A Powder-Blue Slide Adds Whimsy to This Family-Centric Duplex in Toronto
The owners might have three kids, but the idea for this unconventional addition came from the client’s childhood "dream house" fantasies.
The owners might have three kids, but the idea for this unconventional addition came from the client’s childhood "dream house" fantasies.
When a young couple bought their first family home in Toronto, they envisioned a space that they could transform to fit the needs of their growing family. They bought a duplex with two small basement units in an expensive neighborhood and initially rented the apartments out to offset the cost of buying. After four years, their family had grown to three children and they decided it was time to create their dream home. "They wanted the idea of play and togetherness to be the center point for the family home," says architect Trevor Wallace, principal of Reflect Architecture.
The brick duplex had a previous addition at the front that was modified during the renovation. "The client was keen on a heavy black aesthetic but we were worried it might feel very heavy, especially as it is the community-facing element of the building," says architect Trevor Wallace. "So, we lightened it up and made it feel a bit warmer with the timber screen."
Riley Snelling
Inside, the home has been designed as a fun space to bring the family together—including the installation of a blue slide that connects the two stories.
Riley Snelling
It was decided that the second floor apartment would be left relatively unchanged and rented out for income, while the first floor and basement level would be converted into the family home. As both clients work from home—as a naturopathic doctor and a medical doctor who have transitioned into being entrepreneurs in the health and wellness space—it was essential that the home have spaces for the family to gather and play as well as quieter, more private spaces for working from home.
The large, double-height window at the front of the home looks into the dining area and brings light into one of the girls’ bedrooms in the basement. "The dining area is the part of the home that is pressed against the glass because the clients wanted it to be part of their community when people came over," says Wallace. The edges of the otherwise square form of the surrounding timber screen have been rounded off to create a visual softness.
Riley Snelling
See the full story on Dwell.com: A Powder-Blue Slide Adds Whimsy to This Family-Centric Duplex in Toronto
