern furniture.
Through the creative planning of the renovation, the initially small, dark and cramped apartment was made to feel larger, open and more spacious. Although this was an interior renovation of an existing space, the actual square footage was increased by the 400 sq. ft. new loft area in the attic, creating new rooms where none existed before without extending the footprint on the property.
PROJECT CREDITS
Architect: Dubbeldam Design Architects
Architect Team: Heather Dubbeldam, Tania Ursomarzo, Alex Lam, Katya Marshall
Size: 1,650 s.f.
Contractor: M+K Construction
.
.
PierreB on 10 Dec 2009 at 9:14 am #
I’m in love
Zero34 on 10 Dec 2009 at 9:23 am #
beautiful on many levels, but it’s nothing “special” really. The only truly interesting aspect is that it’s not your traditional loft building, so it leaves guests with a element of surprise when they walk in the front door. Once you get over that shock though, it just feels like a typical loft, and as usual there is this strange desire to have such sterile white on white walls.
Ben on 10 Dec 2009 at 11:35 am #
I’m loving the exposure Toronto is getting! Who knew there were so many incredible houses/spaces within our city
Dar on 10 Dec 2009 at 12:52 pm #
Pretty unspectacular , Fitting for a Book on Modern homes circa 90’s
Chris on 10 Dec 2009 at 1:54 pm #
NICE!
Scott M on 11 Dec 2009 at 6:04 am #
Awesome place!
DavidM on 11 Dec 2009 at 8:44 am #
Beautiful space and example of a classic modern reno that respects the historical context of the neighbourhood. This is far from unspectacular when you consider the challenges the designer must have faced to blend modern design into a heritage home AND incorporate the client’s desires. Shame on “Dar” for his comment…he’s clearly not a designer or an architect.
hans on 11 Dec 2009 at 3:30 pm #
Very nice. I like the open, light and spacious design
Sorry to be picky, but the loo in the bathroom is a real misser. This should have been something more modern, and at least wall attached.
maurice on 13 Dec 2009 at 10:12 am #
Good Work, but, too much light. no shade, no soul.
Anatoli on 13 Dec 2009 at 2:35 pm #
There’s a lot of light in the photos because they turned all the lights on for the purpose of taking the photos.
The photographer probably also used a slightly longer shutter speed to capture even more light than normal.
Sam on 13 Dec 2009 at 3:50 pm #
this house is on my street. had no idea that inside now looks like that. lol good job
LouisP on 23 Dec 2009 at 5:01 pm #
Dar – We’re sorry that your life is a total bore