Search

Walmer Loft in Canada by Dubbeldam Design Architects

This loft in Toronto by Dubbeldam Design Architects is a very modern, sleek space that looks like a well-tailored suit. If that suit was made out of mahogany, steel, and glass.

From the architects:

When the client, a graphic artist and designer, bought his mother’s 1920s residence overlooking the historic Casa Loma stables, his objective was to take advantage of the location and the picturesque views, while transforming the apartment’s dark, densely packed, small rooms into an airy bachelor’s retreat with plenty of light, clean lines, and open space. The intent of the design was to reflect both the owner’s Asian heritage and draw on ideas relating to his occupation in the overall concept and material palette.

The solution was to remove most of the interior partitions except for one division between the public and private zones, and replace the tiny windows with significantly larger ones. The resultant open plan feels far more spacious and allows for the flow of light and line of sight from many vantage points. The original dark wood paneled interiors were replaced with crisp white walls set off by warm merbau wood flooring and custom mahogany cabinetry with stainless steel accents; a material palette selected to reflect the owner’s Asian heritage . The building materials were selected for their durability, aesthetics that aligned with the owner’s taste and lifestyle, relatively low cost, and a preference toward sustainability. In addition, the operability and placement of windows allows for maximum cross-ventilation and minimal cooling requirements.

Through the creative planning of the renovation, the initially small, dark and cramped apartment was made to feel larger, more spacious and open. Although this was an interior renovation of an existing space, the actual square footage was increased by 400 sq. ft., with the addition of a new loft area, creating new rooms where there were none before.

Architect: Dubbeldam Design Architects
Architect Team: Heather Dubbeldam, Tania Ursomarzo, Alex Lam, Katya Marshall
Location: Toronto
Completion: 2007
Size: 1,650 s.f.
Contractor: M+K Construction
Photography: Tom Arban

Jaime Derringer, Founder + Executive Editor of Design Milk, is a Jersey girl living in SoCal. She dreams about funky, artistic jewelry + having enough free time to enjoy some of her favorite things—running, reading, making music, and drawing.