Forest Hill Road
Village of Forest Hill, Toronto, Ontario
2000-2002

The first day I met with the owners I said, “Imagine the most magnificent hotel that you have ever visited.... Now, imagine living there. Forever.”

I designed this home, located on one of the most prominent properties in the Village of Forest Hill, to project an aura of permanence and connectivity to the neighborhood’s heritage. I believe that in a mature neighbourhood one is a member of an exclusive club, and traditions must be respected.

To create this sense of timelessness, painstaking attention was paid to the exterior details and communicated through dressed Indiana limestone, while the formality of the residence was softened with layered gardens. Composed as a series of rooms, these gardens provide structure while also creating privacy.

Toronto is known for its cold weather climate, yet the summer and the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are wonderful times for connecting with the outdoors. An open-air loggia creates the opportunity to enjoy the tranquility of the garden, and provide shelter from the elements. Inside the home, vistas in all directions draw the eye to the gardens. These views, some direct and others veiled, fill the home with natural light without compromising the intimacy often lost in a grand residence. I designed the interior spaces as distinct parts of a greater whole, with each room, from the “greenhouse” breakfast room to the “jewel box” master ensuite bathroom, merging to create a single articulation of beauty balanced with comfort.